Bio

"I mix rainbow tears and lightning bolts, warm rays of sun and foggy moonlight, and throw in a fistful of chance."
FRAN BANISH HAS A SELF-PROCLAIMED MUSICAL SPLIT PERSONALITY: a love for blues and a love for pop music. And he intends to keep mixing things up. "I love the element of surprise in music," he explains. "I still remember the hypnotic effect jukeboxes had on me when I was 5. They could spit out a Beatles tune, a Jackson 5 tune, then some B.B. King. Every song was a magical surprise that drew you in."

Fran Banish is a Chicago born, formerly LA based Blues-Rock guitar legend. After receiving radio play in Chicago with the progressive pop-rock band Security, he toured and recorded internationally, earning a Gold Record award and a Grammy nomination, playing lead guitar and co-writing on Duncan Sheik’s debut for Atlantic Records. Fran also did guitar session work and composition for radio, TV, and film. He's done stage and session work with Keb’ Mo,' Rami Jaffe of The Wallflowers and The Foo Fighters, Dan Lavery of Tonic and The Fray, Janiva Magness, Berry Oakley Jr., Chris Stills (son of Stephen of CSN&Y), and Kofi Baker (son of Cream's Ginger Baker) among others. He's also been an in-demand guitar coach with clients including Keb' Mo', Bob Dylan and family, Doug Ardito of Puddle Of Mudd, Brian Bell of Weezer, and celebs like Christian Bale, Ethan Hawke, Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, and Josh Charles. Fran also contributed guitar to the Golden Globe and Emmy winning Amazon comedy-drama, Transparent, and in 2018 played Robert Johnson's guitar parts for NBC TV's Timeless "King Of The Blues" episode. Residing in the city of Chicago since 2018, Fran has had the pleasure of not only working with his own Fran Banish Trio, but also with the top Chicago-based World Music group, The Surabhi Ensemble, and it’s spin-off The Global Guitar Duo, with Flamenco guitarist Carlo Basile. Beginning in 2023, you can also hear Fran on guitar with the Soul-Jazz-Funk quintet The Meadowlark Lemons.

"…some of the most incredible, sizzling six-string play around." LA Weekly
"…wicked slide guitar." LA Weekly
"…the best young blues player in LA, Fran Banish." Los Angeles Magazine

Fans are kept up to date at www.franbanish.com.