“Pretty Little Baby” Singer Connie Francis Dies At 87
Connie Francis, one of the brightest voices of the 1950s and ‘60s, has passed away at age 87. The sad news was confirmed by her longtime friend and label president, Ron Roberts, in the early hours of July 17. Connie, who had been hospitalized earlier this month for what she called “extreme pain,” died just two weeks after reassuring fans that she was “feeling much better.”
Her final Facebook post on July 4 gave fans a moment of hope, as she shared that she’d had a good night’s rest. But just two days earlier, she had let her followers know she was back in the hospital for tests. Sadly, her condition did not improve for long.
Known for her timeless voice and powerful comebacks, Connie’s legacy stretches across generations. Just recently, her 1962 song Pretty Little Baby found a new audience after going viral on TikTok 63 years after its release.
Born Concetta Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, Connie’s love for music started early. Encouraged by her father, she began entering talent shows at just four years old, singing and playing the accordion. She got her first big break on TV and adopted the name Connie Francis before signing a contract with MGM Records in 1955.
But her success didn’t come easy. Connie’s first 18 singles flopped. Just when MGM was ready to drop her, her father convinced her to record Who’s Sorry Now?, a 1923 tune she was sure teens would hate. To her surprise, the song took off after Dick Clark featured it on American Bandstand in 1958. It became a hit in both the U.S. and U.K., launching a lifelong friendship between Connie and Dick.
Hits followed quickly, including My Happiness, Lipstick on Your Collar, and her most successful album, Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites. In 1960, she made history with Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool, becoming the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Connie’s star only rose higher, with back-to-back No. 1 hits like My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own and Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You. She charmed international audiences by recording songs in multiple languages and even starred in films like Where the Boys Are alongside a young George Hamilton.
But Connie’s life was far from a fairytale. In 1974, she was raped in a motel in Long Island. In 1977, a failed nasal surgery temporarily robbed her of her voice. And in 1981, her brother was murdered by the mafia. That same year, she attempted a comeback, but her mental health battles made it tough. She was misdiagnosed, committed to psychiatric hospitals 17 times across five states, and even attempted suicide. But Connie never lost her sense of humor or the support of her fans.
She turned her pain into purpose, working with the Reagan administration on violent crime, supporting rape victims, and raising awareness about mental health. She released two memoirs: Who’s Sorry Now? in 1984 and Among My Souvenirs in 2017.
Connie’s personal life was as dramatic as her music. Her relationship with singer Bobby Darin was famously blocked by her controlling father. She later said Bobby was the love of her life. She was married four times, with the longest lasting for about five years. She adopted a son, Joseph Garzilli Jr., during her third marriage.
Despite the heartbreaks and hardships, Connie, who is survived by her son, Joseph, never stopped trying. She once said she didn’t want to be remembered for the heights she reached, but for the depths she came back from.
