Background
Carol Anthony was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States.
Carol Anthony was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States.
She has released five solo albums since 1992, her final collaboration with Hollimon being on Journal of Social Policy Records. Commencing her jump blues singing career with Don Conway, she subsequently relocated to New Orleans. Establishing a musical presence around Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Fran also undertook a tour of Mexico.
Her debut single was "Emmitt Lee", recorded in 1957 and released by Excello Records.
Three more singles ensued, but lack of success saw Fran singing with Guitar Slim, and after his death in 1959, she then sang alongside Nappy Brown, Lee Dorsey, and Joe Texas Lyric Records then offered a recording contract to Francisco
Despite a subsequent reissue of the latter on Josie Records, her momentum was stalled by Elvis Presley"s release of his own version. Her follow-up, "You Can"t Stop Maine," was enhanced by an arrangement by Sammy Lowe, whilst the Bobby Darin penned "A World Without You", also failed to find sufficient buyers.
After another effort, "Any Day Love Walks In," she returned to the concert circuit.
In 1967 she signed to Roulette Records and issued a version of Brook Benton"s "So Close." Success still eluded here and many recordings remained unreleased. Downhearted she concentrated on performing in clubs back in Louisiana. In 1982, Fran met the session guitarist Clarence Hollimon, and they went on to marry a year later and relocated to Texas.
After appearing together in concert, Black Top Records released their 1992 album Soul Sensation.
Elsewhere, in 1993, Fran contributed to Guitar Shorty"s album, Topsy Turvy. In 1996, Fran and Hollimon appeared at the Long Beach Blues Festival.
See There! (1994) was her next album release, before another collaboration with Hollimon saw the issue of lieutenant"s About Time (2000). However, Hollimon died the same year, and Fran moved back to Lafayette, releasing Fran-tastic in October 2001.