Latest news with #Who'sSorryNow?'
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Connie Francis, Whose Hit Songs Included ‘Who's Sorry Now?' and ‘Pretty Little Baby,' Dies at 87
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and '60s whose hits included 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Who's Sorry Now?' — the latter would serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy — has died at age 87. Radio DJ Bruce 'Cousin Brucie' Morrow, a longtime friend, told The Associated Press that she died Wednesday at a hospital in Florida, the state where she had lived for years. Morrow did not cite a specific cause of death, but Francis had posted on social media earlier this month that she had been hospitalized with 'extreme pain.' Francis had gained renewed attention in recent months after 'Pretty Little Baby' became a sensation on TikTok, with Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner among the many celebrities citing it. 'I'm flabbergasted and excited about the huge buzz my 1962 recording of 'Pretty Little Baby' is making all over the world,' she said in a video on TikTok, which she had joined in response to the song's unexpected revival. 'To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me.' Francis was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely out of the charts from 1957-64. 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 favorites 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. Clark featured her repeatedly on 'American Bandstand,' and she said in later years that without his support, she would have abandoned her music career. 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. Her concerts around the country quickly sold out. Meanwhile, a romance bloomed with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her. But when her father heard rumors that the pair was planning a wedding, he stormed into a rehearsal and pulled a gun on Darin, ending their relationship and seeming to set 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 realized 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. She was just 3 when her father presented her with a child-size accordion, as soon as she began to show an aptitude for music. When she was 4, 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 Fair 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 $2.5 million in 1976. The two sides then settled out of court for $1,475,000 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 that decade, her father had her committed to a psychiatric hospital, where she was diagnosed as manic-depressive. At one point, she tried to kill herself by swallowing dozens of sleeping tablets. After three days in a coma, she recovered. Around that time, she wrote to President Ronald Reagan and volunteered to help others, calling herself ″America's most famous crime victim.″ Reagan appointed her to a task force on violent crime. ″I don't want people to feel sorry for me,″ she told The New York Times in 1981. ″I have my voice, a gift from God I took for granted before. He gave it back to me.″ 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 Dec. 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey. At age 9 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.
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Connie Francis, ‘Who's Sorry Now?' singer, dies at 87
LOS ANGELES, July 17, (AP): Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and '60s whose hits include "Pretty Little Baby' and "Who's Sorry Now?' - the latter that 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 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 1957-64. 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 favorites 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. Clark featured her repeatedly on "American Bandstand,' and she said in later years that without his support, she would have abandoned her music career. 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. Her concerts around the country quickly sold out. Meanwhile, a romance bloomed with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her. But when her father heard rumors that the pair was planning a wedding, he stormed into a rehearsal and pulled a gun on Darin, ending their relationship and seeming to set 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 realized 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. She was just 3 when her father presented her with a child-size accordion, as soon as she began to show an aptitude for music. When she was 4, 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 $2.5 million in 1976. The two sides then settled out of court for $1,475,000 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 that decade, her father had her committed to a psychiatric 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 Dec. 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey. At age 9 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. Francis experienced a resurgence this year, when "Pretty Little Baby' became a popular song on TikTok, something that left her "flabbergasted and excited' and inspired her to join TikTok herself. "To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations and audiences is truly overwhelming for me,' she said in her own post in early June.
Filipino Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
‘Pretty Little Baby' singer Connie Francis passes away at 87
American music legend Connie Francis, beloved for timeless hits like 'Stupid Cupid' and 'Pretty Little Baby,' has passed away at the age of 87. Her close friend and president of Concetta Records, Ron Roberts, announced the news through Facebook, stating: 'It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night.' The announcement was also shared on her verified Facebook page. Just weeks before her passing, Connie had shared updates about her health, revealing she underwent tests due to pelvic pain and had been moved from intensive care to a private room by early July. Known for her string of hits during the 1950s and 1960s, Connie's music, including 'Who's Sorry Now?' and 'Lipstick On Your Collar,' left a lasting impact. Her song 'Pretty Little Baby' recently resurfaced in popularity through TikTok. She is survived by her son.
Euronews
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Connie Francis, singer of viral TikTok hit 'Pretty Little Baby', dies
Connie Francis, the hugely successful pop star of the 1950s and 1960s whose hits include 'Pretty Little Baby', has died aged 87. Her death was announced today by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who did not immediately provide additional details. Francis - born Concetta Rosemarie Franconero on 12 December 1937 - was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely off the charts from 1957-64. 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'. Her version of 'Who's Sorry Now?', an old ballad by Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, gained huge popularity when American TV and radio legend Dick Clark played it on his American Bandstand show in 1958. Francis followed with such teen hits as 'Stupid Cupid' and 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool'. Her records became hits worldwide as she re-recorded versions of her original songs in Italian and Spanish - among other languages. Like other teen favorites of her time, she also starred in several films, including Where the Boys Are and Follow the Boys. She also dated fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who had volunteered to write songs for her. However, when her father, George Franconero, heard rumors 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 Francis on a 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 realized I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me.' 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 $2.5 million in 1976. The two sides then settled out of court for $1,475,000 as an appeal was pending. She said the attack destroyed her marriage and put her through years of emotional turmoil. She suffered further tragedy in 1981 when her brother George was shot dead as he was leaving his New Jersey home. Later in the decade, her father had her committed to a psychiatric 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. Her 1961 hit song 'Pretty Little Baby' gained new admirers this year, with the track going viral on TikTok. Thousands of videos have been created with the song on the app, and it has been featured in videos from popular influencers and celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. 😭 Francis recently posted about her viral hit on Facebook: 'My thanks to TikTok and its members for the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception...' She wrote that she was 'clearly out of touch,' because when she found out the song was trending on TikTok, her initial response was to ask: 'What's that?' RIP Connie Francis: 1937 - 2025
Daily Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Pop legend Connie Francis passes away
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 Text Size: WASHINGTON: Connie Francis, the American pop singer who rose to fame in the late 1950s with hits like 'Who's Sorry Now?' and 'Stupid Cupid,' has died at the age of 87, The New York Times publicist Ron Roberts confirmed her passing in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Advertisement Francis was admired for her expressive voice and versatility, performing in multiple genres and languages throughout her career. Between 1958 and 1964, she became the most popular female singer in the United States, with 35 Top-40 hits and over 40 million records sold. Her number one songs included 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool,' 'My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own' and 'Don't Break the Heart That Loves You.' She was especially known for her heartfelt delivery in ballads like 'My Happiness' and 'Where the Boys Are,' which resonated deeply with young listeners. Songwriter Neil Sedaka praised her for the clarity and emotion of her voice, describing her ballads as 'soaring' in their impact. Earlier this year, her 1961 track 'Pretty Little Baby' gained new popularity after going viral on TikTok and topping Spotify's Viral 50 charts. Born Concetta Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, she began performing as a child under her father's guidance, who introduced her to music at the age of three. She transitioned from child star to club performer by her teens, eventually adopting the name Connie Francis and recording demo tapes that launched her into stardom. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
