The legendary pop star Connie Francis, best known for her classic 1962 hit song “Pretty Little Baby,” died on Wednesday night. She was 87 years-old.
Francis Passes Away
Francis’ death was announced by her close friend Ron Roberts, who is the president of the singer’s label Concetta Records.
“It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night,” Roberts wrote on Facebook.
“I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news,” he added. “More details will follow later.”
Francis Rushed To The Hospital
Earlier this month, we reported that Francis had been rushed to the hospital with “extreme pain.”
“I am back in hospital where I have been undergoing tests and checks to determine the cause(s) of the extreme pain I have been experiencing,” Francis herself wrote on Facebook on July 2.
The “Pretty Little Baby” singer went on to reference the radio personality Cousin Brucie.
“I had hoped to take part in Brucie’s show for Independence Day, having had to cancel a previous slot a few weeks ago when receiving treatment on my hip,” Francis continued. “Sadly, I had to let him know that I again had to withdraw.”
Hours later, Francis returned to Facebook to update her fans once again.
“I am pleased to advise that following a series of tests and examinations in Intensive Care, I have now been transferred to a private room,” she wrote. “Thank you all for your kind thoughts, words and prayers. They mean so much! Love, Connie.”
On the Fourth of July, Francis revealed that she was “feeling much better after a good night” in the hospital. This appears to have been her last direct communication with her fans. Francis passed away just twelve days later.
Full Story: Legendary Singer Connie Francis, 87, Rushed To Hospital – ‘Extreme Pain…’
Francis’ History
Born Concetta Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, in 1937, Francis began performing as a small child. By the age of 4, Francis was already singing in local talent shows and pageants. She later began doing television and became a featured performer on NBC’s Startime Kids.
Francis was just 18 years-old when she signed a recording contract with MGM Records in 1955. However, her early singles flopped. The label was about to drop Francis when her father convinced her to record a version of “Who’s Sorry Now?” in one last desperate attempt to score a hit.
“I had 18 bomb records,” Francis recalled to UPI in 1996. “He wanted me to record a song written in 1923. I said ‘Forget about it — the kids on American Bandstand would laugh me right off the show.’ He said, ‘If you don’t record this song, dummy, the only way you’ll get on American Bandstand is to sit on the TV.”
At first, “Who’s Sorry Now?” performed just as poorly as Francis’ other singles. That all changed when it debuted on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1958. From there, it became a massive hit in both the U.S. and the U.K., and Francis skyrocketed to fame.
Other hits soon followed for Francis, including “My Happiness,” “Lipstick on Your Collar” and “Among My Souvenirs.” Francis scored her first number one hit in 1960 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” She would later have two more number one hits: “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” and “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You.”
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Francis’ Career Resurgence
These days, however, Francis is best remembered for 1962’s “Pretty Little Baby.” In recent years, Francis has enjoyed a career resurgence after the song went viral on TikTok decades after its release.
Over 3 million TikTok users have lip synced to the lyrics of “Pretty Little Baby.” As of early last month, the song had garnered over 10 billion views, sending it to No. 1 on both TikTok’s Viral 50 and Top 50 charts.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t even remember the song!” Francis admitted to People Magazine back in May. “I had to listen to it to remember. To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is touching the hearts of millions of people is truly awesome. It is an amazing feeling.”
“It’s an honor,” she added. “To see that they’re paying homage to me is just breathtaking.”
Though she retired in 2018, Francis was still touched to see her music reach a whole new generation with this TikTok trend.
“It’s truly awesome. I never thought it was possible. It’s a dream come true,” she said. “To think that kindergarten kids now know my name and my music? It’s just thrilling!”
Francis was married and divorced five times. She is survived by one son, who she adopted in 1974.
Rest in peace, Connie Francis.
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