In addition to his concert work,
Fran is available as a keynoter/coordinator/musician
for conferences. He has also developed a variety of
workshops for churches that
are seeking to enhance or
develop the style and quality
of the music in their worship.

Click here to read what others are saying about Fran McKendree.

Fran McKendree was born in Springfield, MA. He grew up in rural Connecticut where he played the clarinet [sparingly] and later began to play guitar and reluctantly sing. In high school, a trio he’d joined won a local talent contest, first prize being a slot on a folk music radio show, and he was hooked.

He began his professional career playing at coffee houses in and around Syracuse University, and after moving to the Glens Falls area of NY in 1969, formed "McKendree Spring," a drumerless four-piece folk-rock ensemble that the legendary promoter/manager Bill Graham dubbed "one of the best unknown bands in the world." The band toured with some of the most exciting artists of the 70's and shared the stage with performers such as the Everly Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, Elton John, Ike & Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, the Byrds, Jethro Tull, and Van Morrison. McKendree Spring played various memorable venues as well, including Carnegie Hall, the Fillmore East, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and with Billy Preston, the first ever rock concert at Radio City Music Hall.

In the McKendree Spring exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum in Cleveland, Ohio is an attribution that says: “Experimental and innovative, McKendree Spring mixed blues, folk and country with a progressive musical vision. Over the course of seven albums, they highlighted the songs of singer/guitarist Fran McKendree and offered up unique interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, Neil Young and James Taylor. McKendree Spring built much of its reputation as a live act by featuring the virtuosity of guitarist Marty Slutsky and violinist Mike (Doc) Dreyfuss.”
The group eventually disbanded in 1975, and each of the members went on to pursue varied careers.
Fran was signed the next year to Arista Records, where he recorded several singles. He had moved to Toronto during the mid 70’s, and the Arista releases garnered considerable radio play in Canada.

He was, however, finding this an increasingly frustrating time in the music business and deciding to take some time for reflection, Fran and his wife, Diana, moved from New York City to a small town on Cape Cod, MA in 1979. Emerging from this soul searching period he began in 1984 to work under the aegis of the Episcopal church, where he has continued to develop and explore his calling; doing concerts, as music leader and coordinator for conferences, keynote presenter, mentor, and workshop leader. He has released several CDs, as well as producing recordings for other artists at his studio in Hendersonville, NC, where he and Diana now live.

"My hope is to remain thankful for and receptive to the movement of God in my life, and to do this in a humble, energetic manner, celebrating our differences and similarities as creatures of God, and remembering always that we are called to actualize our faith in the world around us." - Fran McKendree