Cleve Francis
Author of "Do My Heart Good: My Odyssey Through Country Music, Medicine, and History" (published by the Country Music Foundation Press and the University of Illinois Press).
Cleve Francis is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist as well as a medical doctor with a specialty in cardiology. Born into poverty in rural Jennings, Louisiana, he rose through hard work and resolve to become the successful head of a cardiology practice and one of the few Black performers ever to record country music for a major record label as of the early 1990s.
He made three country music albums between 1991 and 1994 for Capitol Records’ Liberty imprint, and they included his charting singles “Love Light” and “You Do My Heart Good,” among others. Throughout his life, Francis has written, performed, and recorded music—a through-line that intertwines with his education and medical career. The founder and CEO of Mount Vernon Cardiology, Francis is now retired from clinical practice and lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, Hardeep.
Book Talk: Do My Heart Good with Cleve Francis
Saturday, September 5, 2026 | 2:30 – 3:45 PM | Ford Theater
He tells his fascinating story in his new book, Do My Heart Good: My Odyssey Through Country Music, Medicine, and History, which recounts the journey of a young man born into poverty in rural Louisiana who grew to be a successful medical doctor and one of the few Black artists ever to record country music for a major record label as of the 1990s. The book traces three key threads woven throughout Francis’s life: his lifelong love of performing music, his abiding interest in science and medicine, and his determination to break through racial barriers.
Following the program, Francis will sign copies of his book, which will be available for purchase.
