Frances resides in Montague, MA and performs a wide variety of music from 

well-known jazz standards and blues to Brazilian, Latin, pop and more.  She began

performing Country music at age 12 and was well known locally as a vocalist and

guitarist in Soft Touch, The Hall Brothers and other local bands.  Today, she enjoys

singing with a broad range of musical groups from Joe Velez' 17 piece 

La Creacion Latin Big Band to quartets or quintets like Never Been to Spain, 
Ask Me Now, and on occasion the hard bop jazz group, The Secondary Messengers. 

She has performed at many local venues including Hawks and Reed Performing Arts,

Gateway Performing Arts Center, Patrick’s, The Collegian Court, Luthiers,

The Student Prince, and Uno's Chicago Grill.   

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Music was a central theme in the Rahaim home. Her parents Annie, a pianist and

singer, and her father George, a jazzer at heart, exposed her to live music

performances at every opportunity. Sometimes the live music came to their home!

The Boston based Jones Brothers Trio, Herbie, Clyde and Max, were friends of the

family and often arrived with vibes, trumpet, and drums for fun jam sessions. In 1963, 

Herbie joined Duke Ellington's band playing first trumpet when required and had

the rare opportunity to sit between Duke and Billy Strayhorn while they composed, 

then transcribe the charts for the band. When Herbie left the band to return to his
family, the trio's visits to the Rahaim household resumed. Frances loved the gentleman and their "cool cat" style, hep vernacular and swingin’ sounds and lyrics! Perhaps this is where her affinity for early swing and true appreciation for talented musicians stems from. 

 

When it comes to singing the blues, Frances thanks her supportive friend Suzie Vinnick, a Canadian three-time Juno nominee, for encouraging her to explore and share her bluesy, gospel style. Other influences have included Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, Nnenna Freelon, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Delbert McClinton, and Bonnie Raitt.

Frances credits and appreciates the fine musicians she works with for the breadth and depth of music they perform. She especially enjoys collaborating to produce fresh stylings and interesting musical arrangements and has a passion for unearthing interesting, sometimes lesser-known gems destined to become new audience favorites. Above all, she’s grateful to the agents, venue owners and managers who book the bands, and the loyal music lovers who come to listen and dance. ​With her sophisticated, sultry voice, engaging smile and unique stage presence, Frances draws her audience in – connecting. 
Each performance is a memorable, intimate experience.

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Professionally, Frances Rahaim, Ph.D., also known as The Money Doctor, is the president and CEO of PowerDownDebt, Inc.TM and HUG Your Student Debt, Inc.TM, financial coaching companies focused on teaching strong money-management skills, good credit practices, retirement planning and debt management.  Her live and recorded financial shows may be found on more than 25 radio and TV stations.