| Francissca Peter | |
| Honorific Suffix: | DIMP |
| Birth Name: | Luciana Francissca Lucian Gabriel Peter[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1961 9, df=y[2] |
| Birth Place: | Klang, Selangor Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) |
| Instrument: | Vocalist |
| Years Active: | 1979–present |
| Associated Acts: | Royston Sta Maria |
Dato' Luciana Francissca Lucian Gabriel Peter, DIMP, also known as Fran, is a Malaysian actress and singer-songwriter.
Francissca was born into in Malaysia of Ceylonese (Sri Lankan/Scottish) and Chinese family, to Alice Peter and Lucian G. Peter (embraced Islam in 2007 and changed his name to Muhammad Gaberial Peter Abdullah).[3] [4] She is the second of four siblings.[5] Her father — an ex British soldier in the army during Malaya days teaching English grammar to the British soldiers then went on to be one of the first Reuters, Bernama then later joined New Straits Times and then went on to start the New paper, The Straits Echo'. He turned to alcoholism becos he was not happy and was very anti establishment and he eventually abandoned the family in 1978. [4] [5] Her mother had to raise Francissca and her siblings single-handedly with help from a handful of people and The Canossian Nuns.[6]
Despite being born in Klang, Selangor, Fran spent most of her childhood in Ipoh, Perak. She attended Main Convent Ipoh and then Tarcisian Convent Ipoh. The family moved to Petaling Jaya permanently in 1982 and she was enrolled at a co-ed school in Selayang. Francissca left school after Form Three, took up a typingwriting course, and started working as a salesgirl/rep in a Batik factory and shop for Tourist to help support her family but A year later, with money being tight, Fran took the decision to go into singing.[5] She and her mother scoured through the newspapers together, searching for agents who would help Fran secure a singing job.[6]
After her marriage, Francissca moved overseas - first to the US, then UK, and China (Guangzhou and Hong Kong) - in the 1990s, before relocating back to Malaysia in 2001.[5]
In 1987, she was the first Malaysian artist to win the International Award for "Best Song" at the 'Asean Song Festival' held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[7] She is also known nationwide for her rendition of Malaysia's second national anthem Setia.
In 1987, her album Kau Bintangku was almost banned as the album cover had her wearing a crucifix.[8] Warner Music digitally edited the album cover and put it back on the shelves.[9]
In 2007, she was the lead soloist in the "Musical SPEX – A Spiritual Journey"[10] held outdoors at night in Malacca. Also in the same year, Warner Music Malaysia released a double compilation CD album titled Berlian containing her 19 popular hits and 1 new song in 2007.[11] Warner also released two other compilation albums in 2008, one in March 2008 titled Nostalgia Abadi (Forever Nostalgic) and another in 2009 titled Memori Hit (Hit Memories). Keunggulan Francissca Peter (The Very Best of Francissca Peter), a 37-song compilation album, was released in late January 2010.[12]
On 4–6 February 2011, in conjunction with her 33 years in the Malaysian music industry, Fran held her first Solo Concert "Keunggulan 33 Tahun Francissca Peter" concert at The Panggung Sari, Istana Budaya.[13] Being the most successful non-Malay female entertainer in the local music industry, Fran was given the honour of being the first non-Malay Entertainer ever to perform a solo concert at the prestigious Istana Budaya. It was a sold-out, 3-night concert with Fran performing 33 songs each night with a 33-piece Orchestra. Fran received a standing ovation on all three nights including rave reviews inthe local dailies and alternative media.[14]
Consequently, in March 2011, Warner Music Malaysia released her box set of all her albums nationally 10 CDs (except for Masih Merindu album which was under an independent label). Also included in the Box Set was a new single Tiada Gementar Lagi recorded specially for her fans as a thank you for the years of love and support given to her for the "Konsert Keunggulan 33 Tahun" (February 2011).[15]
She is known as the "Fundraising Queen" in Malaysia.[5] In 2013, she released the album The Love & Hope consisting of 11 songs. Funds raised from the sale of this album went to the World Vision Child Development Fund to help impoverished children.[16]
On 8 March 2011, Fran was chosen as one of The Most Inspiring Women in Malaysia by The Star.[17]
In 2009, she filed for separation in her marriage, which she announced at the Keunggulan Concert 33 Years Francissca Peter in 2011.[19]
List of compositions & lyrics by Francissca Peter
| Year | Song Title | Album | Label / Copyright | Composed by | Lyrics by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Saat Manis | "Bersama Pertemuan Ini" | EMI Malaysia | Francissca Peter | – | |
| 1984 | Ku Menari Untukmu | "Komputer Muzik" | Warner Music Malaysia | – | Francissca Peter | |
| 1984 | Rahsia Hatiku | "Komputer Muzik" | Warner Music Malaysia | – | Francissca Peter | |
| 1984 | Kejadian Ini | "Komputer Muzik" | Warner Music Malaysia | – | Francissca Peter | |
| 1989 | Now's The Time | "Now's the Time" | Warner Music Malaysia | – | Francissca Peter, Michael Veerapen & Susan Goh | |
| 1989 | Going Crazy | "Now's the Time" | Warner Music Malaysia | – | Francissca Peter & Michael Veerapen | |
| 1993 | Desire | "Mawar Terpinggir" | Warner Music Malaysia | Francissca & Bibiana Peter; Fauzi Marzuki | Francissca & Bibiana Peter | |
| 1996 | Kehidupan Ini | "Setinggi Angkasa" | EMI Malaysia | Francissca Peter | – | |
| 1996 | Kini Tiada Lagi | "Setinggi Angkasa" | EMI Malaysia | Francissca Peter | Francissca Peter & Fauzi Marzuki | |
| 1996 | Ku Pohon Kemaafan | "Setinggi Angkasa" | EMI Malaysia | Francissca Peter | ||
| 1996 | Cinta Di Musim Bunga | "Setinggi Angkasa" | EMI Malaysia | – | Bibiana & Francissca Peter; Tessh R S | |
| 2003 | Ke Udara Kembali | "Masih Merindu" | BMG Publishing | – | Francissca Peter & Julfekar | |
| 2003 | Dihukum Cinta | "Masih Merindu" | Millenium Art Sdn Bhd | Francissca Peter | – | |
| 2003 | Tak Pernah Cinta | "Masih Merindu" | Millenium Art Sdn Bhd | Francissca Peter | – | |
| 2003 | Suatu Saat Dulu | "Masih Merindu" | Millenium Art Sdn Bhd | Francissca Peter & Julfekar | ||
| 2007 | Tomorrow (World Vision Malaysia theme song) | "Single" | – | Francissca & Bibiana Peter | ||
| 2009 | The Power of We "One AIA" (rebranding AIA Berhad theme song) | "Single" | – | Francissca & Bibiana Peter; Leonard Yeap | Bibiana & Francissca Peter | |
| 2011 | Tiada Gementar Lagi | "Keunggulan 33 Tahun Francissca Peter" | – | Imran Ajmain & Francissca Peter | – | |
| 2012 | It Starts With Me | "Songs Of Change (15th Anniversary World Vision Malaysia)" | – | Francissca & Bibiana Peter, Leonard Yeap, David Kien Lim | Francissca & Bibiana Peter |
