CDA: Connie Francis

The great Connie Francis has died at the age of 87. She was the best-selling female vocalist of the late 50s and early 60s - - she had 35 Top 40 hits between 1958 and 1964, 16 of which made the Top 10, and three at #1: "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own," and "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You."

My favorite song of hers is "Who's Sorry Now?"

Interesting, hearing her singing live I can tell that she was a fan of Patti Page (the Singin' Rage). I can hear some Pagey inflections in her singing.

My husband had a CD of hers, Connie Francis Sings Jewish Favorites. I was always mystified by this CD, just that she would RECORD such a thing. She was interviewed on one of those PBS specials that airs during a fund drive, a special about Jewish music. She said that people were always surprised that a nice little Italian girl would record such an album. She said, "People don't know that I'm ten percent Jewish. On my agent's side."