Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark's Italian Down
Neck or Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey neighborhood, she is considered
the most prolific female rock 'n' roll hit-maker of the early rock era -- the
late 1950s to the early 1960s. After an appearance on Startime, Francis was
advised to change her name from Franconero to something more easily
pronounceable, as well as to quit the accordion and focus on singing.
In April 1958, "Who's Sorry Now" reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart (number
four in the USA) and in 2000, was named one of the Songs of the Century. On
January 1, 1958, she debuted it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand television
show; by mid-year over a million copies were sold. This was followed by a slew
of other hits over the next decade, as Connie Francis became one of the most
popular vocalists in the world.
Francis specialized in downbeat ballads delivered in her trademark "sobbing"
style, such as "My Happiness," "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry," "Among My Souvenirs,"
"Together," "Breakin' In a Brand New Broken Heart," and the Italian song "Mama,"
many of which were remakes of old standards. However, she also had success with
a handful of more upbeat, rock-and-roll-oriented compositions, such as "Stupid
Cupid," "Lipstick On Your Collar," and "Vacation." Among her other notable
performances were "In the Summer of His Years" (a tribute to slain U.S.
President John F. Kennedy) and Bert Kaempfert's "Strangers In The Night"
(although the latter song is more identified with Frank Sinatra). Both
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" went to No.1
on the Billboard music charts in 1960. In 1962 she had another No.1 hit with
"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You."
Connie Francis MGM LP record, 1961Francis recorded in nine languages during her
career, including English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, and even Japanese,
and remade many of her hits in foreign languages, including "Everybody's
Somebody's Fool" and her signature song, "Where the Boys Are". In fact, her
biggest hit album in the U.S. was 1960's Italian Favorites, and she followed it
with several more albums of Italian songs over the years, as well as collections
of Spanish-language and Jewish songs, among others.
"Where The Boys Are," one of many Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield compositions
Francis recorded during her career (others included "Stupid Cupid" and
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool"), gained wide exposure through its inclusion in
the 1960 motion picture with the same title. Francis had a role in the film and
sang the title song. During the first half of the 1960s she starred in three
additional films -- Follow the Boys (1963) (the title song of which became a No.
17 Billboard single for Francis), Looking for Love (1964) and When the Boys Meet
the Girls (1965).
In 1960 Francis became the youngest headliner to sing in Las Vegas, where she
played 28 days a year for nine years. In 1961 she was successful in starring in
her own television special on ABC television sponsored by Brylcreem titled
Kicking Sound Around, singing and acting along-side Tab Hunter, Eddie Foy Jr.
and Art Carney. She appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on July 1, 1962 with French
singing star, Johnny Hallyday in a show that was taped at the famous Moulin
Rouge nightclub in Paris, France. On July 3, 1963 she played a Command
performance before Queen Elizabeth II at the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow,
Scotland. By 1967, she had 35 U.S. Top 40 hits, and three number ones.
Connie Francis has always been a great fan of country music and recorded several
albums of country standards during her pop career. In 1969 she had a modest
country hit with "The Wedding Cake" and made the country charts again in 1982
with "There's Still a Few Good Love Songs Left in Me". Several country singers
found chart success remaking Francis' pop hits for the country market, including
Marie Osmond ("Who's Sorry Now" in 1975), Susan Raye ("My Heart Has a Mind of
Its Own" in 1972), Margo Smith ("Don't Break The Heart That Loves You" in 1978),
and Debby Boone.
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Connie Francis Comes to Bergen PAC 5/1Broadway WorldThe Legend Continues as pop music's #1 female vocalist from the late 1950's to the mid-1960's, Connie Francis, comes to the Bergen Performing Arts Center on ... |
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