Legendary singer Connie Francis has passed away at the age of 87. Her close friend and label president, Ron Roberts, confirmed the news on Facebook late Thursday, July 16, writing: “It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night.” The announcement came just weeks after Francis had shared that she was hospitalized for “extreme pain” and undergoing tests.
Francis, born Concetta Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, rose to fame in the late 1950s with hits like “Who's Sorry Now?,” “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own,” and “Where the Boys Are.” In 1960, she became the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 with “Everybody's Somebody's Fool.” Her global popularity was boosted by her multilingual recordings and appearances on iconic platforms like American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show.
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Though her music career was groundbreaking, Francis also endured a series of personal hardships. She survived a rape in 1974, lost her voice temporarily due to nasal surgery, and tragically lost her brother to a mafia-related murder in 1981. Mental health struggles followed, leading to multiple involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations, which she later revealed were misdiagnosed. Despite these setbacks, she staged comebacks, advocated for victims’ rights alongside Ronald Reagan’s administration, and raised awareness for trauma recovery through partnerships with Mental Health America.
Francis was married four times and adopted a son, Joseph Garzilli Jr. Reflecting on her life in 2017, she said she hoped to be remembered “not so much for the heights I have reached, but for the depths from which I have come.” She is survived by her son.
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