Connie met Bobby early on in her career and quickly formed a special connection. She talked about how she was putting her children through another day in hell. Francis returned to San Remo in 1967 to present "Canta Ragazzina" with her team partner Bobby Solo. I could record where I wanted, however many I felt so bad for her. Level Listeningand Speaking II: Marcel Castillo ONLINE. There are ninety-five million females in the country, and I'll bet ninety-five percent of them sing. "Belleville to honor hometown girl, the resilient Connie Francis", Connie Francis Sings Fun Songs for Children, Connie Francis Sings Spanish and Latin American Favorites, Connie Francis Sings Award Winning Motion Picture Hits, Connie Francis and Hank Williams Jr. In April 1958, "Who's Sorry Now?" One year later, the songstress married her fourth husband, Bob Parkinson in 1985. He rented a whole restaurant to have a dinner party for me in Las Vegas. Godfrey convinced her to change her real last name to Francis after he had difficulty pronouncing it. Connie Francis, byname of Concetta Maria Franconero, (born December 12, 1938, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.), American singer whose recordings in the 1950s and '60s encompassed country, rock and roll, and traditional vocal pop. She could be seen wearing a lovely red dress, while D'Amelio wore a white shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses. "Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. Sedaka then played "Stupid Cupid." But soon he realized that his daughter, with her strong and tuneful voice, had even greater potentials. Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, in 1937, Francis changed her name at the suggestion of a TV host. By then, she had established herself as a child entertainer. I stretched the other songs before I got to Whos Sorry Now so there wouldnt be time. Right there in my living-room, it became Mardi Gras-time, the kick-off at the Super Bowl, and New Year's Eve at the turn of the century! She spent some time in a mental hospital for severe depression. She recorded the song also in Japanese, Italian, and Spanish, as she had done before with her original 1960 version. A German-language solo album was supposed to follow on Herzklang, but despite all songs being recorded and mixed, the album remains unreleased. Connie Francis isnt sorry now about sharing her story. She called Bobby Darin the love of her life. By the time of the latter's taping, Darin had married actress Sandra Dee. Francis considered a career in medicine and was about to accept a four-year scholarship offered at New York University. She and her family moved to Belleville, New Jersey, where Francis graduated as salutatorian from Belleville High School Class of 1955. 'Freddy was released in June 1955 as Connies debut single; but it failed to make any mark and was a commercial failure and so were her next eight singles. Despite it all, she considers her personal life a bust. Connie Francis recording music in 1978 in London. There's a major story there." Francis used these reflections as the basis for her April 1960 recording, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" which would go on to become the first single by a female artist to top the Hot 100. Finally Connie signed a contract with MGM Records for ten singles and one duet. Connie Francis recording music in 1978 in London. Eder, Shirley. Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Connie Stevens. In spite of the success, she was informed by MGM that her contract would not be renewed after her tenth solo recording. When he finished, Francis announced that he had just played her new hit song. When his body was discovered days later in the family's septic tank, the mother was put on trial both by the court system, as well . (2017). A number of Francis's singles continued to reach the top 40 in the US Hot 100 through the mid-1960s, with her last top-40 entry in 1964 being her cover version of "Be Anything (but Be Mine)", a 1952 song made famous by singer/bandleader Eddy Howard. In March 1959, Francis released her second studio album, The Exciting Connie Francis. In her autobiography Who's Sorry Now? Bob worked as a TV producer with two IMDb credits from the early 80s in Richard Pryor Here and Now andI Challenge You. In 1950, 12-year-old Concetta secured the first place on Arthur Godfrey's Startime Talent Scout as a singer and an accordion player. This answer song to "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando & Dawn bubbled under the charts. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. The New Jersey native was married four times throughout her career but revealed that her greatest love was her late boyfriend, Connie met Bobby early on in her career and quickly formed a special connection. The singer is known for hits such as "Who's Sorry Now?" After becoming the top female vocalist in the country, Francis also starred in a few films throughout the 1960s. [59], A "Connie Francis Way" street sign is displayed at the corner of Greylock Parkway and Forest Street in Belleville, New Jersey, near the house in which she grew up.[60]. She had a younger brother named George Franconero, Jr. George Franconero, Sr. was a natural entertainer, having certain musical ambition, which remained unfulfilled. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Francis explained in a 1961 television interview that she was fluent in Spanish and Italian, but always had a translator nearby to make sure her translated lyrics and especially her pronunciation were as correct as possible. To celebrate, she hosted a magnificent party at her house, inviting everyone she cares about. MGM released her first recording, "Freddy" because the president of MGM had a son named by the same name. 1964), Izzy Marion (m. 1971 div. The Washington Post previously reported that in 1974, police found Francis in a Long Island hotel room naked, gagged and tied to an overturned chair. A 5-year-old child went missing in Dublin, Va., in spring 2015. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, just one of her other 53 career hits. It went on to reach number 14 on the Billboard chart and was her second number 1 in the UK.[17]. She was terrorized for nearly three hours at knife-point, raped and robbed. that benefits the victims. 1 hit songs, iconic movies, Hollywood boyfriends, glamorous gowns and TV appearances on "American Bandstand" and "The Ed Sullivan Show.". She and Garzilli adopted one son. A young Connie Francis. (This, and her refusal to let Sedaka and Greenfield see the diary to mine it for material, inspired the duo to write Sedaka's own breakthrough hit "The Diary.") The beloved singer, who is recognized as the top-selling female vocalist of the '60s, has enjoyed a lasting career, but her success didn't come without its fair share of heartache. The lawsuit was dismissed. Connie Francis was born as Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero on December 12, 1938 in Ironbound Newark, New Jersey. [22][23] Francis recalls this story frequently during the introduction to "God Bless America" at her live concerts. [17] For the next four years, Francis was voted the "Best Female Vocalist" by American Bandstand viewers. Francis was not fluent in all of these languages and she had to learn her foreign language songs phonetically. [29], In 1977, Francis underwent nasal surgery and completely lost her voice. Connie Francis (center) with her mother, father and brother George. She was reportedly terrorized for close to three hours at knife-point, raped, and robbed. Gowns-bills were sent to MGM because I needed them for album covers. Francis began performing regularly again. In 1989, Francis resumed her recording and performing career again. Together, they made a double sided hit with Stupid Cupid peaking at number 14 on Billboard Hot 100. It was a happy shock. Among her other hits are Stupid Cupid, Lipstick on Your Collar, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own, Never on a Sunday, and Don't Break the Heart That Loves You. At the age of only four years, she made her first performance. Connie Francis (born 12 December 1937 in Newark, New Jersey, USA) is an American pop singer best known for international hit songs such as "Who's Sorry Now?," "Where The read more. According to Francis she was on location in Fort Lauderdale when the film's director Joe Pasternak advised her . https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/connie-francis-9130.php. provide adequate security when she learned that a year after the rape She also sang in Romanian during a live performance at the 1970 edition of the Cerbul de Aur in Braov, Romania. But it did take seven years out of my life. Though success had finally seemed to come with "The Majesty of Love", Francis was informed by MGM Records that her contract would not be renewed after her last solo single. I began feeling sorry for myself and a bit envious, too. After she was raped in 1974, Connie Francis sued Jericho Turnpike Howard Johnson's Lodge for failing to provide adequate security, winning $2.5 million in settlement. 489,228 listeners. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Her music talent was spotted early in her life and by the age of three she began attending music school for vocal and accordion training and started performing in public by the age of four. Francis was all set to quit music and study pre-med at NYU on scholarship when her father convinced her to record a decades-old tune, "Who's Sorry Now." She performed "Who's Sorry Now" on American Bandstand, and it became an immediate hit. speaks out against the above mentioned and. [46] In January 1971, she married Izzy Marion, a hair-salon owner, divorcing 10 months later. So I had to do that in the privacy of my own home. Beginning: Level Listeningand Speaking III. Connie Francis celebrated her 85th birthday with "the largest gathering of lifelong friends.". But Dick Clark liked it It was a cosmic moment for me. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. It was backed by her ninth solo single You, My Darlin You. She went through three more operations to regain her singing voice and was unable to sing for four years.[16][22]. whatever arranger, and then the bottom line was, if I didn't like any To celebrate, she hosted a magnificent party at her house, inviting everyone she cares about. He said, If you dont sing this song sister, the only way youll get on 'American Bandstand' is if you sit on top of the television set. So I did it as the last song. Fame and fortune followed her after her first hit single, but that doesn't mean Francis had an easy life. It came mainly because one of the tracks was entitled Freddy, which was also the name of the company co-executive, Harry A. Myersons son and he thought that the song would be a good birthday present. [51][52], Francis saw Darin only two more times: once when the two were scheduled to sing together for a television show, and again when she was spotlighted on the TV series This Is Your Life. Ferretti and Francis specifically focused on the song "You Made Me Love You.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Good luck to her, I thought. From mid-1961 to mid-1963, Radio Luxembourg closed each day's broadcasts with "It's Time to Say Goodnight", a song Francis had recorded especially for this purpose and which was never officially released until 1996.[21]. #New#Connie FrancisConnie Francis Very Best Songs Playlist - Connie Francis Greatest Hits Full AlbumConnie Francis Very Best Songs Playlist - Connie Francis . I tried to The singer is known for hits such as "Who's Sorry Now? Upon hearing that . news.AmoMama.com speaks out against the above mentioned and news.AmoMama.com advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. The 80-year-old has chosen to come forward with a tell-all titled Among My Souvenirs, where she candidly opens up about one of her greatest tragedies. and "Torn Between Two Lovers". I do want to concentrate on things that are vital for me, which are veterans, victims of violent crime and the mentally ill. And if I were in a relationship, I wouldnt be able to do these other things. 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Following a November 1974 performance at the Westbury Music Fair in Westbury, New York, Francis was the victim of a brutal rape and robbery after an intruder broke into her hotel room and held her at knifepoint. She made a name for herself with films including "Where the Boys Are" and "When the Boys Meet the Girls. paid for every photograph and I kept the photos. Marks Avenue) before the family moved to New Jersey. Travel, everything, As soon as Concetta turned three, her father enrolled her into a music school for accordion lessons. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. After Stupid Cupid, Connie Francis continued to churn out hits, recording My Happiness, her childhood favorite, on November 6, 1958. Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images, Name: Francis, Birth Year: 1938, Birth date: December 12, 1938, Birth State: New Jersey, Birth City: Newark, Birth Country: United States. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. Connie Francis is currently 85 according to her birthdate December 12, 1937 Sun Sign Sagittarius Born Place Newark, New Jersey, United States Nationality Education Connie Francis studied at Newark Arts High School from 1951 to 1952. She was very remorseful. [56] This suit was also dismissed. But there were 16 minutes left. Fox News spoke with Francis about opening up to fans. It takes a lot to make a relationship work. Closer Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. [11] Titled Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites, the album was released in November 1959. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, For Malaco Records, Francis recorded a double album entitled Where the Hits Are, containing re-recordings of 18 of her biggest hits, as well as six classics of yesteryear Francis had always wanted to record such as "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Much like Connie, Izzy had also been married once before and had two children from his previous relationship. The New Jersey native was married four times throughout her career but revealed that her greatest love was her late boyfriend, Bobby Darin. I Connie FrancisConnie Francis Sings Country & Western Hits A Republic Records Release; 1959 U. At what was to have been her final recording session for MGM on October 2, 1957, with Joe Lipman and his orchestra,[12] she recorded a cover version of the 1923 song "Who's Sorry Now?" In 1974, Francis was the victim of a brutal rape in her hotel room. In the fall of 1957, she enjoyed her first chart success with The Majesty of Love, a duet single with Marvin Rainwater. All along, she continued with her formal education, being enrolled at Newark Arts High School in 1951. Connie married her second husband, Izzy Marion, in 1971. On October 2, 1957, Connie Francis recorded a cover version of the 1923 song Who's Sorry Now? at her fathers insistence, who believed that with modern beat, the song would appeal to both the generations. Following this success, Francis recorded seven more albums of "favorites" between 1960 and 1964, including Jewish, German, and Irish, among others. In 1956, she recorded two songs, I Never Had A Sweetheart' and 'Little Blue Wren', for Tuesday Weld in the film Rock, Rock, Rock. [19] Veteran lyricist Ralph Maria Siegel penned a set of German lyrics, named "Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel", which, after some friction between Francis and her MGM executives, was recorded and released. Now, at 85, Connie looks charming and lives her life to the fullest. Now", since it was originally written in the 1930s. Billboard Hot 100 / This DES stereo video. Marks Avenue until her family packed up and moved to New Jersey. During the next two years, she recorded a number of mediocre songs. By mid-year, over a million copies had been sold, and Francis was suddenly launched into worldwide stardom. On November 27, 2002, she filed a second suit against UMG alleging the label had inflicted severe emotional distress on her and violated her moral rights when, without her permission, it synchronized several of her songs into "sexually themed" movies: the 1994 film Post Cards from America, the 1996 film The Craft, and the 1999 film Jawbreaker. They now secured forged identity card for Connie, with which she began to sing at different clubs and lounges. On November 8, 1974, she met with a tragedy, being raped and nearly killed by an unknown man in a hotel room in Jericho, New York. It soon entered the album charts where it remained for 81 weeks, peaking at number 4. Later the single also sold well. [47][48] In 1973, Francis married for the third time her only marriage to last more than a few months Joseph Garzilli, a restaurateur and travel-agency owner; they divorced in 1977. ~ Connie Francis ~ The Official Facebook Page Due to changing trends in the early and mid-1960s, namely the British Invasion, Francis's chart success on Billboard's Hot 100 began to wane after 1963. All Rights Reserved, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google. During their marriage, they adopted one son, Joseph Garzilli Jr. Connie took time away from the spotlight to grieve after her brother, George Franconero Jr., was murdered in 1981. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. MTW 7:00PM- 8:15PM 6/12-7/22. She subsequently sued the hotel chain for failing to I needed to put humor into my book. There was no way he could have been saved. (1938-) Who Was Connie Francis? Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Hawaii Adventures! [6], Francis was born to an Italian-American family in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, the first child of George and Ida (ne Ferrari-di Vito) Franconero, spending her first years in the Crown Heights, Brooklyn area (Utica Avenue/St. Fox News: Which was the most difficult chapter for you to write and why?Connie Francis: My brothers murder. Because I knew in five seconds my life would never be the same. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937), [2] known professionally as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. I chose the wrong men for the wrong reasons. [17] She managed to churn out more hits by covering several older songs, such as "My Happiness" (number 2 on the Hot 100) and "Among My Souvenirs" (number 7), as well as performing her own original songs. "There's no doubt about it", predicted Mr. Clark. It was during this period that she changed her stage name to Connie Francis on the advice of Godfrey, who found it difficult to pronounce Franconero. All three albums and the singles culled from them were released on United Artists Records. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Spanish and German recordings became albums of their own in as Connie Francis en Espaol in Spain and as Was ich bin (What I Am) in Germany. In 1992, a medley of remixed versions of her biggest German hits charted in Germany. In the wake of this, Francis recorded two duets for the German Herzklang label (a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment) with Peter Kraus, with whom she had already worked several times in the late 1950s and early 1960s. 36) and "Heartaches" (failing to chart at all), Francis met Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, who sang a number of ballads they had written for her. [18], In 1973, Francis returned to the recording studio, cutting "(Should I) Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree? Birthday: December 12, 1937 (Sagittarius), Born In: Newark, New Jersey, United States, Also Known As: Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, Spouse/Ex-: Bob Parkinson (m. 1985 div. [53], Francis supported Richard Nixon's 1968 bid for the presidency when she recorded a campaign song for him.[54]. Her father made a negative comment about Darin finally being out of their lives. Connie Francis married four times; but none of them lasted long. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. She was afraid you would use the F-word. Frank said, Well I didnt disappoint her, did I? Don said, Dont you see that sign on her forehead? There were No. adult star in America. All rights reserved. What would it take to impress you?Francis: A lot! Prompted by her father, Concetta began to appear at different talent contests, pageants, lodge celebrations, church socials and other neighborhood festivities from the age of four, singing and playing accordion. Unfortunately, her father ensured they couldn't be together. Keep scrolling to learn more about Connies four marriages. got her big break on the music scene with her cover of Whos Sorry Now? The top-selling song led to a career full of incredible successes in the midst of heartache. Moreover, she was voted the "Best Female Vocalist" by American Bandstand viewers. According to Francis: They chose to use amateur writers to write the screenplay. Francis returned to the recording studio in 1981 to cut "Comme ci, comme a", and "I'm Me Again", the latter of which became the title track of an album which featured the aforementioned new songs. The duet peaked at number 93 on Billboard's Hot 100. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Connie Francis' decades-long career was marked by all the glittering things of Hollywood royalty. I think had I been in a better frame of mind, had it not been [for] the rape, I would have had more of a handle on what he was doing and I would have prevented him from getting involved with such unsavory people. The first night that we met, he used vile language, not at me, but at somebody else. Lovely, indefatigable Connie Stevens added sparkle to a number of films and TV shows in the late 50s and 60s Hollywood. They Two of her songs have al. The first time he asked me out on a date in 1961, he rented a shiny new Corvette sports car and we went to this elaborate movie house where they had valet parking. After a few hours, Francis began writing in her diary while the songwriters played the last of their ballads. NEWARK, N.J. -- The brother of singer Connie Francis was slain outside his home Friday by two gunmen who stepped from behind a row of bushes and shot him in the head. [24] In the US, however, "Time Alone Will Tell", Francis's cover version of San Remo's 1967 winning entry "Non pensare a me" which had been presented by Iva Zanicchi and Claudio Villa, peaked at number 94 on Billboard's Hot 100 and at number 14 on Billboard's AC charts. Well, the feeling was cosmic - just cosmic! songs I wanted, in whatever country, in whatever language, with Finally in 1978, she returned to the recording studio to cut her first album in the post MGM era, Whos Happy Now?. [41], In December 2017, Francis released her most recent autobiography, Among My Souvenirs.[42]. Desperate, she now began to look for her next hit and found it in Stupid Cupid, written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Troyan, Michael; Thompson, Jeffrey Paul; Sylvester, Stephen X. Her rapist was never found. Afterwards, Francis told them that she considered their ballads too intellectual and sophisticated for the young generation and requested a more lively song. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. While appearing at the Westbury Music Fair in New York, on November 8, 1974, Francis was raped at the Jericho Turnpike Howard Johnson's Lodge in Jericho, New York, and nearly suffocated under the weight of a heavy mattress the culprit had thrown upon her. By then, Connies father, George Franconero, and her manager, George Scheck, realized that her days as a child artist were numbered. Her second autobiography, Among My Souvenirs, was published in 2017. The couple were married for 81 days before their relationship headed towards a divorce. There were two people I idolized: One was Frank and the other was Judy Garland. The song was also recorded by Connie Francis in 1959 for her album Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites, with her hit single released in February 1960. Therefore, Francis enjoyed lasting chart success in the US until her contract with MGM Records ran out in 1969.[18]. Don told him, Hey dummy, this floozy your latest thing? In spite of her set back on Billboard Hot 100, she remained a top concert draw and continued to top other charts such as Adult Contemporary Chart and Country Chart. George also quickly put an end to Connie's romance, at age 19, with fellow teen singer Bobby Darin. By then, her popularity has reached its peak in USA and Europe. [17], In 1981, further tragedy struck Francis when her brother, George Franconero, Jr., with whom she was very close, was murdered by Mafia hitmen. Singer, composer, actress, entertainer and publisher Connie Francis was educated at Arts High School and was a music student of her father. On February 15, 1958, she sang it on Clarks Saturday Night Beechnut Show. Under the latter name, she also appeared on NBC's variety show Startime Kids between 1953 and 1955.
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