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"There's no doubt about it. This girl's headed straight for the #1 spot."
-- Dick Clark |
| Connie Francis is the top selling female vocalist of the Elvis Era. She first charted in 1958 with "Who's Sorry Now." But that almost didn't happen. Connie had been a child star, appearing on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and for several years as a regular on a NBC's radio "Startime." She was signed to a recording contract with MGM after being turned down by many others (Mitch Miller at Columbia commented, "Save your money, this girl's got nothing.") Her MGM career didn't exactly take off -- her first ten singles failed to chart and the label was ready to drop her when her father suggested she record a song from 1923, "Who's Sorry Now." He thought it would be familiar to adults and, if done in a more modern arrangement, be "danceable" for teenagers. When Dick Clark promoted the song on American Bandstand, he boldly proclaimed, "There's no doubt about it. This girl's headed straight for the #1 spot." He was a little off as "Who's Sorry Now" peaked at #4 on Billboard. But it did establish Connie Francis as a successful artist and MGM kept her under contract. She tried to follow with a similar sounding ballad, but then turned to a Neil Sedaka / Howie Greenfiled composition "Stupid Cupid." That went to #14. In 1959, Connie repeated the pattern, beginning with the old standard, "My Happiness" (#2) and then followed later in the year with a more rocking entry, "Lipstick On Your Collar" (#5). She would end the year with another standard, "Among My Souveniers" that would carry over into 1960 and reach #7. By the end of 1959 Connie was touring extensively and recording many of her songs in other languages, making her one of the first big internationa stars of rock and roll. She eventually had three number one songs. In the early 1960's she was also appearing in movies and had two big hits with movie title soundtracks: "Where the Boys Are" (1961, #4) and "Follow the Boys" (1963, #17). In 1961 she appeared on the Acadamy Awards television show and sang "Never on a Sunday." As with many of the stars of the Elvis Era, Connie disappeared from the charts following the British Invasion, but she continued a successful career touring and appearing at night clubs. During the later 1960's she was one of the more successful Las Vegas nightclub acts. In 1974, Connie was attacked at a Howard Johnson's in her room after appearing at a concert. She was beaten and raped. Her career was never the same. |
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