Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937), better known as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer, former actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early. But there were 16 minutes left. Fox News: How did you and Don Rickles meet?Francis: Don Rickles was the one who taught me how to really laugh. Two of her songs have al. [13], In the fall of 1957, Francis enjoyed her first chart success with a duet single she had recorded with Marvin Rainwater: "The Majesty of Love", with "You, My Darlin' You" as the B-side, peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100. And then Mr. Clark just happened to play a song called "Who's sorry now" - MY "Who's Sorry Now"! Under the latter name, she also appeared on NBC's variety show Startime Kids between 1953 and 1955. By mid-year, over a million copies had been sold, and Francis was suddenly launched into worldwide stardom. 1 Success in the Hot 100's History, Connie Francis - Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel, Where the boys were: Connie Francis recalls Vietnam trip, Key Tradesters Invade As Opening Bell Sounds at Festival, "CONNIE FRANCIS: COMEBACK TRAIL AFTER 7 LOST YEARS", UA Head Warns of Increased S-O-R & Wide Discounting, I'm Me Again--Silver Anniversary Album - Connie Francis, "Two Kill a Jersey Man Who Gave Testimony on Mobster Activities", Connie Francis Put in Mental Hospital at Request of Police, The Return Concert: Live at Trump's Castle - Connie Francis, Connie Francis performs at Araneta Coliseum on Valentine's Day, Connie Francis & Dionne Warwick Shows Draw Record Crowds to Las Vegas Hilton, "Life of a Legend: Connie Francis reflects on showbiz career in tell-all book", Twentieth Century Fox: A Century of Entertainment, Connie Francis reflects on her romance with Bobby Darin before his untimely death, Rock and Roll Baby Names: Over 2,000 Music-Inspired Names, from Alison to Ziggy, The Long, Strange History of Campaign Endorsement Songs, "Connie Francis Interview About Her Struggle With Mental Health", "Moral Rights and Musicians in the United States", "Who's sorry now, indeed the Buzz Connie Francis suit against Universal Music Corp". Joseph Garzilli Jr's mother Connie Francis was raped at the Jericho Turnpike Howard Johnson's Lodge in Jericho, New York. Despite the heartbreak she faced when her plans to elope with Bobby never came to fruition, Connie found love four other times in her life. Connie Francis, the 1960s pop icon, turned 85 on Monday, December 12, 2022. Connie Francis opens up about her horrific 1974 rape, Princess Charlotte beams ahead of 8th birthday in new photo taken by mom Kate Middleton, Gisele Bndchen makes first Met Gala appearance after Tom Brady divorce, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson celebrate 35 years of marriage with sweet Instagram post: 'Love is everything', Roman Polanski, 1977 rape victim Samantha Geimer smile for social media snap, Woody Harrelson discusses 'SNL' backlash: 'I dont look at that s---', Brad Fischetti discusses losing former LFO bandmate Brian 'Brizz' Gillis. Despite it all, she considers her personal life a bust. And I'm sorry I wasted ten years with those people [i.e. She was the first woman in history to reach No. . [11] Titled Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites, the album was released in November 1959. Sing Great Country Favorites, Happiness Connie Francis On Broadway Today, Connie Francis Sings the Songs of Les Reed, When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Connie_Francis&oldid=1151104215, Dutch-language singers of the United States, French-language singers of the United States, German-language singers of the United States, Hebrew-language singers of the United States, Italian-language singers of the United States, Japanese-language singers of the United States, Latin-language singers of the United States, Portuguese-language singers of the United States, Spanish-language singers of the United States, Swedish-language singers of the United States, Yiddish-language singers of the United States, Belleville High School (New Jersey) alumni, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2020, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Connie Francis provided the singing voice for, Connie Francis provided the singing voice for Freda Holloway as Honey Winn, Connie Francis provided the singing voice for Jayne Mansfield as Miss Kate, Concetta Literary Corporation / Baker & Taylor Publisher Services, 978-0999238905 (paperback) and 978-0999238912 (hardcover), Female Recording Artist of the Year (Foreign Division), This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 23:20. I chose the wrong men for the wrong reasons. You can babysit him all night if you want to. So Frank came up and said, Is there a problem Don? Don said, Well you used language that offended her, Frank. I was actually afraid to meet him. She called Bobby Darin the love of her life. The movie also introduced the concept of spring break, as the once sleepy town of Fort Lauderdale became the hotspot for college students on their spring vacation in the wake of the movie's success. It soon entered the album charts where it remained for 81 weeks, peaking at number 4. She and Garzilli adopted one son. He never knew I did that. It takes a lot to make a relationship work. Not one penny. [49], Early in her career, Francis was introduced to Bobby Darin, then an up-and-coming singer and songwriter. Tami Richey ONLINE. Actress: Hawaiian Eye. In 1989, Francis resumed her recording and performing career again. in the September 1991 issue of DISCoveries Magazine, Connie tells 'Jerry [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. 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. Its like when you play poker: If you know you have a losing hand, you simply fold.. Its a moment Ill never forget. Angered, Francis wrote she hoped the Hudson River would fill the Lincoln Tunnel, killing both her and her father; she later wrote that not marrying Darin was the biggest mistake of her life.[7]. 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. 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. We tried to make a home for Izzys two children by his previous marriage, she said. The Many Tears Ago singer and the Splish Splash crooners relationship was not approved by Connies father. Connie Stevens. 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. In November 1959, she released another of her hit single, 'Among My Souvenirs'. [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. Well, the feeling was cosmic - just cosmic! Connie Francis isnt sorry now about sharing her story. since MGM Records had renewed her contract. sessions were subsequently recorded in Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and German. She was terrorized for nearly three hours at knife-point, raped and robbed. Chicago P.D. Star Marina Squerciatis Bikini Photos, What Happened to Ben Napier? A young Connie Francis. I was with Don Rickles and I said, Im outta here. And on February 15 of that same year, Francis performed it on the first episode of The Saturday Night Beechnut Show, also hosted by Clark. I needed to put humor into my book. I could record where I wanted, however many or redistributed. There are ninety-five million females in the country, and I'll bet ninety-five percent of them sing. She mentioned gratefully that her 85th birthday party must have been "the largest gathering of lifelong friends.". In 1956, she recorded two songs, I Never Had A Sweetheart' and 'Little Blue Wren', for Tuesday Weld in the film Rock, Rock, Rock. It reached number 2 on Billboard Hot 100. All rights reserved. Godfrey convinced her to change her real last name to Francis after he had difficulty pronouncing it. The pair were married for five years before calling it quits in 1978. She was drinking a lot of red wine and she said she wanted to escape somewhere, but she didnt know where. She recorded the song also in Japanese, Italian, and Spanish, as she had done before with her original 1960 version. I owe a lot to Don Rickles because he made me see humor in things that ordinarily I wouldnt have seen humor in. actress wed her first husband, Dick Kanellis, in 1964. [31] "I'm Me Again" became Francis' last single to chart on the AC charts. In 1996, Francis released the live album The Return Concert: Live at Trump's Castle. Francis' strict Italian father would separate the couple whenever possible. Connie Francis first came to limelight with Whos Sorry Now?, cover version of the well-known 1923 song. . Over the following years, she eventually expanded her recording portfolio up to 15 languages. 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. Despite some disagreement about material, after several weeks Darin and Francis developed a romantic relationship. She started working with songwriters Neil Sedaka and Howie Greenfield, and recorded a string of hits, including "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" and "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You.". Francis's enduring popularity overseas led to her having television specials in numerous countries around the world, such as Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy. Unfortunately, her father ensured they couldn't be together. 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. She also said the support of her fans helped her stay hopeful. American pop singer Connie Francis, circa 1970. Her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now, was released in 1984. (2017). Connie /Bety (Ext 2272) NESL 963 50028. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Francis brought a suit alleging that Universal Music Group (UMG) took advantage of her condition and stopped paying royalties. Singer, composer, actress, entertainer and publisher Connie Francis was Her fourth marriage was to TV producer Bob Parkinson; with whom she remained married for eight months, (1986-1986). otherwise. MTW 7:00PM- 8:15PM 6/12-7/22. Francis began performing regularly again. Her father convinced her Connie Francis won television's Startime Talent Scouts at age 12 and signed with MGM Records. Connie married her second husband, Izzy Marion, in 1971. 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. The two quickly developed a romance, and they stuck with each other until Ferretti's death, and the couple shared a cozy home. During the height of the Vietnam War in 1967, Connie Francis performed for US troops. During their marriage, they adopted one son, Fun Facts About Marie Osmond and Steve Craigs Love Story. In 1965, Connie Francis participated in that year's edition of the annual San Remo Festival, where her team partner Gigliola Cinquetti and she presented "Ho bisogno di vederti", which finished on number 5 of the final ranking. Francis was not fluent in all of these languages and she had to learn her foreign language songs phonetically. Francis enjoys the love and support of countless friends, evident in a photo she posted of her and Frankie D'Amelio in 2019. In June, she had a double sided hit with Lipstick on Your Collar and Frankie. But here, they didn't take me seriously until I wanted the writer Robert Freeman who wrote that miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, which won I don't know how many Emmy Awards, but Gloria and company were unwilling to hire that writer. The couple were married for 81 days before their relationship headed towards a divorce. All Rights Reserved, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google. One year later, the songstress married her fourth husband, Bob Parkinson in 1985. 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. Fox News: You were one of the few women who left Frank Sinatra waiting.Francis: I got weak in the knees when I met Sinatra. written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. And it wasnt. The businessman died in 1973 after battling cancer. There were two people I idolized: One was Frank and the other was Judy Garland. Marks Avenue until her family packed up and moved to New Jersey. In 1980s and 1990s, she released a few singles in English and German. Her marriage to the hair salon owner was short-lived, ending after 10 months. Their romance came to an end soon after and Bobby went on to marry Sandra Dee in 1960. Their marriage only lasted three months before ending in divorce. Troyan, Michael; Thompson, Jeffrey Paul; Sylvester, Stephen X. [7], During the rehearsals for her appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in December 1950, Francis was advised by Godfrey to change her stage name to Connie Francis for the sake of easier pronunciation. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. There were No. (Courtesy of Connie Francis). There was never Connie Francis recorded "Where the Boys Are" as the theme song for the motion picture Where the Boys Are a 1961 MGM release filmed in 1960 in which Francis made her movie acting debut as one of four coeds on spring break in Fort Lauderdale.. was named one of the Songs of the Century. I had four In 1978, Francis returned to the recording studio to cut an album titled Who's Happy Now? ", Portrait of Connie Francis, 1960 | Source: Getty Images. The "Who's Sorry Now?" The single seemed to go unnoticed like all previous releases, just as Francis had predicted, but on January 1, 1958, it debuted on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The project of recording a German version, though, remained unfinished. Don told him, Hey dummy, this floozy your latest thing? [7][32], Despite that, she took up live performing again, even gracing the American Bandstand 30th Anniversary Special Episode, and appearing in the town where she had been raped. To this day, it is still Francis's most successful album. The first night that we met, he used vile language, not at me, but at somebody else. Even if it wasn't on MGM business, it was paid for. Connie Francis. ", b/w "Paint the Rain" on GSF Records. [17], In 1981, further tragedy struck Francis when her brother, George Franconero, Jr., with whom she was very close, was murdered by Mafia hitmen. The daughter of George and Ida Franconero, Connie won first prize on Arthur Godfrey's Startime Talent Scouts television show at age 12, and performed on the show for four years. 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. [7], As Connie Francis explains at each of her concerts, she began searching for a new hit immediately after the success of "Who's Sorry Now?" 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. Francis lost her longtime partner, Tony Ferretti. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Francis and singer Gloria Estefan completed a screenplay for a movie based on Francis' life titled Who's Sorry Now? But sometime from the middle of 1960s, with the arrival of the Beatles, her chart success on Billboard Hot 100 began to decline. Fox News: Which was the most difficult chapter for you to write and why?Connie Francis: My brothers murder. They got married in 1971 and divorced ten months later in 1972. In August 1959, she released her third album, My Thanks to You. In the late 1960s, Francis went to Vietnam to sing for the troops. bought them, and wore them. All along, she continued with her formal education, being enrolled at Newark Arts High School in 1951. She is also known for her literary pursuits and published her first autobiography, Whos Sorry Now? in 1984. [7] Around the same time, Francis took a job as a singer on demonstration records, which brought unreleased songs to the attention of established singers and/or their management who might choose to record them for a professional commercial record. Level Listeningand Speaking II: Marcel Castillo ONLINE. Finally Connie signed a contract with MGM Records for ten singles and one duet. And he cooperated with the government for three years. 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. Francis considered a career in medicine and was about to accept a four-year scholarship offered at New York University. The Portable Italian Mamma: Guilt, Pasta, and When Are You Giving Me Grandchildren? She had a younger brother named George Franconero, Jr. George Franconero, Sr. was a natural entertainer, having certain musical ambition, which remained unfulfilled. [17] The last became her signature tune and was also the theme song of Francis's first motion picture of the same name. Their romance came to an end soon after and Bobby went on to marry, Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. Her first husband was Dick Kannellis, a press agent and entertainment director for the Aladdin Hotel. Connie Francis, the 1960s pop icon, turned 85 on Monday, December 12, 2022. Called the First Lady of Rock & Roll in one headline of a marginal publication,[3] she is estimated to have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. people I hired to work for me on letters and on foreign releases. [53], Francis supported Richard Nixon's 1968 bid for the presidency when she recorded a campaign song for him.[54]. 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. However, what seemed like support to her father seemed more like smothering to Connie. So I had to do that in the privacy of my own home. Dick was a public relations agent of several hotels in Las Vegas. Several songs from the Who's Happy Now? The ex-wife of Joseph, Connie Francis is a top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. By the time of the latter's taping, Darin had married actress Sandra Dee. So I tackled those two subjects first. It was backed by her ninth solo single You, My Darlin You. [16] Her father insisted, though, and when the recording "Who's Sorry Now?" [7] The song peaked at number 1 in West Germany. Bob worked as a TV producer with two. In 1977, she underwent a nasal surgery, which damaged her voice and she had to undergo further surgery and vocal lessons to regain her voice. Francis has lived in her comfortable house in Florida for the past 21 years, and she'll most likely spend the rest of her days there. 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. [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]. Brooklyn born Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingolia is of Italian/Sicilian and Irish descent, the daughter of Eleanor McGinley and Teddy Stevens (born Peter Ingolia). The Where the Boys Are actress wed her first husband, Dick Kanellis, in 1964. Luckily, it seems that her home wasn't hit by the ruthless hurricane Irma. Francis' new-found success was short-lived, though, as she was diagnosed with manic depression, which again brought her career to a halt, and she was committed to multiple psychiatric hospitals. It was a square song, it was written during the 1920s, and the kids on "American Bandstand" would laugh me right out of the show. Connie Francis celebrated her 85th birthday with "the largest gathering of lifelong friends.". Legal Statement. First, she missed the opportunity to spend her days with her greatest and first love, the singer Bobby Darin.