Connie Francis, Legendary Pop Balladeer of the ’60s, Dies at 87
Connie Francis, the powerhouse voice behind hits like “Who’s Sorry Now” and “Where the Boys Are,” has died at age 87. Her publicist confirmed her passing on Facebook, just two weeks after the singer told fans she had been hospitalized with a pelvic fracture. No cause or location of death was shared.
From 1958 to 1964, Francis dominated American pop charts and became the most successful female recording artist of her time. With over 40 million records sold, her mix of tear-jerking ballads and upbeat hits captured the heartache and hope of postwar youth.
Breakthrough Came from a Song She Hated
Francis’s big break came in 1958 with “Who’s Sorry Now,” a song she admitted she disliked. But after Dick Clark played it on American Bandstand, it sold over a million copies in just six months. Ironically, it was the first time she sang without trying to mimic anyone else.
That authentic sound catapulted her to stardom. Between 1958 and 1964, she charted 35 Top 40 hits, including three No. 1 singles:
- “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” (1960)
- “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” (1960)
- “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” (1962)
A Multilingual Musical Force
Francis didn’t just top U.S. charts — she conquered the global stage. To appeal to international audiences, she recorded songs in over a dozen languages, including Italian, Yiddish, Swedish, and German. Albums like Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites and Jewish Favorites extended her reach well beyond English-speaking fans.
Her voice was powerful yet tender, and her emotional delivery brought vulnerability to every lyric. Songs like “My Happiness” and “Among My Souvenirs” became anthems for listeners nursing heartbreak.
Early Start, Relentless Drive
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Francis was on stage by age 4, playing accordion and singing “Anchors Aweigh.” She soon became a fixture on local TV shows and talent contests. By her teens, she was forging documents to perform in clubs and making demo tapes to shop songs for bigger stars.
Despite signing with MGM Records in 1955, her early singles flopped. On the verge of quitting to attend college, she reluctantly recorded “Who’s Sorry Now” at her father’s insistence — the song that would change everything.
Personal Battles and Comebacks
Francis’s life behind the scenes was anything but smooth. She endured:
- Failed cosmetic surgery in 1967 that damaged her voice
- Multiple divorces, including one after she lost her ability to sing
- The tragic murder of her brother, George, in 1981
Her resilience became part of her legacy. After losing her voice again in the 1980s, she recovered and made a comeback concert at Westbury Music Fair. She returned to the Las Vegas stage in 2004 and released a second autobiography, Among My Souvenirs, in 2017.
A Legacy Beyond the Charts
In her own words, Francis hoped to be remembered not for the heights she reached, but for the lows she overcame. “There were exhilarating highs and abysmal lows,” she said in 1994, “but it was fighting to get out of those lows that I feel most proud of.”
Her story wasn’t just about stardom. It was about survival, self-discovery, and singing through it all.
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