Francesca Beghe | |
|---|---|
 Beghe performing in 2020 | |
| Born | New York City, U.S. |
| Education | University of Chicago |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse | [citation needed] |
| Relatives |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
|
| Labels |
|
| Website | francescabeghe |
Francesca Beghe is an American singer-songwriter from New York, best known for co-writing "Trust in Me", recorded byJoe Cocker andSass Jordan,[1][2] which was featured in the 1992 film,The Bodyguard and on the Grammy award-winningThe Bodyguard (soundtrack)[3] which certified 18× platinum[4] and peaked at No. 1 onBillboard in 1992.[5] Beghe has appeared onThe Tonight Show, was featured asVH-1's Artist of the Month,[6] and toured the US as the opening act forMichael Bolton.[7][8]
Beghe began performing at clubs in New York City and joined the bandRogue, in 1980, as their lead vocalist and keyboard player.[9] They opened shows for musical acts such asJerry Garcia andMuddy Waters performing atThe Bitter End,The Bottom Line,The Ritz, andThe Limelight, among others.[10] In addition to performing live, she recorded jingles for theNew York Lottery andKodak commercials.[11]
In 1987, Beghe co-wrote "Trust in Me" with Marc Swersky andCharlie Midnight. She was signed to a publishing deal with EMI Blackwood Publishing which led to a record deal withSBK Records, at the end of 1990.[12][13][14]Musician magazine described the album as "the kind of stunning, poised debut they don't make anymore" whilePeople Magazine called Francesca Beghe "a musical gourmet…" describing her music as "...a little Rock, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, Country and her informed respect for all those genres is evident".[15]CD Review referred to Beghe as "a brilliant new star".[16]
In August 1991, she was featured asVH-1's Artist of the Month[6] and in November 1991 Beghe toured the US as the opening act forMichael Bolton.[7]
Beghe released two albums,Francesca Beghe (1991) andDreamworld (2006) and her songs have been recorded by recording artistsKimberly Scott,[17]Irma Thomas (No Use Talkin' was in the film,Double Jeopardy),[18] andFernando Saunders,[19] among others.
Names on a Wall (written and performed by Beghe), about the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., was featured in an anti-war video produced by the groupVeterans for Peace.[20]
While Beghe was working on her second album (produced byGlen Ballard), her record label SBK becameEMI and subsequently the album was never released.[21] In 2006 she releasedDreamworld,[22] which she described as "a 2½ year labor of love. I was fortunate to work with an amazing group of musicians and technicians to hone and polish every song until it felt just right."[23]
"Trust in Me", (co-written by Beghe, Charlie Midnight, and Marc Swersky), was originally recorded as a duet byJoe Cocker andRenee Geyer on his album,Unchain My Heart in 1987. However, "Trust in Me" was selected forThe Bodyguard Soundtrack of the 1991 film,The Bodyguard, as one of the songs on the album asKevin Costner, its star, was a Joe Cocker die-hard fan. It was then recorded as a duet featuring (Cocker andSass Jordan). The Soundtrack album became the best-selling of all time with sales of 45 million copies worldwide,[24] and the15th best-selling album in the United States.[25] It peaked at No. 1 onBillboard in 1992.[5] The soundtrack went on to win theGrammy Award for Album of the Year[26] and, in November 2017, was certified 18×platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America.[27]
| Year | Album | Song | Artist | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Unchain My Heart | "Trust in Me" | Joe Cocker/Renee Geyer | Songwriter |
| 1991 | Francesca Beghe | Francesca Beghe | Songwriter, performer | |
| 1992 | The Bodyguard Soundtrack/The Bodyguard (film) | "Trust in Me" | Joe Cocker/Sass Jordan | Songwriter |
| 1993 | Spin | Come a Little Closer | Fernando Saunders | Songwriter |
| Spin | The Fire Keeps Burning | Fernando Saunders | Songwriter | |
| 1997 | The Story of My Life | No Use Talkin' | Irma Thomas | Songwriter |
| 1998 | Kimberly Scott | Let Your Spirit Fly | Kimberly Scott | Songwriter |
| 2006 | Dreamworld | Francesca Beghe | Songwriter, performer |
Beghe was born to parents, Renato and Bina (née House) Beghe[28] in Manhattan, New York. Her father, Renato, was a Judge who had served on the Tax Court since his appointment by PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush, on March 26, 1991.[29] Beghe studiedclassical piano and sang in achurch choir as a child, citing musical influences asCarole King,Yes, andElton John. She attended theUniversity of Chicago.[30]
Beghe's great-grandfather wasCharles S. Deneen, a two-termgovernor of Illinois and one-termU.S. Senator in the late 1920s.[31] ActorJason Beghe,[13] who portraysHank Voight in theNBC TV seriesChicago P.D., is her brother.[31]