Frans Mifsud ta' Vestru
Frans Mifsud Ta' Vestru
is a folk singer from Żejtun. Born on 31st August 1953, he is the son of well known Żaren Ta' Vestru. The family name originated from his grandfather Vestru, a farmer who used to folk sing in his fields of Ta' Marnisi, in Żejtun.
From Żaren's children, only Frans took to folk singing, whereas a daughter, Catherine used to feature on Maltese pop numbers, some released on vinyl.
Frans has sung six folk ballads, all written for him by Karmenu Debono Il-Pikipakk from Birkirkara, himself a folk singer. These include Il-Għażiż Missieri in homage of Żaren, and folk sung for the first time at the Argotti Folk Music festival in 2000, when it was organized by Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop.
A recording of the session was made by the Ministry of Culture. Other ballads include Ix-Xemgħa, Żjara saċ-Ċimiterju, L-Ilsien Malti, which was recorded on One Radio for an għana programme hosted by Joe Magrin, and Ta' Peppi tat-Tuttu.
Frans starting folk singing at 34 years of age when he was made up a line up that presented three stalwarts of the time, Żeppi Meli Ta' Sika, Frans Baldacchino Il-Budaj and his father Żaren Mifsud Ta' Vestru, during a session held at Is-Safsafin in Qormi.
External Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp3S4oyo1Lk Ballad Il-Għażiż Missieri in honour of his father Żaren Ta' Vestru.