Troyan, Michael; Thompson, Jeffrey Paul; Sylvester, Stephen X. Connie Francis married four times; but none of them lasted long. I was actually afraid to meet him. Bob worked as a TV producer with two. She called Bobby Darin the love of her life. From mid-1961 to mid-1963, Radio Luxembourg closed each day's broadcasts with "It's Time to Say Goodnight", a song Francis had recorded especially for this purpose and which was never officially released until 1996.[21]. The beloved singer, who is recognized as the top-selling female vocalist of the 60s, has enjoyed a lasting career, but her success didnt come without its fair share of heartache. In Europe, she remained as popular as before and continued to have chart hits in UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. Despite some disagreement about material, after several weeks Darin and Francis developed a romantic relationship. The first night that we met, he used vile language, not at me, but at somebody else. ", After becoming the top female vocalist in the country, Francis also starred in a few films throughout the 1960s. When we pulled up, the valet guy said to Don, Wow Don, shes a beauty. I said, Why thank you! Don responded, The car dummy, the car. He was really the best. 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. 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. A young Connie Francis. It came mainly because one of the tracks was entitled Freddy, which was also the name of the company co-executive, Harry A. Myersons son and he thought that the song would be a good birthday present. 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. As soon as Concetta turned three, her father enrolled her into a music school for accordion lessons. Her second autobiography, Among My Souvenirs, was published in 2017. Market data provided by Factset. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Legal Statement. Travel, everything, [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. 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. In 1955, Startime went off the air. She mentioned gratefully that her 85th birthday party must have been "the largest gathering of lifelong friends.". Acting rocketed her into an even higher tier of stardom, but she remarked that she never felt at home on the big screen. However, her minor chart success came too late for her record labelFrancis's recording contract consisted of ten solo singles and one duet single. We tried to make a home for Izzys two children by his previous marriage, she said. Their romance came to an end soon after and Bobby went on to marry, Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. Connie Stevens. Francis returned to San Remo in 1967 to present "Canta Ragazzina" with her team partner Bobby Solo. that benefits the victims. In 1961, she debuted in films, appearing as Angie in Where the Boys Are. Fox News: How did you cope with being raped in 1974?Connie Francis: I had a lot of help. Connie Francis, the 1960s pop icon, turned 85 on Monday, December 12, 2022. He rented a whole restaurant to have a dinner party for me in Las Vegas. As an antidote she began to make public performances, trying to pick up her life. At what was to have been her final recording session for MGM on October 2, 1957, with Joe Lipman and his orchestra,[12] she recorded a cover version of the 1923 song "Who's Sorry Now?" Early in her career, she became romantically involved with singer and actor Bobby Darin. Brooklyn born Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingolia is of Italian/Sicilian and Irish descent, the daughter of Eleanor McGinley and Teddy Stevens (born Peter Ingolia). One year later, the songstress married her fourth husband, Bob Parkinson in 1985. Their marriage only lasted three months before ending in divorce. [5] She was the first woman in history to reach No. MTW 9:00AM- 10:15AM 6/12-7/22: Rosalba Bolwin (Ext 2272) NESL 964 50027 Intermediate Level Listening and . [47][48] In 1973, Francis married for the third time her only marriage to last more than a few months Joseph Garzilli, a restaurateur and travel-agency owner; they divorced in 1977. Connie was not allowed to date in high school and did not attend her prom. But he didnt know he was a mobster. She returned to the stage in the early 1990s and released an autobiography Who's Sorry Now, in 1984. [56] This suit was also dismissed. Nevertheless, Francis continued to record singles aimed at the youth-oriented market. I gave up my career for the past eight months while we lived in New Jersey. Her fourth marriage was to TV producer Bob Parkinson; with whom she remained married for eight months, (1986-1986). [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. She said: "He was an amazing human being. She performed "Who's Sorry Now" on American Bandstand, and it. It affected her very much and her mental equilibrium began to waver. There was no way he could have been saved. Under the latter name, she also appeared on NBC's variety show Startime Kids between 1953 and 1955. Between the 70s and 80s, her brother was brutally murdered, she was made a victim of sexual abuse, and she started struggling with her mental health. One year later, the songstress married her fourth husband, Bob Parkinson in 1985. But it did take seven years out of my life. After the relative failure of the follow-up singles "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry" (which stalled at No. Another girl singer. I absolutely adored his screenplay of Judy's life he was so eager to do my life story for film, but she [Gloria] wouldn't agree to hire him and that was the end of that. ", Portrait of Connie Francis, 1960 | Source: Getty Images. However, her dominating father disapproved of the match and almost drove away Darin at a gun point. After she had success with recording an album in another . In August 1959, she released her third album, My Thanks to You. Francis was unable to sing for years after her attack, but slowly recovered until she was again able to tour in the early 1990s. Estefan announced that she would produce and play the lead. 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. She said, "[Connie Francis] isn't even in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and yet she was the first female pop star worldwide, and has recorded in nine languages. Dick was a public relations agent of several hotels in Las Vegas. However, it was Vacation, a song recorded on July 18, 1962, that brought her the final Top Ten Hit. All along, she continued with her formal education, being enrolled at Newark Arts High School in 1951. First, she missed the opportunity to spend her days with her greatest and first love, the singer Bobby Darin. Her . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. During their marriage, they adopted one son, Fun Facts About Marie Osmond and Steve Craigs Love Story. that benefits the victims. 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. To celebrate, she hosted a magnificent party at her house, inviting everyone she cares about. He said, If you dont sing this song sister, the only way youll get on 'American Bandstand' is if you sit on top of the television set. So I did it as the last song. [22] In March and October 2007, Francis performed to sold-out crowds at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. In spite of the success, she was informed by MGM that her contract would not be renewed after her tenth solo recording. Prompted by her father, Concetta began to appear at different talent contests, pageants, lodge celebrations, church socials and other neighborhood festivities from the age of four, singing and playing accordion. The Many Tears Ago singer and the Splish Splash crooners relationship was not approved by Connies father. Unfortunately, her father ensured they couldn't be together. Francis is primarily known for her singing career, but she played the lead in a number of films created for teenagers in the early 1960s. The beloved singer, who is recognized as the top-selling female vocalist of the '60s, has enjoyed a lasting career, but her success didn't come without its fair share of heartache. He wanted the children. But here, they didn't take me seriously until She noted in the article that both she and Parton had considered, independently of each other, actress Valerie Bertinelli to play Francis. Ferretti and Francis specifically focused on the song "You Made Me Love You.". All Rights Reserved. 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. Her father convinced her singer has gone through a lot in life. Osborne': In an interview published in the September 1991 issue of DISCoveries 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. In 1981, her younger brother, a lawyer, was killed in a mafia style attack. The ex-wife of Joseph, Connie Francis is a top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Desperate, she now began to look for her next hit and found it in Stupid Cupid, written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Francis's enduring popularity overseas led to her having television specials in numerous countries around the world, such as Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy. otherwise. She originally did not want to sing her first smash hit, "Who's Sorry My father said, If I have to nail you to that microphone, youre gonna do Whos Sorry Now. So I did it. Marks Avenue) before the family moved to New Jersey. She was drinking a lot of red wine and she said she wanted to escape somewhere, but she didnt know where. He envisaged that when she grew up she would open an accordion school. 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 1950, 12-year-old Concetta secured the first place on Arthur Godfrey's Startime Talent Scout as a singer and an accordion player. They got married in 1971 and divorced ten months later in 1972. . So I tackled those two subjects first. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! All rights reserved. Fox News: How did you manage to save Dons life?Francis:He came to me petrified. For Malaco Records, Francis recorded a double album entitled Where the Hits Are, containing re-recordings of 18 of her biggest hits, as well as six classics of yesteryear Francis had always wanted to record such as "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" speaks out against the above mentioned and. Her music talent was spotted early in her life and by the age of three she began attending music school for vocal and accordion training and started performing in public by the age of four. whatever arranger, and then the bottom line was, if I didn't like any All Rights Reserved, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The Many Tears Ago singer and the Splish Splash crooners relationship was not approved by Connies father. 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. [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 incident happened while she appeared at the Westbury Music Fair in New York, on November 8, 1974. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937),[2] [12][25][26], After her modest success with "(Should I) Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree?" See 'Magnum P.I.' All rights reserved. Godfrey also told her to drop the accordionadvice she gladly followed, as she had begun to hate the large and heavy instrument. George also quickly put an end to Connie's romance, at age 19, with fellow teen singer Bobby Darin. On the B side was Carolina Moon, which she had recorded on 9 June at the same studio. On February 15, 1958, she sang it on Clarks Saturday Night Beechnut Show. "Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. sessions were subsequently recorded in Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and German. The first time he asked me out on a date in 1961, he rented a shiny new Corvette sports car and we went to this elaborate movie house where they had valet parking. She was terrorized for nearly three hours at knife-point, raped and robbed. 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. But there were 16 minutes left. But Dick Clark liked it It was a cosmic moment for me. Dick was a public relations agent of several hotels in Las Vegas. 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. [17], In 1981, further tragedy struck Francis when her brother, George Franconero, Jr., with whom she was very close, was murdered by Mafia hitmen. Its like when you play poker: If you know you have a losing hand, you simply fold.. [20] She had two more number one hits there, "Paradiso" in September 1962 and "Barcarole in der Nacht" in July 1963. She won a lawsuit against the hotel for inadequate security, the result of which influenced the hotel and motel industry to install deadbolts, viewing ports and improved lighting. On July 3 that same year, she played a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II at the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. 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. She recorded the song also in Japanese, Italian, and Spanish, as she had done before with her original 1960 version. While the former reached the US Top Ten and peaked at No. When he finished, Francis announced that he had just played her new hit song. Dick Clark introduced the song on his Bandstand TV show in 1958, and it became an immediate hit, selling a million copies less than six months after release. It reached number 2 on Billboard Hot 100. In 1974, Francis was the victim of a brutal rape in her hotel room. Francis began performing regularly again. Finally Connie signed a contract with MGM Records for ten singles and one duet. Its a moment Ill never forget. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan appointed her as head of his task force on violent crime. In 1956, she recorded two songs, I Never Had A Sweetheart' and 'Little Blue Wren', for Tuesday Weld in the film Rock, Rock, Rock. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [29], In 1977, Francis underwent nasal surgery and completely lost her voice. There was never Star Perdita Weeks' Bikini Photos, See Your Favorite Celebrity Couples in Swimsuits: Best Beach Photos, Meet Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone's Daughters Vivian and Georgette, Pure Sunshine! The legendary singer has over 1 million monthly listeners on the platform. In 1992, a medley of remixed versions of her biggest German hits charted in Germany. In late December 2004, Francis headlined in Las Vegas for the first time since 1989. It was backed by her ninth solo single You, My Darlin You. I didnt grant an interview for seven years. In 1959, she gained two gold records for a double-sided hit: on the A-side, "Lipstick on Your Collar" (number 5), and on the B-side, "Frankie" (number 9). [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. [17] For the next four years, Francis was voted the "Best Female Vocalist" by American Bandstand viewers. It was a happy shock. in the September 1991 issue of DISCoveries Magazine, Connie tells 'Jerry She and Garzilli had a son named Joseph Jr. Associated With. Not one penny. [speaking about Hollywood trying to get her thin] I didn't know All three albums and the singles culled from them were released on United Artists Records. But, my personal life was always secondary to my career. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. 1986), Dick Kanellis (m. 1964 div. She went through three more operations to regain her singing voice and was unable to sing for four years.[16][22]. The duet peaked at number 93 on Billboard's Hot 100. Francis has said that she recorded it at the insistence of her father, who was convinced it stood a chance of becoming a hit because it was a song adults already knew and that teenagers would dance to if it had a contemporary arrangement. ", b/w "Paint the Rain" on GSF Records. However, the case had a much bigger impact, leading to a reform in hotel security. was named one of the Songs of the Century. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Francis considered a career in medicine and was about to accept a four-year scholarship offered at New York University. In 1960, she was named the most popular artist in Europe, the first time a non-European received this honor. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. [18], In 1973, Francis returned to the recording studio, cutting "(Should I) Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree? [on her MGM record contract] I never paid for anything. She could be seen wearing a lovely red dress, while D'Amelio wore a white shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses. Her autobiography, Who's Sorry Now, was released in 1984. If I had put as much thought in selecting husbands as I did with Vegas openings, I would have been fine. In April 1958, "Who's Sorry Now?" Chicago P.D. Star Marina Squerciatis Bikini Photos, What Happened to Ben Napier? The pop icon married her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, in 1973. provide adequate security when she learned that a year after the rape Her marriage to the hair salon owner was short-lived, ending after 10 months. Astrological Sign: Sagittarius, Article Title: Connie Francis Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/connie-francis, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 22, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Upon hearing that . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. During the height of the Vietnam War in 1967, Connie Francis performed for US troops. [49] It was during the third marriage that Francis adopted a baby boy, Joey. Finally in 1978, she returned to the recording studio to cut her first album in the post MGM era, Whos Happy Now?. And then Mr. Clark just happened to play a song called "Who's sorry now" - MY "Who's Sorry Now"! [14] Eventually, the single sold over one million copies.[11]. He had the greatest sense of humor in the world, Connie told, in March 2022. In the wake of "Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel", Francis enjoyed her greatest successes outside the United States. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Connie Francis celebrated her 85th birthday with "the largest gathering of lifelong friends.". 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. But when on January 1, 1958, Dick Clark, best remembered for hosting American Bandstand, played the song on his program; its popularity began to rise. [28] During the years after the incident, Francis went into depression, taking as many as 50 Darvon pills a day and rarely leaving her home in Essex Fells, New Jersey. By then, her popularity has reached its peak in USA and Europe. On November 8, 1974, she met with a tragedy, being raped and nearly killed by an unknown man in a hotel room in Jericho, New York. Market data provided by Factset. the Estefans]. Then he became involved with the mob. She had gone there to attend the Westbury Music Fair. Sedaka protested that Francis would be insulted, but Greenfield said that since she hated all the other songs they had performed, they had nothing to lose.
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