Dr. Cleveland “Cleve” Francis, a celebrated country music artist and successful cardiologist, will kick off William & Mary’s school year next week at the university’s convocation ceremony.
The 7:15 p.m. ceremony in Wren Yard on Wednesday will coincide with the first day of classes, according to the university. This year’s opening convocation ushers in the final semester of the Year of the Arts celebration at William & Mary.
“Cleve Francis’ career is classic William & Mary,” W&M President Katherine A. Rowe said in a news release. “Since before his time as a graduate student, he has pursued two loves: music & medicine. … (He) has much to teach our students about pursuing excellence with grit and flair.”
Francis was born in Louisiana and received his bachelor’s degree from Southern University in 1967. He then pursued his master’s in biology at William & Mary, graduating in 1969.
While at William & Mary, a faculty mentor encouraged him to pursue his “soul-folk” music and helped raise funds for Francis to record “Follow Me,” his 1969 album.
Francis went on to pursue his medical doctorate at the Medical College of Virginia, now the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, and then established Mount Vernon Cardiology Associates in northern Virginia.
In the early 1990s, Francis took a break from medicine to pursue music. He signed a recording contract in 1991 with Capitol Records Nashville, then called Liberty Records. He was celebrated as a trailblazing Black country artist and performed in venues across the country, including the Grand Ole Opry.
“After facing obstacles to getting his music played on country radio stations and a lack of industry support, he eventually returned to practicing medicine,” according to the release. “Based on his experience, he formed the Black Country Music Association in 1995 to help spotlight and advocate for other Black country artists.”
Francis retired in 2021 after selling his practice to Inova Health System in 2015. However, he is still a diversity adviser for Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, and he founded its Dream Big Initiative, which aims to put underserved young people on medical career paths.
“In recent years, his influence on country music has received renewed attention. He was featured in an exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and one of his albums — “Walkin’” — is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, D.C.,” according to W&M.
Francis received the Rosedale Collective’s first Hazelhurst Award and a Black Opry Icon Award, and in 2022, an anthology of his 1969 recordings was released by Forager Records under the title “Beyond the Willow Tree,” the release said.
Francis’ autobiography, “Beyond the Weeping Willow: A Heart’s Journey Through Music, Medicine, and History,” is scheduled to be published by the Country Music Hall of Fame and the University of Illinois Press in spring 2025.
Sam Schaffer, samuel.schaffer@virginiamedia.com
