Philip John Franchini

PHILIP JOHN FRANCHINI, 70, died in his home in Lucca, Italy on December 26, 2025. The cause of death was prostate cancer.
Philip was a masterful musician, guitarist, bandleader, inspired vocalist, composer, bhakti yogi, and sound healer. He fell in love with music as a youth listening to folk tunes, cowboy songs, and the blues. Born in Massachusetts, he lived in Washington, D.C., until moving to Louisville, Kentucky at age eight, where he began classical guitar lessons. After moving to KY he went by Philip Bingham for many years before returning to his Italian family name. His interest in Eastern philosophy and disciplines, yoga, and meditation, began at age fifteen. Philip attended Kentucky Country Day School, Stockbridge School in Stockbridge, Mass., St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., and Ballard High School in Louisville. He continued his music education at Bellarmine University in Louisville and later Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz.
During a career lasting over fifty years, Philip explored a wide range of musical genres, from blues and classic rock to new wave, punk, ska, rockabilly, gospel, Brazilian pop, Flamenco, and Indian classical and chant. He also taught guitar lessons, and one of his students, David Grissom, later was lead guitarist for John Mellencamp and toured with Joe Ely.
From the late 1970s until relocating to Italy in 2022, Philip lived in California, contributing significantly to the music scenes of Santa Cruz, Encinitas, and the Los Angeles area. His brother Charles joined him on drums in the 1980s Santa Cruz power pop group, Satellites, and both also performed in the popular reggae-ska band, Mighty High. His bands and recording projects are too numerous to list.
Philippo, the name he chose later in life, was rarely without his guitar. His energy and smile were infectious, and his singing and playing brightened any gathering of family or friends. Over the past two decades, he blazed the global bhakti yoga trail, performing kirtan at festivals, yoga retreats and teaching workshops, often with his creative partner, the late David Newman. He recorded five albums and contributed to dozens of other music projects. As Philippo said of his kirtan work, "I wanted to create music that would be a doorway for others to enter into meditation, healing energy, a sense of the sublime... perhaps to accompany yoga practice or comfort someone who felt out of balance. I also wanted to express a sense of gratitude, wonder, and openness." The same could be said of all his music, which was a means to connect people and celebrate each person's divine nature.
The blues remained central to his creative work. Able to play, sing, improvise, and compose, he was at work in his final year on a new album with his blues ensemble, Brother John's Jubilee.
Mr. Franchini is survived by his mother, Edith Stenhouse Bingham; his brothers Charles Bingham (Lisa LaReau), Guido Franchini, and Adrien de Gail Franchini (Dorina Lasco); his sisters Emily Bingham (Stephen Reily) and Molly Bingham; his aunts, Emily Richardson, Bona Franchini, Patrizia Franchini, Eleanor Bingham Miller, numerous cousins including Francesca Franchini (Gabriele Mirra) and Clara Bingham (Joe Finnerty), and a circle of nieces and nephews that includes Elizabeth Bingham Rogers (Ryan), Cason Reily (Eva Mooney), Henrietta Reily, James Reily, Tala Bingham Connors, and Leonia Franchini. He also leaves his stepmother, Danielle de Gail Franchini. He was preceded in death by his father Massimo Franchini, and by his stepfather Barry Bingham, Jr.
In his final months, he was lovingly attended by his friend Micheline Pierette Berry. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude for her presence, which carried him through the final movement of his life.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Save the Music Foundation link or to the donor's favorite charity. A memorial service and scattering of ashes will be held at a later date.