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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZFRANCIS, Connie(b Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, 12 Dec. '38, Newark NJ) US singer; the biggest-selling female recording artist of late '50s--early '60s and one of the biggest of all time. Learned accordion at three, on local TV at ten, Arthur Godfrey TV talent scout show at eleven; four years on Startime variety show; first single 'Freddy' '55. 'Who's Sorry Now' (song from '23 recorded at suggestion of her father) was a no. 4 hit, first of 55 Hot 100 hits '58--69. An average of seven top 40 entries a year '58--64 incl. junky pop songs that stick in the mind whether we like it or not, slickly prod. with pseudo rock'n'roll beat and dominated by her big, strong, accurate voice ('Stupid Cupid' and 'Lipstick On Your Collar' are good examples) but also a large number of revivals of good old songs, e.g. 'My Happiness' (from '48; no. 2 '58), 'If I Didn't Care' ('39; no. 22 '59), 'Among My Souvenirs' ('27; no. 7 '59), 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool' ('50; her first no. 1 '60: second and last was 'My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own' same year). Last top 40 hit was 'Be Anything (But Be Mine)' '64, of which there had been three hit versions in '52. Film debut in Where The Boys Are '61 (title song was no. 4 hit), then Follow The Boys '63 (no. 17 hit title), Looking For Love '64 (no. 45 title), When The Boys Meet The Girls '65. Twenty-five top 50 hits UK '58--66 incl. no. 1 with 'Carolina Moon' '58 ('29 song on flip side of 'Stupid Cupid'). All her recordings were on MGM. She sang in nine languages and touched every base; of 60- odd LPs 21 charted USA '60--66 incl. compilations, three soundtrack albums, sets of country songs, Jewish songs, Italian songs etc. Like Frank Sinatra in '42 she and her then sweetheart Bobby Darin had to prove they could attract grownup audiences; they shared the same arranger (Richard Wess) and each made successful live albums at the Copa. She did The Exciting Connie Francis with Ray Ellis, Songs To A Swingin' Band with Wess, also worked with Marty Paich, Claus Ogermann, Ralph Burns and others, but Polygram regarded her as a singles artist and only Connie And Clyde: Hit Songs of the '30s '68 has been reissued (on Audiophile; on CD as The Swinging Connie Francis '96), arranged by Don Costa, orchestra led by Joe Mazzu. She did charity work for CARE, USO, UNICEF late '60s; sang for GIs in Vietnam etc; then she was the victim of a harrowing rape-robbery at knifepoint Nov. '74 after performing at Westbury (NY) Music Fair. Her comeback began '78 on TV and she returned to Westbury '81. There were three five-CD sets of Connie Francis on Bear Family: White Sox, Pink Lipstick And Stupid Cupid (incl. duets with Marvin Rainwater), Kissin' Twistin, Goin' Where The Boys Are and Lass Mir Die Bunten Tr„ume, entirely in German (incl. duets with Peter Kraus); plus Sings Great Country Favorites with Hank Williams Jr on one CD. A Polygram four-CD box appeared |