Francis Anthony Christina (born February 1, 1951) is an American drummer known for his work in Texas blues band the Fabulous Thunderbirds (1979–97). He was also the founding drummer of Roomful of Blues (1967–1971).[1][2]
Early life
Christina was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, United States. He is the third of seven children born to James Christina and Josephine Trebisacci in an Italian-American Catholic family. As a boy, he would sneak into the local Black Baptist church to listen to the music there. At the age of 10, he improvised as a drummer for his brother's garage band. At age 12, Christina was given his first real set of drums.[3] He taught himself music, then formed a band and began to perform at venues including a bowling alley lounge and a strip club.[1][2]
Following Roomful of Blues in 1971, Christina joined with his former associates, including guitarist/ vocalist Johnny Nicholas, harmonica Steve Nardella, and bass player Sarah Brown, and formed the Boogie Brothers in 1971, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Except for Sarah Brown, all the members were previously part of a group named Black Cat. They became the house band at The Blind Pig, where they were a backing/touring band for various blues artists, including Johnny Shines, Big Walter "Shakey" Horton, Boogie Woogie Red, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Billy Boy Arnold, and others.[5] in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In 1979, he officially became a member of an Austin Blues band The Fabulous Thunderbirds.[8][9][10][11] Other than Christina on drums, the band included Jimmie Vaughan on guitar, Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica, and Keith Ferguson on bass. After joining the band full-time, Christina performed with the band's second release What's the Word for the Chrysalis label. He then performed on several albums with the band.[12][8]
The band's 1986 album Tuff Enuff[13] was commercially successful and was certified platinum. They were nominated for two Grammys in 1987. Several artists invited them to open shows including The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Tom Petty, The Doobie Brothers, The Who, REO Speedwagon, B.B. King, The Eurythmics, Bob Seeger and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Christina was a member of the band until he left in 1996. During his time with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the band won the W. C. Handy Band of the Year award in 1986, was nominated for two Grammys in 1987, and their songs were selected as soundtracks for numerous movies[14] and Christina departed in 1996.[15]
Post-Thunderbirds career
Christina played with blues singer and pianist Marcia Ball and Doug Sahm’s Last Real Texas Blues Band before retiring from the road in 1999.[16] In 2021 and 2022m Christina worked on a Matt "Guitar" Murphy tribute album project with his brother, fellow drummer Bobby Christina. Christina performed on the album and produced several cuts.[citation needed] Since 1995, Christina has been producing intaglio etchings for his wife, artist Julie Speed.[17]
In 2023, he performed on Al Staehely's Somewhere In West Texas.
