ironbound views

Connie Francis was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in the Italian Down Neck, or Ironbound, neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey. She is considered the most prolific and popular female rock ‘n’ roll hit-maker of the early rock era — the late 1950s to the early 1960s.

Francis made her film debut in 1960 with Where The Boys Are, and followed it with similar comedy musicals such as Follow The Boys (1963), Looking For Love (1964) and When The Boys Meet The Girls (1965). The 1963 song, “In the Summer of His Years,” written as a tribute to the assassinated John F. Kennedy, remains one of the earliest known charity records, with proceeds donated to dependents of the policemen shot during the incident.

Although she had sold 35 million records by 1967, she was pushed aside by the 60s beat boom and turned to working in nightclubs in the late 60s. She did much charity work for UNICEF and similar organizations, besides entertaining US troops in Vietnam. She also extended her repertoire, and kept her options open by recording albums in several languages, including French, Spanish and Japanese. Late 70s issues included more country music selections.

Song list:

1958: Who’s Sorry Now (#4); I’m Sorry I Made You Cry (#36); Heartaches/I Miss You So (uncharted); Stupid Cupid (#17); Fallin (#30); 1959: My Happiness (#2); If I Didn’t Care (#22); Frankie (#9); Lipstick On Your Collar (#5); You’re Gonna Miss Me (#34); Plenty Good Lovin’ (#69); Among My Souvenirs (#7); God Bless America (#36); 1960: Mama (#8); Italian Favorites (#4 Album); Connie’s Greatest Hits (#17 Album); Teddy (#17); Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (#1); Jealous of You (#19); My Heart Has A Mind Of It’s Own (#1); Malaquena (#42); Many Tears Ago (#7); Senza Mamma (#87); More Italian Favorites (#9 Album); 1961: Where The Boys Are (#4); No One (#34); Breakin’ In A Brand New Broken Heart (#7); Connie At The Copa (#65 Album); Jewish Favorites (#69 Album); Together (#6); Too Many Rules (#72); More Greatest Hits (#39 Album); (He’s My)Dreamboat (#14); Hollywood (#42): Never On Sunday (#11 Album); When The Boy In Your Arms(Is The Boy In Your Heart) (#10); Baby’s First Christmas (#26); 1962: Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You(#1); Do The Twist (#47); Second Hand Love (#7); Connie Francis Sings (#111 Album); Vacation(#9); I Was Such A Fool(To Fall In Love With You)(#24);He Still Thinks I Care (#57); Country Music Connie Style (#22 Album); 1963: I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter (#18); Al Di La (#90); Follow The Boys (#17); If My Pillow Could Talk (#23); Drowning My Sorrows (#36); Your Other Love (#28); In The Summer Of His Years (#46 Song about President Kennedy); Modern Italian Hits (#103 Album); Follow The Boys (#66 Album); Award Winning Motion Picture Hits (#108 Album); Great American Waltzes (#94 Album); Big Hits From Italy (#70 Album);The Very Best Of Connie Francis (#68 Album); 1964: Blue Winter (#24); Be Anything (But Be Mine) (#25); Looking For Love (#45);Don’t Ever Leave (#42); In The Summer Of His Years(#126 Album); Looking For Love (#122 Album); A New Kind Of Connie (149 Album); 1965: Whose Heart Are You Breaking (#43); For Mama (#48); Wishing It Was You (#57); Forget Domani(#79); Connie Francis Sings For Mama (#78 Album); Jealous Heart (#47); 1966: When The Boys Meets The Girls (#61 Album); 1969: The Wedding Cake(#91).

Movie list:

Movies: Jamboree (1957 singing voice); Where The Boys Are (1960); Follow The Boys (1963); Looking For Love (1964); When The Boys Meet The Girls (1965).