Web Digest Weekly/LastWeek

Last Week's Spotlight
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All photos used are courtesy of Frances Nero.

Frances Nero
Lady and The Sax

One of the dearest friends I’ve made in the years since Web Digest Weekly
was founded is Frances Nero. She was one of my first guests on the site,
back in January of 2007, and in the last three years I’ve watched this soulful
songstress maintain a career that is growing in every direction. Frances is no
newcomer to the world of entertainment either. She is the first female artist
who was signed to Motown Records’ Soul subsidiary label. After a hiatus
from show business to take care of her terminally ill mother, Frances made a
huge comeback in England in the early 90’s with the hit song Footsteps
Following Me. Since then she has continued to record and just a couple of
years ago she released a Dinah Washington tribute album that was very well
received. Frances is also a filmmaker and screenwriter, having written the
New York Film Festival nominee Reject Island. Currently shopping a
second film around to major Hollywood Studios, Frances has been back in
the recording studio as well. She has two singles readying for release, one
called I’m Gonna Miss You (recorded by Spyder Turner) and the sizzling
Sexy Saxophone which she recorded herself. With so much going on, and
so much excitement to share, I had to revisit Frances and get a look into
what is driving her as she continues to push ahead in the wild world of
entertainment. The lady and the sax one again came through with flying
colors.

CP: Welcome back, Frances!
FN: It's good to be back, Carey!
CP: I understand you have some new music about to hit
the airwaves.
FN: Oh yes! I'm very excited! Two releases at one
time! Sexy Saxophone by me and I'm Gonna Miss
You by Spyder Turner. Release date was February 1,
2010
CP: Tell me where you got the inspiration for these
songs.
FN: My Mother who passed in 1978. I wrote I'm
Gonna Miss You for her in 2009. Sexy Saxophone, I
had a cartoonish kind of dream about a saxophone
blowing musical notes at me. They were wrapping
around me and beautiful birds were flying around my
head! Somewhere in the dream was a waterfall and
notes were coming from that! It was very weird and
erotic at the same time! Get that smile off your face,
Carey! What were you thinking? (Smile)
CP: How long have you been working on this project?
FN: I had a dream about a comical funeral. My mother
came to me in another dream and told me to change the
lyrics to "I'm Gonna Miss You" to tell about a buddy
relationship between two men. That became the title
song for a movie I wrote called The Passing of Ezra
Hazlette. I wrote, produced, directed, acted and wrote
the soundtrack for the movie! I recorded it in 2009.
Sexy Saxophone, I wrote in about 3 hours. I was
super inspired!
CP: Are you planning a full length album to follow?
FN: Yes, indeedy! It will be titled Me, You and The
Saxophone.
CP: When you write your own material do you give
yourself a lot of freedom to let the song lead you where
it wants to go or do you stick to a formula of your
own?
FN: There is definitely a formula! First, I think about a
project I'd like to undertake, then I pray to God for
guidance. Secondly, I have a "how to" dream (that's
God showing me the way!) Then I set out to complete
the task, non-stop! And I mean non-stop! I'm like a
freight train! My favorite saying is "Look at God!"
CP: Where can fans find your new material?
FN: They can download, February 1, 2010 on my
website: www.francesnero.com. The singles, are $.99.
They can also download my autobiography, Mountains,
Motown & Motion Pictures - The Frances Nero
Story - 2 Hr DVD for $19.95 + Shipping Costs and
my tribute album Frances Nero salutes Dinah
Washington - Queen of the Blues - for $16.95 +
shipping costs.
CP: And what’s next for you, Frances?

FN: A stage show tribute, biography on film or DVD
to Dinah Washington. In the future. I'm thinking my
own story on film. I've got lots of projects boiling!
CP: Okay…Now a few nosy questions again: What
have you been doing in your “Frances” time lately?
FN: Creating! Enjoying a snowflake resting on my
face! (I was born March 13th, I'm a snow baby!)
Lying in the dark at night, with my blinds open, looking
at the dark sky which reminds me of a large piece of
velvet material. The stars placed strategically in the
sky. I relate this scene to jewels on a black velvet
cloth in a jewelry store. I enjoy driving back and forth
to my hometown, Asheville, NC. The mountains are
therapeutic for me! I go there to clear my head and
(laughing) my sinuses! I'm a southern girl! The ultimate
joy of going back home is to visit The Cherokee
Indian Reservation! I enjoy walking along the banks of
the Detroit River, watching the rippling waves quietly
crashing among the rocks. I wonder what's underneath
the water and at the same time, fearful to know. I feel
like jumping in when I stare at the water too long. The
dancing waves seem to beckon me to jump in as if
someone is calling out to me. I am Pisces, (The water
sign, creative, imaginative). Could it be my astrological
Father, Neptune, calling me? If there was another life,
was I a Mermaid? Stop that laughing, Carey! I'm
serious!
CP: How’s life in Detroit?
FN: For me? Great! I've got lots of friends who truly
love me, Male and Female! I really try to understand
the Male mind, they are a bit complicated but then I
guess we are to them! When I'm out and about, I
always run into somebody I don't know and end up
becoming a sounding board. That's okay, that's why
God put me here, I really do believe! People share
their most intimate secrets with me. It's an honor to
feel trusted. I tell them, "You'd better be careful what
you tell me. If I get really sick and have to have
anesthesia, I'll be telling your secrets, mixing them with
somebody else's (laughing.) But then I wouldn't be to
blame because, I would be talking out of my head!"
(Laugh)
CP: Seen any movies you liked recently?
FN: The Book of ELI starring Denzel Washington.
CP: What music are you listening to these days?
FN: Classical, Country, Latin. You name it! I'm a
music lover!
CP: What advice or wisdom can you pass along
here?
FN: Nothing will come to fruition before it's time. We
don't do anything on our own! If it's not on God's
agenda, then your plan will lie idle. Start something, go
as far as you can, then let it go and let God do his
thing!
CP: And what are you most proud of?
FN: Aside my family, my Native American Ancestry! I
am part Cherokee. I love dressing in fringed clothing!
I'm working on some personal designs to wear!
Maybe designer will be added to my creative resume'.
CP: Frances, it’s been a blast! Thanks for visiting with
me again.
FN: Carey, it's always a joy visiting home and seeing
old friends again! I always enjoy visiting you, my friend!

Carey Parrish