Miss Connie Francis

(1937-2025)

Miss Connie Francis was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey on December 12, 1937. Francis attended Newark Arts High School in 1951 and 1952 before she and her family moved to Belleville, New Jersey.  Francis graduated as salutatorian of her class from Belleville High School in 1955.   She became an American pop singer, actress and one of the top-charting female vocalists of her time.  She was estimated to have sold more than 100 million records, worldwide. 

 She regularly performed at talent contests and pageants in the neighborhood and was eventually advised at the age of 14 before an appearance on the variety show, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts to change her last name to Francis for easier pronunication. Godfrey having trouble pronouncing her last name, suggested she change it. Godfrey also advised her to drop the accordion which was advise she gladly followed as she had begun to dislike the large and heavy instrument. 

She had a rocky start in the music industry with her first eight singles failing commercially after she signed with MGM Records in 1955.  Though she had her first taste of success in 1957, her recording contract with MGM came to an end.  

Francis considered pursuing a career in medicine and was accepted into New York University, but at what was meant to be her final session, she recorded a cover of the 1923 song Who's Sorry Now.  Though the song had a slow start, Dick Clark played it on his "American Bandstand" in January 1958 and invited her to perform it on "The Saturday Night Beechnut Show" (which would later become "The Dick Clark Show").  The performance launched her career and the song reached No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart and No. 4 in the United States resulting in MGM Records renewing her contract.  

Frankie Avalon, Connie Francis, Dick Clark and Fabian

Circa 1960s

After teaming up with the songwriting duo Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, Francis had a slew of charting hits comprising both original and cover songs like Stupid Cupid, My Happiness, Among My Souvenirs and Lipstick on Your Collar though the recording she is most remembered for was Where the Boys Are. 

In 1984, she wrote her memoir titled Who's Sorry Now? which became a bestseller. She officially retired in 2018.  Francis was married four times and was also in a relationship with singer, Bobby Darin who was the love of her life though her father thwarted any chance of a lasting relationship with Darin.  Darin went on to marry Sandra Dee.

Bobby Darin performing with Connie Francis on The Ed Sullivan Show.

January 3, 1960

The tragedies that befell Francis would challenge the most resilient of souls.  Nevertheless, she navigated each dark, engulfing personal tunnel with unwavering tenacity, always eventually emerging aided by her sense of humor.  From the age of 10,  she worked on television with many comedians like Don Rickles and developed that sense of humor which sustained her throughout her life.

Francis wrote another autobiography titled Among My Souvenirs: The Real Story.

Writing Among My Souvenirs in 2017 was an enormous amount of work .. "A real roller-coaster ride".  After making a series of unsuccessful singles in the 1950s, Francis recorded Who's Sorry Now? which was a song her father had nagged her to record. Connie as a music student of her father, George at Art High School. They had a close, but complex relationship. In 1984, she told People magazine she allowed her father to exert "too much influence" over her life. George Franconero was her manager for 30 years directing her singing dates and accordion lessons from a young age. He was her first music teacher.

George Franconero, Sr., Ida Franconero

George Franconero, Jr. and Connie Francis

Among My Souvenirs rocketed up the charts and by the end of 1958, Billboard named Connie Francis the No.1 female vocalist in the country.  A string of hits followed in the early 1960s including Everybody's Somebody's Fool and Heartaches by the Number. 

A pop sensation, Hollywood soon came calling to cash in on her fame.  MGM placed her in the 1960s film, Where the Boys Are though Francis never caught the acting bug. She is quoted as saying "I just didn't feel comfortable, as though I didn't belong there."

Since a 1967 trip to Vietnam when she entertained the troops, Francis has remained especially close to the military veterans she calls "the real heroes"

Her voice became a defining sound of the 1950s and 1960s.

.. Francis in her own words .. 

"Not so much for the heights I have reached, but for the depths fromwhich I have come".

Connie is now at peace.  We remember her for the joy she gave us in her voice.

Rest in Peace, Miss Connie Francis

Sidenote: The first time Francis saw Elvis, in person, was shortly after his mother had died.  He was in the audience, front row center, at the Sahara in Las Vegas.  Knowing that, Francis was anxious to meet him after the show. She sang "Mama".  Elvis started to cry and left the showroom.