Kathleen Defrancis

Denver native, musician and event producer Kathleen Lenora "Kathi" DeFrancis who delighted audiences and contributed to Denver's music and arts scene for over 50 years died surrounded by family on March 15 at Denver Hospice Inpatient Care. She was 74.

A singer-songwriter and pianist, Kathi recorded three albums of original music and performed on many other records. As founding member of Colorado's legendary group The Mother Folkers she added her engaging stage presence, stellar piano playing and bluesy-sweet voice to the "MoFo's" sold out performances for over 25 years.

Kathi was born in Denver and loved her City Park area home of 50 years inherited from her author grandmother Lenora Mattingly Weber by whom she was greatly influenced. Kathi attended St Philomena (Grade school), St Mary's Academy (high school) and CSU (college). When she was a young woman she trained as a classical pianist. Her career in the folk arts began in the 1960s in a Blues/ Folk duet with friend Dan McCrimmon. The duet became a trio when Vince DeFrancis joined them in a folk group named Triad that toured the U.S. Kathi's notoriety grew in 1968 when she co-hosted the 20-week series "Of Cabbage and Kings" for KRMA public television. She then scored and arranged for television and films, which led to involvement in The Mother Folkers, "the most carefully pronounced name in show business," a name some Denver newspapers initially refused to print.

Kathi also was a founding member of Paratakki Oree and Foan Family Circus, both one-of-a-kind troupes that featured music, magic, juggling and comedy with Kathi on piano, vocals and all sorts of other shenanigans. Later her Annual 39th Birthday "folk fusion" concerts were reminiscent of national appearances she enjoyed at New York's Waldorf Astoria, Houston's Music Hall, New Orlean's Fairmont Hotel, Hollywood's Magic Castle and The Aladdin Las Vegas.

Through music and performance Kathi became immersed in business aspects of the arts, co-producing "Magic in the Rockies," an annual-national magicians' convention in Estes Park, and later sharing her business and marketing skills with The Denver Children's Museum, RTD, producing events for downtown Denver, Inc. and Larimer Square Associates, then as vice president of Creative Resource Network talent agency and Spencer-DeFrancis Public Relations. At CRN she produced Denver's Comic Relief among events and booked comedic and musical talent for venues coast to coast working with Roseanne Barr (then a local comic), Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Louie Anderson, Dennis Miller and scores of others all in addition to writing and performing her own music. She fronted her own band "The Bad Girls," recorded three of her own albums, "Jade" , an LP with the Magic Song and San Antone, "Home Before Morning," and "Love's So Funny" , plus three albums with The Mother Folkers, and has recorded with many other artists..

Kathi's deep devotion to family, friends and fellow artists, her soulful music, good humor and loving nature touched and inspired all who knew her. Her giving, vivacious spirit will be deeply missed by family, friends, and fans.

Kathi is survived by two daughters Jahnavi Stenflo (Nathan Jantz) of Longmont, Angie DeFrancis Cox (Josh Crow) of Aurora, three beloved grandchildren Kalindi, Malachai and Phoenix, Brothers Bill (Maggie), David (Lauri), of Denver, Mark of Denver and sister Gayle (David) of Santa Cruz, CA, nieces and nephews and hundreds of beloved friends.

Kathi DeFrancis' Life Celebration will be May 6, 2018 at The Mercury Café, Denver, Noon to 4:30 p.m .

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help the family pay medical expenses at: jahdevi@gmail.com on www.paypal.com

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