Prior to launching his solo career, Chicago singer, songwriter, and pianist Neal Francis cut his teeth at a young age first as a blues sideman, then as a member of a promising funk ensemble before addiction nearly got the best of him. After getting clean, he developed a retro-driven style blending classic R&B with New Orleans rhythms, blues, and a healthy dose of early-'70s rock and launched a solo career with his 2019 debut album, Changes. Two years later, he released his absorbing and kaleidoscopic sophomore effort, In Plain Sight, and doubled down on his vintage R&B influences on the 2022 EP Sentimental Garbage.