Connie Francis
‘Fairly Little Child’ Singer Useless at 87
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Singer Connie Francis, greatest recognized for her lately viral observe “Pretty Little Baby” in addition to “Stupid Cupid,” has died.
Connie’s loss of life was confirmed by her longtime pal Ron Roberts on Thursday by way of Fb — simply 2 weeks after TMZ broke the information she was within the ICU for unknown medical points.
Ron introduced Connie handed Wednesday, including … “I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news.”
He mentioned extra particulars will observe, however has not introduced something additional.
Connie had a prolific singing profession, rising to change into some of the well-liked singers within the Fifties and early Nineteen Sixties. She had had a number of Prime 10 singles corresponding to “Who’s Sorry Now?,” “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You,” “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” and “Where the Boys Are”.
She was the primary lady to achieve the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Sizzling 100 because of her 1960 hit “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.”
Although her profession is widely known, it was practically a miss. Connie was about to be dropped by her file label, MGM Data, in 1957 when her father satisfied her to file a model of “Who’s Sorry Now?” as a last-ditch effort to get her on the charts — and it skyrocketed her into success.
With the skilled success got here some private woes, as Connie was raped in a Lengthy Island motel room in 1974 and briefly misplaced her voice 3 years later resulting from a nasal surgical procedure. And only a few years after in 1981, her brother George was murdered by the mafia.
She was prepared for a profession comeback in 1981 — however her music didn’t resonate with followers, which severely impacted her psychological well being. Her anxious father had her dedicated to a number of psychological well being establishments, and in 1984, she survived a suicide try — the identical yr she revealed her first memoir, “Who’s Sorry Now?”
After overcoming her psychological well being struggles, Connie used her hardships to assist others, even teaming up with Ronald Reagan‘s administration on a violent crime job power and turning into an advocate for rape and trauma victims.
As we reported, Connie had been hospitalized in early July, telling followers in a put up shared by Ron that she was “back in the hospital” to bear exams to find out why she was feeling “extreme pain.”
On July 9, Ron confirmed she was nonetheless in hospital care and and nonetheless feeling discomfort.
Connie was 87. She is survived by her adopted son, Joseph Garzilli Jr.
RIP.
