Pretty Little Baby singer Connie Francis dead at 87
Her death was announced on Thursday by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who did not immediately provide additional details.
Francis was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely off the charts from 1957 to 1964.
Able to appeal to both young people and adults, she had more than a dozen top 20 hits, starting with Who's Sorry Now and including the No. 1 songs Don't Break the Heart That Loves You and The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own.
Like other teen favourites of her time, she also starred in several films, including Where the Boys Are and Follow the Boys.
The dark-haired singer was just 17 when she signed a contract with MGM Records following appearances on several TV variety shows.
Her earliest recordings attracted little attention, but then she released her version of Who's Sorry Now — an old ballad by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.
It, too, had little success initially until Dick Clark played it on his American Bandstand show in 1958.
Francis followed with such teen hits as Stupid Cupid, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, and Lipstick on Your Collar.
Her records became hits worldwide as she re-recorded versions of her original songs in Italian and Spanish among other languages.
Meanwhile, a romance bloomed with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her.
But when her father heard rumours that the pair were planning a wedding he stormed into a rehearsal and pulled a gun on Darin, ending their relationship and seeming to set on Francis on a pained and traumatic path.
She chronicled some of it in her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now?
'My personal life is a regret from A to Z,' she told The Associated Press in 1984, the year the book came out.
'I realised I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me.'
Her father, George Franconero, was a roofing contractor from New Jersey who played the accordion, and he had his daughter learn the instrument as soon as she began to show an aptitude for music.
When she was four, he began booking singing dates for her, going on to become her manager.
Although her acting career had faded by the mid-1960s, Francis was still popular on the concert circuit when she appeared at the Westbury Music Center in Westbury, New York, in 1974.
She had returned to her hotel room and was asleep when a man broke in and raped her at knifepoint. He was never captured.
Francis sued the hotel, alleging its security was faulty, and a jury awarded her $US2.5 million in 1976.
The two sides then settled out of court for $US1,475,000 as an appeal was pending.
She said the attack destroyed her marriage and put her through years of emotional turmoil.
She suffered tragedy in 1981 when her brother George was shot to death as he was leaving his New Jersey home.
Later in the decade, her father had her committed to a mental hospital, where she was diagnosed as manic-depressive.
At one point she attempted suicide by swallowing dozens of sleeping tablets. After three days in a coma, she recovered.
She was married four times and would say that only her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, was worth the trouble.
The other marriages each lasted less than a year.
Concetta Rosemarie Franconero was born on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey.
She was just three when her father presented her with a child-size accordion.
The next year she began singing and playing the instrument at various public events.
At age nine she began appearing on television programs, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Perry Como Show.
It was Godfrey who suggested she shorten her last name.
Clark featured her repeatedly on American Bandstand, and she said in later years that without his support she would have abandoned her music career.
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ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Singer Connie Francis has died at age 87
Singer Connie Francis, whose hits included Stupid Cupid and Pretty Little Baby, has died at age 87. Her death was confirmed by her publicist Ron Roberts, who did not provide any further details about her death. Her hit Pretty Little Baby was revived on TikTok recently — something she said was "an amazing feeling".
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Music legend Connie Francis dead at 87
Iconic singer Connie Francis, known for hits Pretty Little Baby and Everybody's Somebody's Fool, has died at age 87. Francis' death was confirmed on social media by her friend and copyright manager, Ron Roberts on Thursday — two weeks after she was hospitalised due to 'extreme pain', reports the New York Post. 'It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night,' Roberts wrote on Facebook. 'I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news.' The chart-topping vocalist, who earned her stripes as one of the most successful female singers in the 1950s and 1960s, was rushed to the hospital in Florida on July 2. 'I am back in hospital where I have been undergoing tests and checks to determine the cause(s) of the extreme pain I have been experiencing,' Francis wrote. In a series of posts on July 3 and 4, Francis said that she was 'feeling much better' during her hospital stay. The following week, the singer — born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero — told fans she remained under the watchful eye of doctors and nurses as they determined the cause of her pain. The Stupid Cupid songstress revealed in May that a recent hip injury had temporarily landed her in a wheelchair. Despite retiring from the music industry in 2018, Francis' track Pretty Little Baby had recently gone viral on TikTok — over six decades after she released the song as part of her 1962 album Connie Francis Sings. 'To tell you the truth, I didn't even remember the song!' Francis said about the track's resurgence in popularity. 'I had to listen to it to remember.' 'To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is touching the hearts of millions of people is truly awesome. It is an amazing feeling,' the J amboree actress shared. 'It's an honour. To see that they're paying homage to me is just breathtaking.' 'It's truly awesome. I never thought it was possible. It's a dream come true. To think that kindergarten kids now know my name and my music? It's just thrilling,' she added. In her final social media post before her death, Francis thanked various celebrities — including the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift — who had listened to her viral track on social media. 'There have been many wonderful artists who have paid tribute to me by singing Pretty Little Baby,' the singer said in a TikTok video shared on June 26. Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1937, Francis' love affair with music kickstarted at the young age of 4 after she took part in various talent contests and pageants in her neighbourhood. She later dipped her toes in TV work, landing a prominent spot on NBC's Startime Kids during which she assumed her stage name, Connie Francis. Her glittering music career boasts a slew of hit tracks, including Top 10 singles Who's Sorry Now?, My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own, Where the Boys Are and Don't Break The Heart That Loves You. She was the first female singer to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts with her 1960 song, Everybody's Somebody's Fool. In 1955, she signed a recording contract with MGM Records, however, the partnership proved to be unsuccessful, as most of Francis' songs didn't get traction. Just as the label was gearing up to drop her in 1957, her father — who had been her biggest fan and supporter — convinced her to record a version of Who's Sorry Now? as a last-ditch attempt to salvage her music career. Luckily, the singer's career took great strides in the years that followed, as she was able to propel to stardom through hits like My Happiness, Lipstick on Your Collar and Among My Souvenirs. What's more, her 1959 album, Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites went down a treat with her fans, paving the way for her hit 1960 track, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, to top the newly established charts. As the 1970s hit, Francis' music career appeared to wane after she suffered several personal setbacks. In addition to becoming a survivor of rape, Francis temporarily lost her voice in 1977 following nasal surgery. On top of that, her brother George had been murdered by the mafia in 1981. Still, she attempted to channel her hardships through new songs at the time, though these were unsuccessful. Her mental health took a hit, prompting her father to commit her to multiple psychiatric hospitals. After surviving a suicide attempt in 1984, Francis released a tell-all memoir titled, Who's Sorry Now? Following her personal struggles, the musician had partnered with Ronald Reagan's presidential administration on a task force on violent crime. She was also a voice for rape victims. Francis further raised awareness of the effects of trauma through her partnership with Mental Health America in 2010. As for her private life, Francis had dated singer Bobby Darin in the early years of her career — much to her father's dismay. She considered Darin, who died in 1973 at age 37, the love of her life, though her father had kept them apart for reasons unknown. 'My personal life is a regret from A to Z,' Francis told People in 1984. 'I realised I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me.' Francis was married a total of four times, tying the knot with her first husband, Dick Kanellis, in 1964 and divorcing just five months later. She later married Izzy Marion in 1971, but the pair parted ways 10 months later. In 1973, she tied the knot with Joseph Garzilli, with whom she adopted a son, Joseph Jr. the following year. The pair ultimately split in 1977. Her final marriage was to Bob Parkinson in 1985, however, the pair called it quits after just a few months of married life. Francis is survived by her son.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
Pretty Little Baby singer Connie Francis dead at 87
Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and 1960s whose hits include Pretty Little Baby and who would later serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy, has died at age 87. Her death was announced on Thursday by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who did not immediately provide additional details. Francis was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely off the charts from 1957 to 1964. Able to appeal to both young people and adults, she had more than a dozen top 20 hits, starting with Who's Sorry Now? and including the No. 1 songs Don't Break the Heart That Loves You and The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own. Like other teen favourites of her time, she also starred in several films, including Where the Boys Are and Follow the Boys. The dark-haired singer was just 17 when she signed a contract with MGM Records following appearances on several TV variety shows. Her earliest recordings attracted little attention, but then she released her version of Who's Sorry Now? an old ballad by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It, too, had little success initially until Dick Clark played it on his American Bandstand show in 1958. Francis followed with such teen hits as Stupid Cupid, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, and Lipstick on Your Collar. Her records became hits worldwide as she re-recorded versions of her original songs in Italian and Spanish among other languages. Meanwhile, a romance bloomed with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her. But when her father heard rumours that the pair were planning a wedding he stormed into a rehearsal and pulled a gun on Darin, ending their relationship and seeming to set on Francis on a pained and traumatic path. She chronicled some of it in her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now? "I realised I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me." Her father, George Franconero, was a roofing contractor from New Jersey who played the accordion, and he had his daughter learn the instrument as soon as she began to show an aptitude for music. When she was four, he began booking singing dates for her, going on to become her manager. Although her acting career had faded by the mid-1960s, Francis was still popular on the concert circuit when she appeared at the Westbury Music Center in Westbury, New York, in 1974. She had returned to her hotel room and was asleep when a man broke in and raped her at knifepoint. He was never captured. Francis sued the hotel, alleging its security was faulty, and a jury awarded her $US2.5 million in 1976. The two sides then settled out of court for $US1,475,000 as an appeal was pending. She said the attack destroyed her marriage and put her through years of emotional turmoil. She suffered tragedy in 1981 when her brother George was shot to death as he was leaving his New Jersey home. Later in the decade, her father had her committed to a mental hospital, where she was diagnosed as manic-depressive. At one point she attempted suicide by swallowing dozens of sleeping tablets. After three days in a coma, she recovered. She was married four times and would say that only her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, was worth the trouble. The other marriages each lasted less than a year. Concetta Rosemarie Franconero was born on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey. She was just three when her father presented her with a child-size accordion. The next year she began singing and playing the instrument at various public events. At age nine she began appearing on television programs, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Perry Como Show. It was Godfrey who suggested she shorten her last name. Clark featured her repeatedly on American Bandstand, and she said in later years that without his support she would have abandoned her music career. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and 1960s whose hits include Pretty Little Baby and who would later serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy, has died at age 87. Her death was announced on Thursday by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who did not immediately provide additional details. Francis was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely off the charts from 1957 to 1964. Able to appeal to both young people and adults, she had more than a dozen top 20 hits, starting with Who's Sorry Now? and including the No. 1 songs Don't Break the Heart That Loves You and The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own. Like other teen favourites of her time, she also starred in several films, including Where the Boys Are and Follow the Boys. The dark-haired singer was just 17 when she signed a contract with MGM Records following appearances on several TV variety shows. Her earliest recordings attracted little attention, but then she released her version of Who's Sorry Now? an old ballad by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It, too, had little success initially until Dick Clark played it on his American Bandstand show in 1958. Francis followed with such teen hits as Stupid Cupid, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, and Lipstick on Your Collar. Her records became hits worldwide as she re-recorded versions of her original songs in Italian and Spanish among other languages. Meanwhile, a romance bloomed with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her. But when her father heard rumours that the pair were planning a wedding he stormed into a rehearsal and pulled a gun on Darin, ending their relationship and seeming to set on Francis on a pained and traumatic path. She chronicled some of it in her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now? "I realised I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me." Her father, George Franconero, was a roofing contractor from New Jersey who played the accordion, and he had his daughter learn the instrument as soon as she began to show an aptitude for music. When she was four, he began booking singing dates for her, going on to become her manager. Although her acting career had faded by the mid-1960s, Francis was still popular on the concert circuit when she appeared at the Westbury Music Center in Westbury, New York, in 1974. She had returned to her hotel room and was asleep when a man broke in and raped her at knifepoint. He was never captured. Francis sued the hotel, alleging its security was faulty, and a jury awarded her $US2.5 million in 1976. The two sides then settled out of court for $US1,475,000 as an appeal was pending. She said the attack destroyed her marriage and put her through years of emotional turmoil. She suffered tragedy in 1981 when her brother George was shot to death as he was leaving his New Jersey home. Later in the decade, her father had her committed to a mental hospital, where she was diagnosed as manic-depressive. At one point she attempted suicide by swallowing dozens of sleeping tablets. After three days in a coma, she recovered. She was married four times and would say that only her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, was worth the trouble. The other marriages each lasted less than a year. Concetta Rosemarie Franconero was born on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey. She was just three when her father presented her with a child-size accordion. The next year she began singing and playing the instrument at various public events. At age nine she began appearing on television programs, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Perry Como Show. It was Godfrey who suggested she shorten her last name. Clark featured her repeatedly on American Bandstand, and she said in later years that without his support she would have abandoned her music career. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and 1960s whose hits include Pretty Little Baby and who would later serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy, has died at age 87. Her death was announced on Thursday by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who did not immediately provide additional details. Francis was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely off the charts from 1957 to 1964. Able to appeal to both young people and adults, she had more than a dozen top 20 hits, starting with Who's Sorry Now? and including the No. 1 songs Don't Break the Heart That Loves You and The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own. Like other teen favourites of her time, she also starred in several films, including Where the Boys Are and Follow the Boys. The dark-haired singer was just 17 when she signed a contract with MGM Records following appearances on several TV variety shows. Her earliest recordings attracted little attention, but then she released her version of Who's Sorry Now? an old ballad by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It, too, had little success initially until Dick Clark played it on his American Bandstand show in 1958. Francis followed with such teen hits as Stupid Cupid, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, and Lipstick on Your Collar. Her records became hits worldwide as she re-recorded versions of her original songs in Italian and Spanish among other languages. Meanwhile, a romance bloomed with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her. But when her father heard rumours that the pair were planning a wedding he stormed into a rehearsal and pulled a gun on Darin, ending their relationship and seeming to set on Francis on a pained and traumatic path. She chronicled some of it in her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now? "I realised I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me." Her father, George Franconero, was a roofing contractor from New Jersey who played the accordion, and he had his daughter learn the instrument as soon as she began to show an aptitude for music. When she was four, he began booking singing dates for her, going on to become her manager. Although her acting career had faded by the mid-1960s, Francis was still popular on the concert circuit when she appeared at the Westbury Music Center in Westbury, New York, in 1974. She had returned to her hotel room and was asleep when a man broke in and raped her at knifepoint. He was never captured. Francis sued the hotel, alleging its security was faulty, and a jury awarded her $US2.5 million in 1976. The two sides then settled out of court for $US1,475,000 as an appeal was pending. She said the attack destroyed her marriage and put her through years of emotional turmoil. She suffered tragedy in 1981 when her brother George was shot to death as he was leaving his New Jersey home. Later in the decade, her father had her committed to a mental hospital, where she was diagnosed as manic-depressive. At one point she attempted suicide by swallowing dozens of sleeping tablets. After three days in a coma, she recovered. She was married four times and would say that only her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, was worth the trouble. The other marriages each lasted less than a year. Concetta Rosemarie Franconero was born on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey. She was just three when her father presented her with a child-size accordion. The next year she began singing and playing the instrument at various public events. At age nine she began appearing on television programs, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Perry Como Show. It was Godfrey who suggested she shorten her last name. Clark featured her repeatedly on American Bandstand, and she said in later years that without his support she would have abandoned her music career. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and 1960s whose hits include Pretty Little Baby and who would later serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy, has died at age 87. Her death was announced on Thursday by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who did not immediately provide additional details. Francis was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely off the charts from 1957 to 1964. Able to appeal to both young people and adults, she had more than a dozen top 20 hits, starting with Who's Sorry Now? and including the No. 1 songs Don't Break the Heart That Loves You and The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own. Like other teen favourites of her time, she also starred in several films, including Where the Boys Are and Follow the Boys. The dark-haired singer was just 17 when she signed a contract with MGM Records following appearances on several TV variety shows. Her earliest recordings attracted little attention, but then she released her version of Who's Sorry Now? an old ballad by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It, too, had little success initially until Dick Clark played it on his American Bandstand show in 1958. Francis followed with such teen hits as Stupid Cupid, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, and Lipstick on Your Collar. Her records became hits worldwide as she re-recorded versions of her original songs in Italian and Spanish among other languages. Meanwhile, a romance bloomed with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her. But when her father heard rumours that the pair were planning a wedding he stormed into a rehearsal and pulled a gun on Darin, ending their relationship and seeming to set on Francis on a pained and traumatic path. She chronicled some of it in her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now? "I realised I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me." Her father, George Franconero, was a roofing contractor from New Jersey who played the accordion, and he had his daughter learn the instrument as soon as she began to show an aptitude for music. When she was four, he began booking singing dates for her, going on to become her manager. Although her acting career had faded by the mid-1960s, Francis was still popular on the concert circuit when she appeared at the Westbury Music Center in Westbury, New York, in 1974. She had returned to her hotel room and was asleep when a man broke in and raped her at knifepoint. He was never captured. Francis sued the hotel, alleging its security was faulty, and a jury awarded her $US2.5 million in 1976. The two sides then settled out of court for $US1,475,000 as an appeal was pending. She said the attack destroyed her marriage and put her through years of emotional turmoil. She suffered tragedy in 1981 when her brother George was shot to death as he was leaving his New Jersey home. Later in the decade, her father had her committed to a mental hospital, where she was diagnosed as manic-depressive. At one point she attempted suicide by swallowing dozens of sleeping tablets. After three days in a coma, she recovered. She was married four times and would say that only her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, was worth the trouble. The other marriages each lasted less than a year. Concetta Rosemarie Franconero was born on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey. She was just three when her father presented her with a child-size accordion. The next year she began singing and playing the instrument at various public events. At age nine she began appearing on television programs, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Perry Como Show. It was Godfrey who suggested she shorten her last name. Clark featured her repeatedly on American Bandstand, and she said in later years that without his support she would have abandoned her music career. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
