Singer Connie Francis passes away at the age of 87, known for her hit 'Stupid Cupid'
American singer Connie Francis, born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, has sadly passed away at the age of 87. Her publicist, Rob Roberts, announced her death on Thursday (July 17).
The cause of Connie Francis's death was not specified in Roberts' Facebook post. However, it was previously reported that she had been hospitalized earlier in the month due to severe pain.
Francis shot to fame in 1958 with the release of Who's Sorry Now?, which marked the beginning of a successful career that spanned decades. Her hits such as Everybody's Somebody's Fool and Stupid Cupid topped the charts in the late 1950s and 1960s, earning her a place among music legends.
In recent months, Francis's 1962 song Pretty Little Baby went viral on TikTok and other video-sharing platforms, resulting in renewed popularity.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, to an Italian-American family, Francis sold millions of records worldwide in the next decade, with albums in multiple languages. She was the first woman to have a No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 with her 1960 hit "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" after the chart launched in 1958. She also had two more No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits: "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" (1960) and "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" (1962).
Francis faced personal and professional hardships in the 1970s and early 1980s, but she experienced a remarkable comeback after the murder of her brother in 1981. This tragedy led to a renewed confidence in her singing ability, leading to a return to live performance and recording, marking a significant resurgence well beyond her initial peak era.
The New York Times described Connie Francis as petite, pretty, with an easy, fluid vocal style, a powerful set of lungs, and a natural way with a wide variety of material. Her success helped pave the way for future female singers in the pop and rock 'n' roll scenes during a transformative period in music history.
Francis was renowned for her versatility and emotional delivery, which allowed her to cross genres and appeal internationally. During the late 1960s, she also contributed to morale by performing for U.S. troops in Vietnam, famously engaging the audience with a heartfelt rendition of "God Bless America," which she considered a career highlight.
Francis recently underwent hip treatment, as mentioned on her official Facebook page. Despite her heyday fading after the 1960s, Francis continued to record and perform for decades.
The music industry and fans alike mourn the loss of this pioneering pop singer whose career achievements, resurgence, and impact on music in the late 1950s and 1960s were significant.
Despite her success spanning decades, the cause of Connie Francis's death was not stated in her publicist's statement. In the later years of her career, Francis's music, such as the viral hit Pretty Little Baby, continued to provide entertainment on platforms like TikTok.
