Connie Francis, the legendary American pop singer and actress, has passed away. She was one of the best-selling female artists of the late 1950s and early 60s, selling over 200 million records worldwide during her nearly seven-decade career. In 1960, she made history as the first woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her hit “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” She followed that with two more No. 1 singles: “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” and “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You,” totaling an impressive 53 career hits.
Born Concetta Rose Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, in 1937, Connie showed her singing talent early on. By 1950, she adopted her stage name and began performing in local talent shows. Her big break came in 1955 when she signed with MGM. Although her first singles didn’t make waves, she hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957 with “The Majesty Of Love,” a duet that sold over a million copies.
Her breakthrough came with “Who’s Sorry Now?” which climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard chart after being featured on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. Connie continued to chart hits throughout the 60s, including classics like “My Happiness” and “Lipstick On Your Collar.”
In addition to her music career, she starred in teen movies like Where the Boys Are, which also produced a Top 5 hit. Although her chart success faded in the mid-60s due to changing music trends, she remained a popular live performer and had a loyal fanbase worldwide, including in Eastern Europe.
