Vegas Singer Russel Francis Is An Australian Sensation

Vegas! The Show and Chippendales performer sizzles overseas on TV hit THE VOICE…

Last summer I penned a piece on the unique bond between Las Vegas and Australia. For whatever reason, these two destinations seem “joined at the hip.” This month, that connection has grown even stronger thanks to the vocal stylings of Vegas expatriate Russel Francis.

Russel (center) proposed to wife Ali (far right) on stage at Vegas! The Show

Francis, a talented former Strip performer, is currently burning up the airwaves on Australia’s version of The Voice. You might remember Russel from that article. He’s the charismatic singer/dancer who left behind a blossoming career at both Chippendales and Vegas! The Show to move overseas.

New bride Ali, an Australian native who was also a Vegas performer, had desired to return to her birthplace when her father’s health declined. Despite Russel’s rising star, they made the move together and quickly settled into a new life Down Under.

“The hardest thing was leaving a promising career for the unknown,” Russel told me. “Ali’s dad was very ill and we weren’t sure if he was going to make it. Family is everything, so it was the right decision.”

When I last checked in on Russel, both he and Ali were both performing for Chique Entertainment in Gold Coast, Queensland. What a difference a year makes. He now does stunt driving at Movie World, a theme park near his home.

“Ali knew some of the guys in the stunt show. They asked me if I’d feel comfortable with fast cars driving straight at me. I needed the job so I said “sure”. I started out doing the comedy roles and then learned to drive and drift in the show. It’s one of the coolest jobs I’ve ever had…and is such an adrenaline rush”.

Russel and the cast of PIANO MAN

I first met Russel after a performance on New Year’s Eve, 2014. He’d just wowed an audience during a matinee of Piano Man, a loving salute to the music of Elton John, Manilow and Billy Joel. That short-lived V Theater production may not have caught on, but Russel was clearly on the verge of a career breakout.

Russel’s profile (and roles) increased throughout the coming year, gaining a fan base for his looks as much as his vocal chords (flashing his abs during songs at Chippendales didn’t hurt). Both of those attributes were in ample supply during blind auditions for The Voice earlier this month.

Russel (second from left) and the rest of “Team Seal.”

This wasn’t the first time that Russel had tried out for The Voice. A year earlier, producers had filmed a segment on his background, preparing to run it if Russel made the Blind Auditions. Unfortunately, all of the team slots were filled before he got to the stage, leaving a dream unfulfilled…until this year.

Russel and myself after one of his Vegas performances…

If you’re not familiar with the procedures of The Voice, the Blind Auditions work as follows: contestants anonymously sing for celebrity judges who face away from them. If one (or more) of the judges like what they hear, they press a button that spins their chair around and brings singer and coach face-to-face. It’s also an invitation to be on that celeb’s team for subsequent rounds. See how things played out in these screen captures below:

As you can tell from the above pic, both Russel and Ali were thrilled when Seal spun around in the nick of time, barely edging out Boy George. Being chosen by the English singer holds a very special meaning to the Florida native:

“Seal is a very passionate and invested coach. I remember seeing him backstage and he said “Hey, Russel” and I was like “Seal knows my name!”. He told me that he has no one like me on his team. Every time I look at him, though, it takes me right back to his music video for Batman Forever (Kiss From A Rose). I’ve always loved soul music, so Seal was the coach I had in mind”.

“When I lived in L.A., I struggled a lot. There were times I couldn’t afford food or rent and I’d almost gave up, but performing was what made me happiest. So, I worked hard and clung onto this dream. Having Seal turn around in my Blind Audition made it feel like everything I had gone through was finally all worth it”.

The next morning, it was obvious that Russel’s audition had taken all of Australia by storm. He was interviewed live on Today Show when the sun came up and has subsequently been pursued by radio programs, talk shows and magazines. Both Kelly Rowland and Boy George have tipped Russel as the one to look out for this season.

Check out this clip below for his show audition and resulting Today Extra interview the next morning:

https://www.facebook.com/russel.francis/videos/10154735743189613/

As the competition moves forward, things will continue to get more challenging for Russel. He just completed the Knock Out Rounds, in which he had to sing against two other contestants. That resulted in his being “stolen” from Seal by Boy George, changing the playing field…and his feelings of loyalty:

“Honestly at first I didn’t know much about Boy George except he was sassy and sang Karma Chameleon. But now that I’ve gotten to know him, he’s the coolest! He’s never played it safe and isn’t afraid to push the boundaries, so I feel like it’s the perfect fit”.

As Russel moves closer to the finish line, he can’t help feeling grateful about having another opportunity for stardom…even if it’s on the other side of the world:

“I’ve been chasing this dream for as long as I can remember…and thirty-one isn’t exactly young. Out of thousands, I am now in the Top 24. It’s really exciting…people everywhere have started coming up and telling me how much they are rooting for me. The Voice was one last attempt to give my dream a shot and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.  Now it’s on to the Battle Rounds!”

Photos: [Russel Francis via Facebook/Instagram, Sammasseur]

sammasseur

A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.