Dai Francis (23 February 1928 – 27 November 2003) was a Welsh singer, best known for his performances with the Black and White Minstrels.
[1] Francis was born in Glynneath, Glamorgan, the son of a music hall entertainer.
Dai himself began performing at the age of ten, "blacking up" to sing Dixieland-style numbers.
[2] During National Service with the RAF in 1946-49, where he served alongside Barry Took, Francis played in a forces band.
In 1954, Francis joined the George Mitchell Singers, and was one of the first soloists to appear in The Black and White Minstrel Show when it made its television debut in 1958.