Connie francis new biography of stalin

American pop singer and contestant (born )

Musical artist

Concetta Rosa Tree Franconero (FRANG-koh-NEER-oh;^[3] born December 12, ), known as Connie Francis, is an American pop crooner, actress, and top-charting female choir member of the late s direct early s. She is ostensible to have sold more best million records worldwide.^[4]

In , Francis was recognized as the get bigger successful female artist in Frg, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italia, and Australia, and in from time to time other country where records were purchased.^[5] She was the foremost woman in history to touch on No. 1 on the Billboard Hot when "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" topped the chart in , she was also the crowning woman to have 3 Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 hits on the graph, just three of her 53 career hits.^[6]

Biography

– early life arena first appearances

Francis was born apropos an Italian-American family (one be a devotee of her grandfathers having immigrated running off Reggio Calabria in )^[7] intrude the Ironbound neighborhood of City, New Jersey, the first daughter of George Franconero (–) gift Ida (née&#;Ferrari-di Vito; –), disbursement her first years in primacy Crown Heights, Brooklyn area (Utica Avenue/St. Marks Avenue) before birth family moved to New Jersey.^[8] Growing up in a diverse Italian-Jewish neighborhood, Francis became wellspoken in Yiddish, which led gibe later to record songs limit Yiddish and Hebrew.^[8][9]

In her journals Who's Sorry Now? published constrict , Francis recalls that she was encouraged by her dad to appear regularly at facility contests, pageants, and other part festivities from the age remark four as a singer last accordion player.

Francis attended Metropolis Arts High School in champion She and her family seized to Belleville, New Jersey, hoop Francis graduated as salutatorian foreigner Belleville High School Class go with ^[10][11]

Francis continued to perform mad neighborhood festivities and talent shows (some of them broadcast announce television), appearing alternately as Concetta Franconero and Connie Franconero. Prep below the latter name, she exposed on NBC's variety show Startime Kids between and ^[8]

During rehearsals for her appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in Dec , Francis was advised unwelcoming Godfrey to change her latch name to Connie Francis buy easier pronunciation. Godfrey also uttered her to drop the accordion—advice she gladly followed, as she had begun to hate description large and heavy instrument.^[8] Fly in a circle the same time, Francis took a job as a chorister on demonstration records, to generate unreleased songs to the heed of established singers and/or their management who might choose pre-empt record them for a out of date commercial record.^[12]

– recording contract nevertheless commercial failure

In , Startime Kids went off the air. Inconsequential May that same year,^[13] Martyr Franconero Sr. and Francis's executive George Scheck raised money embody a recording session of unite songs which they hoped emphasize sell to a major measuring tape company under Francis's own honour. Even when MGM Records unambiguous to sign a contract give way her, it was because give someone a buzz track she had recorded, "Freddy", happened to be the nickname of the son of regular company executive, Harry A. Meyerson, who thought of the express as a nice birthday compliment. Hence, "Freddy" was released likewise Francis's first single, which foul-smelling out to be a advert failure, just like her get the gist eight solo singles.^[8]

Despite these failures, Francis was hired to put in writing the vocals for Tuesday Weld's "singing" scenes in the picture Rock, Rock, Rock, and carry Freda Holloway in the Respectable Brothers rock and roll videotape Jamboree.^[14]

In the fall of , Francis enjoyed her first unaffected success with a duet inimitable she had recorded with Marvin Rainwater: "The Majesty of Love", with "You, My Darlin' You" as the B-side, peaked habit number 93 on the Billboard Hot ^[15] Eventually, the matchless sold over one million copies.^[12]

– last chance and breakthrough

However, improve minor chart success came besides late for her record label—Francis's recording contract consisted of establish solo singles and one saltation single. Though success had at long last seemed to come with "The Majesty of Love", Francis was informed by MGM Records think it over her contract would not joke renewed after her last unaccompanied single.

Francis considered a life's work in medicine and was miscomprehend to accept a four-year learning offered at New York Founding. At what was to have to one`s name been her final recording concern for MGM on October 2, , with Joe Lipman discipline his orchestra,^[13] she recorded smashing cover version of the motif "Who's Sorry Now?" written moisten Bert Kalmar and Harry Carmine. Francis has said that she recorded it at the contention of her father, who was convinced it stood a chance upon of becoming a hit in that it was a song adults already knew and that teenagers would dance to if illustrate had a contemporary arrangement.^[16]

Francis blunt not like the song squeeze argued about it with shrewd father heatedly, delaying the setting of the two other songs during the session so disproportionate that she thought no at this juncture was left on the endlessly running recording tape.^[17] Her sire insisted, though, and when depiction recording "Who's Sorry Now?" was finished, only a few bluntly remained on the tape.^[8]

The only seemed to go unnoticed aim all previous releases, just kind Francis had predicted, but revelation January 1, , it debuted on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Francis watched the show extremity wrote in her diary:

I heard Dick Clark mention nitty-gritty about a new girl vocalist. So, what else is new? Another girl singer. There hook ninety-five million females in leadership country, and I'll bet xcv percent of them sing. "There's no doubt about it", reasonable Mr. Clark. "She's is likely straight for the number sole spot". I began feeling remorseful for myself and a fragment envious, too. Good luck upon her, I thought. And proliferate Mr. Clark just happened cross your mind play a song called "Who's sorry now" - MY "Who's Sorry Now"! Well, the whisper atmosphere was cosmic - just cosmic! Right there in my sitting-room, it became Mardi Gras-time explode New Year's Eve at class turn of the century!

And shuffle February 15 of that equal year, Francis performed it affirmation the first episode of The Saturday Night Beechnut Show, likewise hosted by Clark. By mid-year, over a million copies difficult to understand been sold, and Francis was suddenly launched into worldwide prominence. In April , "Who's Contrite Now?" reached number 1 award the UK Singles Chart contemporary number 4 in the US.^[18] For the next four age, Francis was voted the "Best Female Vocalist" by American Bandstand viewers.^[8]

As Connie Francis explains finish equal each of her concerts, she began searching for a additional hit immediately after the work of "Who's Sorry Now?" owing to MGM Records had renewed gibe contract. After the relative failing of the follow-up singles "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry," which stalled at No.&#;36) jaunt "Heartaches", failing to chart disdain all, Francis met Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, who herb a number of ballads they had written for her. Abaft a few hours, Francis began writing in her diary onetime the songwriters played the ransack of their ballads. This, unacceptable her refusal to let Sedaka and Greenfield see the catalogue to mine it for substance, inspired the duo to get along Sedaka's own breakthrough hit "The Diary.") Afterwards, Francis told them that she considered their ballads too intellectual and sophisticated hold the young generation and desire a more lively song. Greenfield urged Sedaka to sing swell song they had written go morning with the Shepherd Sisters in mind. Sedaka protested dump Francis would be insulted, on the other hand Greenfield said that since she hated all the other songs they had performed, they abstruse nothing to lose. Sedaka so played "Stupid Cupid." When subside finished, Francis announced that agreed had just played her newborn hit song. It went habitat to reach number 14 specialty the Billboard chart and was her second number 1 take the UK.^[18]

The success of "Stupid Cupid" restored momentum to Francis' chart career, and she reached the U.S. top 40 proscribe additional eight times during rectitude remainder of the s.^[18] She managed to churn out advanced hits by covering several sr. songs, such as "My Happiness" (number 2 on the Registered trademark ) and "Among My Souvenirs" (number 7), as well though performing her own original songs. In , she gained brace 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).

– international transcription star

Following another idea from refuse father, Francis traveled to Writer in August ^[13] to cloak-and-dagger an Italian album at EMI's famous Abbey Road Studios.^[12] Aristocratic Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites, the album was released amuse November It soon entered distinction album charts where it remained for 81 weeks, peaking invective number 4 and becoming Francis's most successful album. "Mama," rank single taken from the stamp album, reached number 8 in loftiness United States and number 2 in the United Kingdom.^[19]

Following that success, Francis recorded seven further albums of "favorites" between dominant , including Jewish, German, stomach Irish, among others. These albums marked Francis's transition from leadership youth-oriented rock 'n' roll sound to adult contemporary music, which George Franconero, Sr. had factual would be necessary if reward daughter was to have great successful longterm music career.

Nevertheless, Francis continued to record singles aimed at the youth-oriented trade be in the busines. Among her top-ten hits account the Hot were "Breakin' nondescript a Brand New Broken Heart" (, number 7), "When goodness Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart)" (, number 10), "Second Give out Love" (, number 7), significant "Where the Boys Are" (, number 4).^[18] The last only became her signature tune stomach became the theme song presentation Francis's first motion picture. Loftiness movie introduced the concept good buy spring break, as the without delay sleepy town of Fort Lauderdale became the hotspot for school students on their spring make good one\'s escape in the wake of significance movie's success.

The success scholarship "Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites" in late /early led Francis to become one of picture first American artists to document regularly in other languages. She was followed by other superior British and American recording stars including Wanda Jackson, Cliff Richard, Petula Clark, Brenda Lee, nobility Supremes, Peggy March, Pat Frontiersman, Lesley Gore, the Beatles be first Johnny Cash, among many plainness. In her autobiography, Francis somebody that in the early stage of her career, the jargon barrier in some European countries, especially in Germany, made parade difficult for her songs disparage get airplay.

Francis used these reflections as the basis hire her April recording, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" which would go portion to become the first unmarried by a female artist have a break top the Hot ^[20] Master lyricist Ralph Maria Siegel highlighter a set of German words, named "Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel", which, after terrible friction between Francis and lose control MGM executives, was recorded obtain released.^[8] The song peaked pull somebody's leg number 1 in West Germany.^[21] She had two more few one hits there, "Paradiso" steadily September and "Barcarole in jerk Nacht" in July

It was not until her number 7 on the US charts, "Many Tears Ago", later in just as Francis began to record resuscitate versions of her songs imprison foreign languages other than Teutonic. Over the years she distended her recording portfolio to 15 languages. She also sang call Romanian during a live work at the edition of goodness Cerbul de Aur in Brașov, Romania. Francis was not felicitous in all of these languages and she had to hear her foreign language songs phonetically. Francis explained in a hurry interview that she was loquacious in Spanish and Italian, on the contrary always had a translator not faroff to make sure her translated lyrics and especially her enunciation were as correct as feasible.

In the wake of "Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel", Francis enjoyed her greatest launder outside the United States. Cloth the s, her songs turn on the waterworks only topped the charts advise numerous countries around the field, but she was also fast the number 1 singer resolve over 10 countries. In , she was named the almost popular artist in Europe, interpretation first time a non-European commonplace this honor. From mid adjacent to mid, Radio Luxembourg closed talk nineteen to the dozen day's broadcasts with "It's Past to Say Goodnight", a tune Francis had recorded especially shelter them and was not seemingly released until ^[22]

Francis's enduring regard overseas led to television specials in countries around the false such as Britain, Germany, Espana and Italy. Even at class height of the Cold Bloodshed, Francis's music was well standard in Iron Curtain countries, station some of her recordings were made available on state-owned slope labels such as Melodiya admire the former Soviet Union favour on Jugoton in former Yugoslavia,^[22] although it was common familiarity that rock 'n' roll was highly disparaged in Eastern clique countries.

In the US, Connie Francis had a third number-one hit in "Don't Break high-mindedness Heart That Loves You", with the addition of her success led MGM scolding allow her complete freedom talk to choose whichever songs she needed to record.^[12]

Francis's first autobiography, For Every Young Heart, was publicised in On July 3 renounce same year, she played spruce up Royal Command Performance for Potentate Elizabeth II at the Fortress Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. Mid the height of the Annam War in , Connie Francis performed for US troops.^[23][24] Francis recalls this story frequently next to the introduction to "God Immortalize America" at her live concerts.

Due to music trends hassle the early and mids, remarkably the British Invasion, Francis's sketch out success on Billboard's Hot began to wane after She locked away her final top-ten hit, "Vacation", in A number of Francis's singles reached the top 40 in the US Hot worry the mids, with her surname top entry in being multifaceted cover version of "Be Anything (but Be Mine)", a air made famous by singer/bandleader Whirl Howard. Despite her declining come off on the Hot , Francis remained a top concert lug, and her singles – get a feel for a more mature style – were charting on the gap quarter of Billboard'sAdult Contemporary (AC) Charts and sometimes even reached Billboard'sCountry Charts. Francis enjoyed durable chart success in the Sensitive until her contract with MGM Records expired in ^[19]

In , Connie Francis participated in range year's edition of the yearly San Remo Festival, where contain team partner Gigliola Cinquetti presentday she presented "Ho bisogno di vederti", which finished on matter 5 of the final burly.

Francis returned to San Remo in to present "Canta Ragazzina" with her team partner Flatfoot Solo.^[25] In the US, regardless, "Time Alone Will Tell", Francis's cover version of San Remo's winning entry "Non pensare clean up me" which had been debonair by Iva Zanicchi and Claudio Villa, peaked at number 94 on Billboard's Hot and bequeath number 14 on Billboard's AC charts.^[19]

In , Francis returned satisfy the recording studio, cutting "(Should I) Tie a Yellow Medal Round the Old Oak Tree?", b/w "Paint the Rain" gesticulate GSF Records. This answer concert to "Tie a Yellow Wrap record Round the Old Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando & Dawnbubbled under the charts. The transcription of a German version, allowing, remained unfinished.^[13][26][27]

– tragedy and return

After her modest success with "(Should I) Tie a Yellow Features Round the Old Oak Tree?" Francis began performing regularly re-evaluate. While appearing at the Westbury Music Fair in New Royalty, on November 8, , Francis was raped at the Hamlet TurnpikeHoward Johnson's Lodge in Village, New York, and nearly suffocated under the weight of excellent heavy mattress the culprit locked away thrown upon her.^[8] She in the end sued the motel chain round out failing to provide adequate retreat and reportedly won a $ million judgment,^[28] one of leadership largest such judgments in earth, leading to a reform revere hotel security. Her rapist was never found.^[29] In the days after the incident, Francis went into depression, taking as indefinite as 50 Darvon pills ingenious day and rarely leaving pull together home in Essex Fells, Virgin Jersey.^[30]

In , Francis underwent chemoreceptor surgery and completely lost multiple voice. She went through span more operations and was incapable to sing for four years.^[17][23]

In , Francis returned to depiction recording studio to cut rule out album titled Who's Happy Now?^[31] The lead recording on that album was a disco turn your stomach of "Where the Boys Are". That and other songs detach from the Who's Happy Now? meeting were subsequently recorded in European, Spanish, Japanese, and German. Honesty Spanish and German recordings became albums of their own bit as Connie Francis en Español in Spain and as Was ich bin (What I Am) in Germany. All three albums and the singles culled pass up them were released on Common Artists Records.

Francis returned fiddle with to the studio in behold cut "Comme ci, comme ça", and "I'm Me Again", magnanimity latter of which became integrity title track of an recording which featured the new songs.^[32] "I'm Me Again" became Francis' last single to chart impression the AC charts.^[18]

– more tragedy

In , further tragedy struck Francis when her brother, George Franconero, Jr., with whom she was very close, was murdered in and out of Mafia hitmen.^[8][33]

Despite that, she took up live performing again, regular gracing the American Bandstand Thirtieth Anniversary Special and appearing unfailingly the town where she locked away been raped. Francis' new-found work was short-lived, though. She was diagnosed with manic depression, which again brought her career smash into a halt. She was enduring to multiple psychiatric hospitals.^[34][35][36] Francis attempted suicide in ^[36]

Nevertheless, drop , Francis was able disparagement write and publish her recollections, Who's Sorry Now?, which became a New York Times bestseller.

– later career

In , Francis resumed her recording and fulfilment career once again. For Malaco Records, Francis recorded a replacement album entitled Where the Hits Are, containing re-recordings of 18 of her biggest hits, considerably well as six classics realize yesteryear Francis had always desired to record such as "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "Torn Between Two Lovers".

In , a medley of remixed versions of her biggest German hits charted in Germany.^[37] A matchless, entitled "Jive, Connie", ended get hold of among the top-ten best-selling singles of the year, which make helpless Francis the prestigious -Gold accord for the "Best Comeback pan the Year" from (short chaste "Radio Schleswig-Holstein"), then one curiosity Germany's most important private portable radio stations.^[38] A subsequent compilation wedding album of her biggest German hits in their original versions was also released successfully. In class wake of this, Francis reliable two duets for the Teutonic Herzklang label (a subsidiary get a hold Sony Music Entertainment) with Putz Kraus, with whom she difficult already worked several times girder the late s and obvious s. A German-language solo textbook was supposed to follow improve Herzklang, but despite all songs being recorded and mixed, character album remains unreleased.

In , Francis released the live stamp album The Return Concert: Live downy Trump's Castle.^[39] That same epoch, she also released With Affection to Buddy, a tribute single of songs made famous preschooler the late Buddy Holly.

In late December , Francis headlined in Las Vegas for description first time since ^[23] Cede March and October , Francis performed to sold-out crowds mistakenness the Castro Theatre in San Francisco.^[40] She appeared in concord in Manila, Philippines, on Valentine's Day ^[41]

In , she attended at the Las Vegas Hilton with Dionne Warwick, a display billed as "Eric Floyd's Illustrious Divas of Stage".^[42]

In December , Francis released her most brand-new autobiography, Among My Souvenirs.^[43]

Work

Musical genres

While her singles were mostly taken aloof in the then-current sounds selected the day such as escarpment 'n' roll, novelty songs, glory twist, torch ballads, or position girl group sound created strong Brill Building alumni Ellie Borough and Jeff Barry, Francis' albums represented her in a fashion of styles, ranging from R&B, vocal jazz, and country take home Broadway standards, children's music, waltzes, spiritual music, schlager music, traditionals from various ethnic groups small in the US, and undertake songs from popular songwriters show consideration for the day, such as Psychologist Bacharach and Hal David, want Les Reed.

Discography

Main article: Connie Francis discography

Filmography

Filmography (television)

Bibliography

Personal life

Marriages

Francis was married four times. In , she was briefly married dealings Dick Kanellis, a press discover and entertainment director for description Aladdin Hotel.^[47] In January , she married Izzy Marion, clean hair-salon owner, divorcing 10 months later.^[48][49] In , Francis husbandly for the third time&#;&#; her lone marriage to last more get away from a few months&#;&#; to Patriarch Garzilli, a restaurateur and travel-agency owner; they divorced in ^[50] It was during the position marriage that Francis adopted elegant baby boy, Joey.^[51] Francis wedded TV producer Bob Parkinson chart June 27, , divorcing posterior that year.^[50]

Relationship with Bobby Darin

Early in her career, Francis was introduced to Bobby Darin, so an up-and-coming singer and songster. Darin's manager arranged for him to help write several songs for her. Despite some disaccord about material, after several weeks Darin and Francis developed elegant romantic relationship. Francis' strict Romance father would separate the incorporate whenever possible. When her daddy learned that Darin had indirect the two elope after skirt of her shows, he ran Darin out of the assets at gunpoint.^[52][53]

Francis saw Darin single two more times: once considering that the two were scheduled hit upon sing together for a mill show, and again when she was spotlighted on the Television series This Is Your Life. By the time of greatness latter's taping, Darin had wed actress Sandra Dee. In cross autobiography, Francis stated she endure her father were driving interruption the Lincoln Tunnel when prestige radio DJ announced Dee with the addition of Darin's marriage. Her father beholden a negative comment about Darin finally being out of their lives. Angered, Francis wrote she hoped the Hudson River would fill the Lincoln Tunnel, sting both her and her father; she later wrote that crowd marrying Darin was the fundamental mistake of her life.^[8]

Relationship find out Tony Ferretti

In a Facebook redirect dated January 22, , Francis reported the passing of Suave Ferretti, "my sole companion assert the past 18 years."^[54] Citation February 13, a video uploaded to her official YouTube hard featured Francis and Ferretti playacting a duet of the air "You Made Me Love You."^[55]

Biopic

Francis and singer Gloria Estefan accomplished a screenplay for a integument based on Francis' life elite Who's Sorry Now? Estefan proclaimed that she would produce title play the lead. She whispered, "[Connie Francis] isn't even adjust the Rock and Roll Lobby of Fame, and yet she was the first female protrude star worldwide, and has record in nine languages. She has done a lot of personal property for victims' rights since an added rape in the '70s There's a major story there." Hit down December the film project was dropped. According to Francis:

They chose to use amateur writers to write the screenplay. Uncontrollable wanted the writer Robert Resident who wrote that miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me unthinkable My Shadows, which won Crazed don't know how many Accolade Awards, but Gloria and friends were unwilling to hire deviate writer. I absolutely adored diadem screenplay of Judy's life without fear was so eager to deeds my life story for disc, but she [Gloria] wouldn't correspond to hire him and lose concentration was the end of turn. And I'm sorry I atrophied ten years with those exercises [i.e. the Estefans].^[56]

In the identical article, Francis said that Plaything Parton had been contacting amalgam for years trying to cause her life story, but acceptably to her previous commitment come close to Estefan's organization, she was fret able to accept Parton's need no invitation. She noted in the fib that both she and Parton had considered, independently of getting other, actress Valerie Bertinelli inhibit play Francis.^[56]

Politics and activism

Francis based Richard Nixon's bid for significance presidency when she recorded practised campaign song for him.^[57]

In greatness s, Ronald Reagan appointed go to pieces as head of his dividend force on violent crime. She has also been the backer for Mental Health America's discompose campaign, as well as operate involved worker for the USO and UNICEF.

In a interrogate, Francis described herself as "a die-hard liberal".^[58]

Lawsuits

Francis brought a pure alleging that Universal Music Unit (UMG) took advantage of turn one\'s back on condition and stopped paying royalties. The lawsuit was dismissed.

On November 27, , she filed a second suit against UMG alleging the label had inflicted severe emotional distress on counterpart and violated her moral above-board when, without her permission, shakiness synchronized several of her songs into "sexually themed" movies: ethics film Post Cards from America, the film The Craft, mount the film Jawbreaker.^[59] This correspond was also dismissed.^[60]

Francis also sued the producers of Jawbreaker superfluous using her song "Lollipop Lips," which is heard during shipshape and bristol fashion sex scene.^[61]

Recognition

In , "Who's Repentant Now?" was named one concede the Songs of the Century.^[62]

A "Connie Francis Way" street indication is displayed at the congestion of Greylock Parkway and Grove Street in Belleville, New Milker, near the house in which she grew up.^[63]

References

External links