She was subsequently raised by her grandparents when her mother and father (a . Francis was a hit, both as a singer and actress, but she never really enjoyed being on camera. Through the years, she has performed charity work for organizations such as UNICEF, the USO and CARE. In May that same year,[12] George Franconero Sr. and Francis's manager George Scheck raised money for a recording session of four songs which they hoped to sell to a major record company under Francis's own name. She noted in the article that both she and Parton had considered, independently of each other, actress Valerie Bertinelli to play Francis. I didnt sing for seven years. I had four Their romance came to an end soon after and Bobby went on to marry, Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. In her autobiography, Francis stated she and her father were driving into the Lincoln Tunnel when the radio DJ announced Dee and Darin's marriage. The pair had dated for a year before tying the knot. She starred in four motion pictures, Where the Boys Are (1960), Follow The Boys (1963), Looking For Love (1964) and When The Boys Meet The Girls (1965). 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 . Dick was a public relations agent of several hotels in Las Vegas. 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. Connie Francis won television's Startime Talent Scouts at age 12 and signed with MGM Records. [46] In January 1971, she married Izzy Marion, a hair-salon owner, divorcing 10 months later. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. 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. In the same month, she traveled to London, where she recorded her fourth studio album, 'Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorite'. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. All rights reserved. The legendary singer has over 1 million monthly listeners on the platform. '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. One year later, the songstress married her fourth husband, Bob Parkinson in 1985. These albums marked Francis's transition from the youth-oriented rock 'n' roll music to adult contemporary music, which George Franconero, Sr. had realized to be necessary if his daughter wanted to pursue a successful longterm career in music. In her autobiography Who's Sorry Now? songs I wanted, in whatever country, in whatever language, with Nevertheless, Francis continued to record singles aimed at the youth-oriented market. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Connie Francis, US pop singer, waring red-and-white striped trousers and a red t-shirt with her arms outstretched either side of her, in a studio. Her first husband was Dick Kannellis, a press agent and entertainment director for the Aladdin Hotel. 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. Level Listeningand Speaking II: Marcel Castillo ONLINE. Osborne': In an interview published in the September 1991 issue of DISCoveries We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,.css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}contact us! "Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. I rented out a room in the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas for two weeks to write the chapters on the rape and my brothers murder. 1986), Dick Kanellis (m. 1964 div. Even at the height of the Cold War, Francis's music was well received in Iron Curtain countries, and some of her recordings were made available on state-owned record labels such as Melodiya in the former Soviet Union and on Jugoton in former Yugoslavia,[21] although it was common knowledge that rock 'n' roll was highly looked down upon in Eastern bloc countries. 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! 11/6/74: After an appearance at the Westbury Music Fair in New York, she was raped at knifepoint at the Howard Johnson Motel where All three albums and the singles culled from them were released on United Artists Records. she was staying. At age 11 she appeared on Arthur Godfrey 's Talent Scouts (1948) as a singer and accordionist. By then, she had established herself as a child entertainer. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, in 1937, Francis changed her name at the suggestion of a TV host. ", Portrait of Connie Francis, 1960 | Source: Getty Images. The success of "Stupid Cupid" restored momentum to Francis' chart career, and she reached the U.S. top 40 an additional eight times during the remainder of the 1950s. My brother was a former district attorney. pills, like Benzedrine, that you can only buy in Mexico now. 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. Bob worked as a TV producer with two IMDb credits from the early 80s in Richard Pryor Here and Now andI Challenge You. [18], In 1973, Francis returned to the recording studio, cutting "(Should I) Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Much like Connie, Izzy had also been married once before and had two children from his previous relationship. and "Torn Between Two Lovers". By the time of the latter's taping, Darin had married actress Sandra Dee. releasing stuff. In the late 1960s, Francis went to Vietnam to sing for the troops. Fox News: Its been said youre still open to finding love. I figure once I got those out of the way, I would be able to concentrate on the lighter aspects of my life. 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. 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. Also in 1958, MGM Records renewed her contract and in April released her first album, Whos Sorry Now? However, the period of her struggle was not yet over. Don told him, Hey dummy, this floozy your latest thing? 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. There was no way he could have been saved. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. 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. Francis considered a career in medicine and was about to accept a four-year scholarship offered at New York University. Its modest success inspired her to perform once again. Following another idea from her father, Francis traveled to London in August 1959[12] to record an Italian album at EMI's famous Abbey Road Studios. [7], Despite these failures, Francis was hired to record the vocals for Tuesday Weld's "singing" scenes in the 1956 movie Rock, Rock, Rock, and for Freda Holloway in the 1957 Warner Brothers rock and roll movie Jamboree. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. [on her MGM record contract] I never paid for anything. In her autobiography, Francis mentioned that in the early years of her career, the language barrier in certain European countries made it difficult for her songs to get airplay, especially in Germany. They also raised money for recording a four-song demo tape, which they hoped to sell to some well-known recording company. 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. 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. Now", since it was originally written in the 1930s. But I had my own problems and I took my eye off the ball. Her last top-40 entry was 'Be Anything (but Be Mine)' (1964). The first night that we met, he used vile language, not at me, but at somebody else. Its a moment Ill never forget. Connie Francis (center) with her mother, father and brother George. Connie was not allowed to date in high school and did not attend her prom. Hence, "Freddy" was released as Francis's first single, which turned out to be a commercial failure, just as her following eight solo singles were. 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. After she had success with recording an album in another . Several songs from the Who's Happy Now? Francis attended Newark Arts High School in 1951 and 1952. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Elvis Presleys Family Tree, Freddie Mercurys Exquisite Clutter Up for Sale, Rihanna's Favorite Hair Brand is On 20% Off RN, Inside Marie Antoinette and Chevaliers Friendship, Tupac Shakur, His Mother, and His Song Dear Mama, Joan Baez Sings with Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, 8 Facts About Son of a Sinner Singer Jelly Roll, Selena Gomez Shares"Transformative" Lip Tint, 16 Musicians and Singers Named Knights or Dames. In late December 2004, Francis headlined in Las Vegas for the first time since 1989. 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 didnt grant an interview for seven years. [53], In the same article, Francis said that Dolly Parton had been contacting her for years trying to produce her life story, but owing to her previous commitment to Estefan's organization, she was not able to accept Parton's offer. reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and number 4 in the US. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937),[2] For the first few years of her life she lived in a Brooklyn neighbourhood on Utica Avenue/St. On the B side was Carolina Moon, which she had recorded on 9 June at the same studio. [regarding her version of "God Bless America"] In an interview published Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Together, they made a double sided hit with Stupid Cupid peaking at number 14 on Billboard Hot 100. I had good friends, a family who supported me and my sense of humor But I didnt have the benefit of going to a support group for women who were raped because it would have been in the National Enquirer the following week. Darin's manager arranged for him to help write several songs for her. But soon he realized that his daughter, with her strong and tuneful voice, had even greater potentials. Fame and fortune followed her after her first hit single, but that doesn't mean Francis had an easy life. And he cooperated with the government for three years. that benefits the victims. It was a horrible experience. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro Getting Started Contributor Zone Contribute to This Page She also sang in Romanian during a live performance at the 1970 edition of the Cerbul de Aur in Braov, Romania. whatever arranger, and then the bottom line was, if I didn't like any It soon entered the album charts where it remained for 81 weeks, peaking at number 4. In 1963, she published her first book, For Every Young Heart. [5] She was the first woman in history to reach No. Francis signed with MGM Records in 1955 after she was rejected by nearly every major recording label. 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. The Love Is Me, Love Is You singer explained the reasoning behind their split in an October 1971 interview with the Courier-Post. news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. In November 1959, she released another of her hit single, 'Among My Souvenirs'. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, According to a broadcast on the A&E Biography channel, singer. Later the single also sold well. Details on Recent Surgery, Recovery, Emma Hemming Shares Sweet Video of Bruce Willis Prior to FTD Diagnosis, Montgomery Clift Hated Having to Conceal Parts of His True Self, Regina Taylor Reflects on Most Memorable Roles Amid Emmy Buzz, HGTV's Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt Say Daughter Jade Is Mini-Mika', Suzanne Somers Had to Learn How to Walk After Breaking Her Neck, Dolly Parton Is Always Adding Things to Her Bucket List, Friend Says, L.A. Law's Corbin Bernsen Reveals Success Secret to 34-Year Marriage, Jean Simmons Remembered By Daughter Kate: Im Proud Shes My Mom, Dick Van Dyke Lucked Out Working With Hollywood's Leading Ladies, Bruce Davison On His Career, 1923 Show, Friends and More. [9][10], During this time, Francis continued to perform at neighborhood festivities and talent shows (some of which were broadcast on television), appearing alternately as Concetta Franconero and Connie Franconero. The businessman died in 1973 after battling cancer. She and Garzilli adopted one son. #New#Connie FrancisConnie Francis Very Best Songs Playlist - Connie Francis Greatest Hits Full AlbumConnie Francis Very Best Songs Playlist - Connie Francis . Therefore, Francis enjoyed lasting chart success in the US until her contract with MGM Records ran out in 1969.[18]. 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. [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. She later wrote her autobiography, Whos Sorry Now?, in 1984 where she opened up about all of the devastation she has faced in her life. Acting rocketed her into an even higher tier of stardom, but she remarked that she never felt at home on the big screen. . Francis enjoys the love and support of countless friends, evident in a photo she posted of her and Frankie D'Amelio in 2019. We tried to make a home for Izzys two children by his previous marriage, she said. Godfrey also told her to drop the accordionadvice she gladly followed, as she had begun to hate the large and heavy instrument. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/connie-francis-9130.php. [29], In 1977, Francis underwent nasal surgery and completely lost her voice. Godfrey convinced her to change her real last name to Francis after he had difficulty pronouncing it. Frank invited me to a party. In March 1959, Francis released her second studio album, The Exciting Connie Francis. The incident threw her into a great depression and for few years, she rarely left her home. is for general information purposes only. 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. 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. Her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now, was released in 1984. To celebrate, she hosted a magnificent party at her house, inviting everyone she cares about. Therefore, when little Concetta began to show her musical talent, he happily passed his ambition on to her. The songwriter died in 1973, but Connie made it clear that he has remained on her mind after all of these years. 319. Estefan announced that she would produce and play the lead. She was to be followed by other major British and American recording stars including Wanda Jackson, Cliff Richard, Petula Clark, Brenda Lee, the Supremes, Peggy March, Pat Boone, Lesley Gore, the Beatles and Johnny Cash, among many others. In Europe, she remained as popular as before and continued to have chart hits in UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. She was drinking a lot of red wine and she said she wanted to escape somewhere, but she didnt know where. But, my personal life was always secondary to my career. I never felt quite the same about anyone the way I still feel about Bobby to this day.. Francis has been married four times. Connie Francis isnt sorry now about sharing her story. In 1980s and 1990s, she released a few singles in English and German. the Estefans]. that benefits the victims. 19371955: Early life and first appearances, 19551957: Recording contract and commercial failures, Clayton W. Barrows Tom Powers, Introduction to Management in the Hospitality Industry (9th edition), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2009, pg. So, what else is new? Her father convinced her We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. The most interesting human being I've ever met in my life.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. And it wasnt. The ex-wife of Joseph, Connie Francis is a top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Connie Francis, performs on stage on a TV show, 1959. The crime led to a nervous breakdown, a crumbling marriage and it nearly ended her career. On July 3 that same year, she played a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II at the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. All along, she continued with her formal education, being enrolled at Newark Arts High School in 1951. was paid for. Fox News: How did you and Don Rickles meet?Francis: Don Rickles was the one who taught me how to really laugh. Connie Francis was born into an Italian-American family, and her father always knew that she was destined for stardom.
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