Having worked in the music business in marketing, management and production, it seemed only natural for Fitzroy Francis to start his own record label.
In 2011, he did just that with Mightyful13 Records which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
“I started the label because singer Zanadu influenced me to record a song (“Trade Winds”) he said God gave him to sing and to express my creativity as a producer, promote positivity, and to control the independent process that recording requires musically, and ultimately to establish a new brand,” Francis recalled.
He took Zanadu’s advice and ended up producing “Trade Winds”, one of Mightyful13 Records’ initial releases. Francis has done other songs with Zanadu as well as several roots-reggae acts like Andrew Bees and Jesse Jendau.
In recent years, he has diversified the label’s catalog by producing songs by Freddy Green from Nigeria, and Garrette & Axel, a pop duo from Jamaica and The Philippines.
Francis is from Waterhouse, the Kingston, Jamaica community that has produced world-famous acts like The Wailing Souls, Black Uhuru, Don Carlos and Junior Reid. He has worked with each in either a marketing or management capacity.
He has also toured with Shabba Ranks.
Francis considers starting Mightyful13 Records, and overseeing its development, as one of his greatest professional achievements.
“The company’s successes have been transcending the boundaries and barriers by producing artists worldwide and attaining several number one songs in Jamaica, England, and the United States,” he said.
Written Howard Campbell
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