Francis Craig — Music Videos

A Nashville pianist and bandleader

Francis Craig was an American pianist, songwriter, and orchestra leader whose career was rooted in Nashville long before the city became widely identified with its recording industry. Born in Dickson, Tennessee, in 1900, he formed an orchestra while studying at Vanderbilt University. His band became a fixture at the Hermitage Hotel, on WSM radio, and at dances across the region. Its music developed around the needs of social occasions, with a polished, melodic character.

The recording of Near You

In 1947 Craig recorded “Near You” for the Bullet label, pairing his tune with the orchestra’s theme, “Red Rose.” Kermit Goell supplied the lyrics, and Bob Lamm sang on the recording while Craig played piano. The song became a major national success and an important demonstration that records made in Nashville could reach a broad audience. “Beg Your Pardon” followed, although “Near You” remained his most familiar composition.

A place in the city’s musical history

Craig’s work connected live dance music, broadcast entertainment, songwriting, and local record production. He also wrote Vanderbilt’s fight song, “Dynamite.” His career is therefore useful for understanding Nashville beyond a single genre: a working musical community in which popular orchestras and radio performers helped build the foundations for later recording activity.