The couple had a son named Joseph Garzilli Jr. While her singles were mostly kept in the then-current sounds of the day such as rock 'n' roll, novelty songs, the twist, torch ballads, or the girl group sound created by Brill Building alumni Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, Francis' albums represented her in a variety of styles, ranging from R&B, vocal jazz, and country to Broadway standards, children's music, waltzes, spiritual music, schlager music, traditionals from various ethnic groups represented in the US, and select songs from popular songwriters of the day, such as Burt Bacharach and Hal David, or Les Reed. 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. In 1964, she was briefly married to Dick Kanellis, a press agent and entertainment director for the Aladdin Hotel. She had guards around her house. 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There was just no way when it was made public. In December 2009 the film project was dropped. Connie Francis, the 1960s pop icon, turned 85 on Monday, December 12, 2022. [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. In the late 1950s, Connie Francis got her big break on the music scene with her cover of Whos Sorry Now? The top-selling song led to a career full of incredible successes in the midst of heartache. She was reportedly terrorized for close to three hours at knife-point, raped, and robbed. Therefore, Francis enjoyed lasting chart success in the US until her contract with MGM Records ran out in 1969.[18]. He had the greatest sense of humor in the world, Connie told Closer in March 2022. Francis's first autobiographical book, For Every Young Heart, was published in 1963. 319. However, the case had a much bigger impact, leading to a reform in hotel security. 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. 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. Despite it all, she considers her personal life a bust. 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. Connie Francis won television's Startime Talent Scouts at age 12 and signed with MGM Records. Francis, who turns 80 on December 12, was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero to solidly Italian-American parents in Newark. However, life goes on for the singer, and she is enjoying her last days out of the spotlight. In Europe, she remained as popular as before and continued to have chart hits in UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. I could record where I wanted, however many Singer and actress Connie Francis was born Concetta Franconero, on December 12, 1938 (some sources say 1937), in Newark, New Jersey. But I had my own problems and I took my eye off the ball. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/connie-francis-9130.php. Despite her declining success on the Hot 100, Francis remained a top concert draw, and her singles now following a more mature style were charting on the top quarter of Billboard's Adult Contemporary (AC) Charts and sometimes even reached Billboard's Country Charts. 'Don't Break the Heart That Loves You' was another hit of the year. 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. All Rights Reserved. As an antidote she began to make public performances, trying to pick up her life. Released in November 1957, Who's Sorry Now? was initially ignored. Troyan, Michael; Thompson, Jeffrey Paul; Sylvester, Stephen X. [11], In 1955, Startime Kids went off the air. Francis's enduring popularity overseas led to her having television specials in numerous countries around the world, such as Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy. It was a happy shock. Due to changing trends in the early and mid-1960s, namely the British Invasion, Francis's chart success on Billboard's Hot 100 began to wane after 1963. The New Jersey native was married four times throughout her career but revealed that her greatest love was her late boyfriend, Bobby Darin. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, just one of her other 53 career hits. Bobby had everything: charisma, talent, he was brilliant. The ex-wife of Joseph, Connie Francis is a top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Several songs from the Who's Happy Now? educated at Arts High School and was a music student of her father. I had four Fox News spoke with Francis about opening up to fans. I began feeling sorry for myself and a bit envious, too. The "Who's Sorry Now?" He had the greatest sense of humor in the world, Connie told, in March 2022. Connie Francis married four times; but none of them lasted long. The pop icon married her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, in 1973. And he cooperated with the government for three years. otherwise. They also raised money for recording a four-song demo tape, which they hoped to sell to some well-known recording company. 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. The pair were married for five years before calling it quits in 1978. In April 1958, "Who's Sorry Now?" [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. She was very remorseful. The businessman died in 1973 after battling cancer. Now", since it was originally written in the 1930s. It says Im a virgin. Frank then said, The only virgins I know in Las Vegas are 4-year-olds and ugly. He did apologize, which is very rare for him. While appearing at the Westbury Music Fair in New York, on November 8, 1974, Francis was raped at the Jericho Turnpike Howard Johnson's Lodge in Jericho, New York, and nearly suffocated under the weight of a heavy mattress the culprit had thrown upon her. Being born on 12 December 1938, Connie Francis is 84 years old as of today's date 1st May 2023. 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. Her third marriage was comparatively long lasting. (June 27, 1985 - March 31, 1986) (divorced), (September 16, 1973 - October 1, 1978) (divorced, 1 child), (January 16, 1971 - February 14, 1972) (divorced), (August 15, 1964 - November 15, 1964) (divorced), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. On November 27, 2002, she filed a second suit against UMG alleging the label had inflicted severe emotional distress on her and violated her moral rights when, without her permission, it synchronized several of her songs into "sexually themed" movies: the 1994 film Post Cards from America, the 1996 film The Craft, and the 1999 film Jawbreaker. Also in the same year, she released four more albums; one in English, others in Jewish, Spanish and Italian. Her lawsuit led to improved security measures throughout the hotel industry. Lovely, indefatigable Connie Stevens added sparkle to a number of films and TV shows in the late 50s and 60s Hollywood. Eder, Shirley. Her first husband was Dick Kannellis, a press agent and entertainment director for the Aladdin Hotel. I didnt sing for seven years. occurred, the broken lock to her former room had never been repaired. Her rapist was never found. In spite of the success, she was informed by MGM that her contract would not be renewed after her tenth solo recording. ", After becoming the top female vocalist in the country, Francis also starred in a few films throughout the 1960s. She was the first woman in history to reach No. Dick was a public relations agent of several hotels in Las Vegas. For the first few years of her life she lived in a Brooklyn neighbourhood on Utica Avenue/St. According to Francis: They chose to use amateur writers to write the screenplay. 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. paid for every photograph and I kept the photos. that benefits the victims. Stupid Cupid - Connie Francis 1958 {Stereo} Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine 12.5K subscribers Subscribe 870K views 2 years ago 1958..#14 U.S. Darin's manager arranged for him to help write several songs for her. In the wake of this, Francis recorded two duets for the German Herzklang label (a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment) with Peter Kraus, with whom she had already worked several times in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Connie was not allowed to date in high school and did not attend her prom. 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. MGM released her first recording, "Freddy" because the president of MGM had a son named by the same name. It takes a lot to make a relationship work. Level Listeningand Speaking II: Marcel Castillo ONLINE. As soon as Concetta turned three, her father enrolled her into a music school for accordion lessons. Her father made a negative comment about Darin finally being out of their lives. Connie Francis became early rock 'n' roll's first female global star through her talent, her tenacity, and her ability to sing in more than a dozen languages. is for general information purposes only. "Mama," the single taken from the album, reached number 8 in the United States and number 2 in the United Kingdom.[18]. All along, she continued with her formal education, being enrolled at Newark Arts High School in 1951. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And then Mr. Clark just happened to play a song called "Who's sorry now" - MY "Who's Sorry Now"! My brother was a former district attorney. Godfrey also told her to drop the accordionadvice she gladly followed, as she had begun to hate the large and heavy instrument. In 1981, her younger brother, a lawyer, was killed in a mafia style attack. 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. I needed to put humor into my book. After recovering, she started campaigning for mental well-being, and she was an avid supporter of the American troops. It soon entered the album charts where it remained for 81 weeks, peaking at number 4. Even if it wasn't on MGM business, it was paid for. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When her father learned that Darin had suggested the two elope after one of her shows, he ran Darin out of the building at gunpoint. In November 1959, she released another of her hit single, 'Among My Souvenirs'. She also sang in Romanian during a live performance at the 1970 edition of the Cerbul de Aur in Braov, Romania. However, the demo tape was rejected by most companies, mainly because Connie was yet to develop a style of her own; she was simply good in copying other stars. whatever arranger, and then the bottom line was, if I didn't like any Its a moment Ill never forget. [7][32], Despite that, she took up live performing again, even gracing the American Bandstand 30th Anniversary Special Episode, and appearing in the town where she had been raped. Connie Francis first came to limelight with Whos Sorry Now?, cover version of the well-known 1923 song. She talked about how she was putting her children through another day in hell. Connie Francis (born 12 December 1937 in Newark, New Jersey, USA) is an American pop singer best known for international hit songs such as "Who's Sorry Now?," "Where The read more. But Dick Clark liked it It was a cosmic moment for me. 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 Connie Francis was a pop music star in the 1950s and '60s and starred in a number of films aimed at the teen market. See 'Magnum P.I.' "There's no doubt about it", predicted Mr. Clark. Connie Francis isnt sorry now about sharing her story. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The songwriter died in 1973, but Connie made it clear that he has remained on her mind after all of these years. Luckily, it seems that her home wasn't hit by the ruthless hurricane Irma. Her father, George Franconero, Sr. was a dockworker and a roof-contractor while her mother, Ida Franconero ne Ferrari-di Vito, was a homemaker. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. 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. A number of Francis's singles continued to reach the top 40 in the US Hot 100 through the mid-1960s, with her last top-40 entry in 1964 being her cover version of "Be Anything (but Be Mine)", a 1952 song made famous by singer/bandleader Eddy Howard. We tried to make a home for Izzys two children by his previous marriage, she said. Fox News: Whats the story behind your famous song Whos Sorry Now?Francis: My father wanted me to record that song for a year and a half and I turned him down. She and Garzilli had a son named Joseph Jr. Associated With. But, my personal life was always secondary to my career. After the three-week talent hunt was over, she remained with Startime, performing once a week for four years. Upon hearing that . It was during this period that she changed her stage name to Connie Francis on the advice of Godfrey, who found it difficult to pronounce Franconero. Together, they made a double sided hit with Stupid Cupid peaking at number 14 on Billboard Hot 100. 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. But it did take seven years out of my life. Billboard Hot 100 / This DES stereo video. There are ninety-five million females in the country, and I'll bet ninety-five percent of them sing. Later the single also sold well. One year later, the songstress married her fourth husband, Bob Parkinson in 1985. [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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! [39] She appeared in concert in Manila, Philippines, on Valentine's Day 2008. 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! .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. It was not until her number 7 on the US charts, "Many Tears Ago", later in 1960 when Francis began to record cover versions of her own songs in foreign languages besides German. Joseph Garzilli: Bio Summary Who Is Joseph Garzilli? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In the fall of 1957, she enjoyed her first chart success with The Majesty of Love, a duet single with Marvin Rainwater. And it wasnt. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937), [2] known professionally as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Best Known For: Connie Francis was a pop music star in the 1950s and '60s and starred in a number of films aimed at the teen market. Singer, composer, actress, entertainer and publisher Connie Francis was releasing stuff. There was no way he could have been saved. In 1950, 12-year-old Concetta secured the first place on Arthur Godfrey's Startime Talent Scout as a singer and an accordion player. The pair were married for five years before calling it quits in 1978. Her last top-40 entry was 'Be Anything (but Be Mine)' (1964). She was terrorized for nearly three hours at knife-point, raped and robbed. The couple were married for 81 days before their relationship headed towards a divorce. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Connie Francis. Fox411: Beloved singer Connie Francis come forward with a tell-all titled 'Among My Souvenirs,' where she candidly opens up about one of her greatest tragedies. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. [17] For the next four years, Francis was voted the "Best Female Vocalist" by American Bandstand viewers. 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. 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. He said that there was a mobster in the audience [at his show] with a date. age 11 she appeared on, - IMDb Mini Biography By: Hup234! actress wed her first husband, Dick Kanellis, in 1964. Market data provided by Factset. Connie Francis (center) with her mother, father and brother George. It was backed by her ninth solo single You, My Darlin You. Connie Francis at Asser Levy Park, Coney Island on July 30, 2009 in New York City | Source: Getty Images, Although Francis doesn't perform anymore, she still has support from countless fans and family members. [7] She subsequently sued the motel chain for failing to provide adequate security and reportedly won a $2.5 million judgment,[27] at the time one of the largest such judgments in history, leading to a reform in hotel security. The single seemed to go unnoticed like all previous releases, just as Francis had predicted, but on January 1, 1958, it debuted on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Marks Avenue) before the family moved to New Jersey. He taught her to play instruments from three years old and ensured that he supported her through her career. In the same month, she traveled to London, where she recorded her fourth studio album, 'Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorite'. Despite some disagreement about material, after several weeks Darin and Francis developed a romantic relationship. 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. news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. Legal Statement. He never knew I did that. By then, her popularity has reached its peak in USA and Europe. [53], Francis supported Richard Nixon's 1968 bid for the presidency when she recorded a campaign song for him.[54]. (2017). Francis lost her longtime partner, Tony Ferretti. It reached number 2 on Billboard Hot 100. Francis returned to the recording studio in 1981 to cut "Comme ci, comme a", and "I'm Me Again", the latter of which became the title track of an album which featured the aforementioned new songs. 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]. ~ Connie Francis ~ The Official Facebook Page Well, the feeling was cosmic - just cosmic! Desperate, she now began to look for her next hit and found it in Stupid Cupid, written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. She has also been the spokeswoman for Mental Health America's trauma campaign, as well as an involved worker for the USO and UNICEF. 9. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. [7], Growing up in an Italian-Jewish neighborhood, Francis became fluent in Yiddish, which led her later to record songs in Yiddish and Hebrew.[7][8]. She performed "Who's Sorry Now" on American Bandstand, and it. Francis considered a career in medicine and was about to accept a four-year scholarship offered at New York University. She made a name for herself with films including "Where the Boys Are" and "When the Boys Meet the Girls. [7] Around the same time, Francis took a job as a singer on demonstration records, which brought unreleased songs to the attention of established singers and/or their management who might choose to record them for a professional commercial record. Keep scrolling to learn more about Connies four marriages. During the next two years, she recorded a number of mediocre songs. Osborne': In an interview published in the September 1991 issue of DISCoveries 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. Connie Francis recorded "Where the Boys Are" as the theme song for the motion picture Where the Boys Are a 1961 MGM release filmed in 1960 in which Francis made her movie acting debut as one of four coeds on spring break in Fort Lauderdale.. But he didnt know he was a mobster. [speaking about Hollywood trying to get her thin] I didn't know [18], In 1973, Francis returned to the recording studio, cutting "(Should I) Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree? Francis was not fluent in all of these languages and she had to learn her foreign language songs phonetically. 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. adult star in America. First, she missed the opportunity to spend her days with her greatest and first love, the singer Bobby Darin. Joseph Garzilli Jr's mother Connie Francis was raped at the Jericho Turnpike Howard Johnson's Lodge in Jericho, New York. 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. After a few hours, Francis began writing in her diary while the songwriters played the last of their ballads.
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