Connie Francis – who died Thursday at 87 – enjoyed rediscovery recently on social media and Broadway. It was about time for one of the most underrated female singers of the modern era.
Francis’ first big hit was “Who’s Sorry Now,” from 1958. She is the first woman to have three No. 1 hits on the charts: “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” and “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” from 1960. Also “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You,” from 1962.
She may be best remembered for singing the movie theme from “Where The Boys Are,” from 1960. Francis also appeared in that film.
But that was then, and this is now for Connie Francis. Her song from 1962, “Pretty Little Baby” is a Tik Tok sensation with a reported 29 million streams. “To think a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me,” Francis said in a statement.
Also, Francis is a featured character in the current Broadway musical smash, “Just In Time,” based on the life of singer Bobby Darin. He and Francis had a love affair early in their careers.
Gracie Lawrence, who plays Francis, said she received a touching note from Connie about the show on opening night. “She sent me a framed photo with a note that said: ‘To Gracie, all the best to your show, love Connie Francis’,” Lawrence said on YouTube. “I felt like that was her blessing. It means so much to me.”
Francis was a major star and a female pioneer in pop music. “We might not be enjoying Taylor Swift or Beyoncé if it wasn’t for Connie Francis,” Sam Champion said on ABC television.
“By the end of the ‘60s, her top 10 haul (16 singles) still stood as the best among solo women, outpaced overall only by The Beatles (30), Presley (22) and the Supremes (18),” Billboard reported.
For some reason, though, Connie Francis never received her just due. She is not in the Rock and Roll Hall Fame, a true injustice.
I interviewed Francis in the 1990s, and she refused to criticize the Rock Hall. But she was open about her battle with mental health issues, including her misdiagnosis of manic depression.
Francis was remarkably candid. Her past tragic challenges included a sexual assault, her brother’s murder, going through divorces and losing her voice.
I will never forget that interview. She was gracious, kind and courageous. Eventually, she became a spokesperson for the Trauma Campaign of Mental Health America.
Google AI described my interview with Francis this way: “Connie Francis’s story, as shared with Violanti, highlighted the importance of mental health awareness and the lasting impact of trauma.”
“I’m so proud to have called Connie Francis a lifelong friend,” Neil Sedaka posted on Facebook. He wrote two of her biggest hits, “Where The Boys Are,” and “Stupid Cupid.”
“This lady sold over 50 million records; she was the world’s most popular vocalist,” the late Dick Clark once said on ABC. It was Clark who helped Francis return to singing after a years-long hiatus.
It all started on Dec. 12, 1937, when Concetta Rosemarie Franconero was born in Newark, New Jersey. By the age of 9, she was singing on national television. In 1958, she recorded “Who’s Sorry Now,” – a song from the 1920s—and the rest is history.
My favorite Connie Francis song is “Where The Boys Are.” Here is a clip, and it is further proof — as Neil Sedaka said: “Connie may be gone, but her music will live on forever.”
Tony Violanti writes about music and entertainment for Villages-News.com. He was inducted into The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame as a music journalist.