Rising to fame in the late 1950s, she became one of the world’s most successful female singers, selling over 80 million records. This tremendous success, however, came with its share of personal challenges, involving family interference, heartbreaks, and significant tragedies.
Born into a diligent Italian family in Newark, New Jersey, her path to stardom was heavily influenced by her father, who had ambitious plans for her future from a young age. Though his strict guidance propelled her to greatness, it also restricted her personal freedom significantly.
The singer performing on stage in 1959 | Source: Getty Images
Her breakthrough came in the ’50s, but as success found her, her father’s excess control led to heartbreak and tragedy. Among the first to suffer was her relationship with a man she describes as the love of her life.
Portrait of the actress in 1960 | Source: Getty Images
A Star Is Born: From Humble Beginnings to Chart-Topping Fame
Her passion for music was ignited early by her father, George Franconero, who played a concertina, a traditional Italian instrument. By four, she was singing publicly, performing classics like “O Sole Mio.” Her father, convinced of her destined fame, became the relentless force behind her career.
The singer poses for a studio portrait, circa 1960 | Source: Getty Images
Throughout her teens, she performed on the television program “Startime Kids.” But despite her efforts, her solo recordings did not make a mark initially. Just as she was ready to give up on music and accept a scholarship to New York University, fate intervened.
In 1958, at her father’s insistence, she released “Who’s Sorry Now?”—a track that sold 1.5 million copies and catapulted her into the limelight. For the next decade, she topped charts with hits like “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” and “Where the Boys Are.”
The singer and actress performs in 1958 | Source: Getty Images
Her celebrated Hollywood ventures included starring roles in musicals like “Follow the Boys” and “Looking for Love.” Yet, despite her public life filled with fame and wealth, her father’s unyielding control overshadowed her personal relationships.
The singer and actress on the set of “Where The Boys Are” in 1960 | Source: Getty Images
The Forbidden Romance with Bobby Darin
She met Bobby Darin, a budding songwriter, in 1956. Their initial meeting did not go smoothly due to a song disagreement, but as they worked together, their relationship deepened.
Singer Bobby Darin pictured in 1960 | Source: Getty Images
By 18, she was seriously involved with Darin. However, her father’s disapproval of their relationship—fearing it could jeopardize her young career—was intense. He even chased Darin away at gunpoint when he discovered their plans to elope, forcing her to step back for Darin’s safety, although they continued exchanging affectionate letters.
Love letter from Bobby Darin to the singer/actress in Everyday Heroes collection in 2016 | Source: Getty Images
Heartbroken, Darin married actress Sandra Dee in 1960. Despite moving on, her feelings and memories of their thwarted romance lingered over the years.
The Tragic Death of Bobby Darin
Darin’s career, though brief, was brilliant. By 24, he was already a legendary figure, with multiple million-selling records, two Grammys, and an Oscar nomination for “Captain Newman, M.D.”; however, he lived under the constant shadow of a heart condition from childhood rheumatic fever.
Bobby Darin poses for a photo in August 1963, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
In 1973, Darin died at 37 due to heart surgery complications, a blow that devastated her. She later confessed, “I never felt quite the same about anyone as I do about Bobby.” It was a love both thwarted by fate and her father’s interference.
The singer-actress and Bobby Darin performing on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on January 3, 1960 | Source: Getty Images
Decades after his death, love letters she had sent him reappeared. Although initially acquired by a Bobby Darin fan from an auction, they were graciously returned to her without payment, acknowledging their rightful place with her.
The actress on July 30, 2009, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Handling those letters again was emotionally stirring for her, filled with memories of what could have been. This lost romance was her life’s most significant heartache, but not her only tragedy.
The singer during a recording session studio in New York, circa 1959 | Source: Getty Images
The Assault That Changed Her Life
In 1974, while staying in a Long Island hotel, she endured a horrifying experience. A man broke into her room, raping her at knifepoint while she slept. This trauma marked the beginning of her life’s most challenging chapter.
A month after the assault, she adopted her son, Joey, as a baby. In the challenging times that followed, he became her main source of happiness. However, her career came to a halt as she battled personal issues.
Joseph “Joey” Garzilli with his mother at the book party for “Who’s Sorry Now?” on October 9, 1984, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
A surgical mishap left her unable to sing for seven years. This incident left her withdrawing from the public eye, struggling to recover from the past events.
The singer pictured after nasal surgery in 1977 | Source: Getty Images
It took her multiple corrective surgeries before her voice returned. Significant support from faith, family, and close friends helped her along the path to healing. She later emphasized the power of resilience and finding purpose after trauma.
The singer posing for a photo in London in 1963 | Source: Getty Images
The Loss of Her Younger Brother
In 1981, her family endured a horrifying tragedy when her younger brother, George Franconero Jr., was murdered in a cold-blooded manner. In New Jersey’s winter chill, as he scraped ice off his car, he was shot dead.
His death devastated her and her family, exposing unforeseen connections to organized crime that she learned of only after his passing. This news was particularly heartbreaking for her mother.
Undated family portrait of the Franconeros | Source: Getty Images
This familial loss pushed her into a dark period, leading her to attempt suicide in the early 1980s via a sleeping pill overdose, a response to what she described as the unbearable grief of her brother’s murder.
Her mental health journey included several psychiatric stays. Ultimately, therapeutic intervention and familial bonds aided her recovery.
The actress and singer, circa 1980 | Source: Getty Images
In subsequent years, she took on a matriarchal role, caring for her brother’s family, her own parents, and her adopted son. Despite enduring numerous heartaches and losses, she set out to find love anew.
The actress and singer pictured in London on April 18, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
Her Four Marriages: A Search for Love
After her impossible romance with Darin, she pursued other relationships, marrying four times. Sadly, each marriage ended in divorce. She admitted her marriages aimed to find the bond she experienced with Darin.
The singer pictured on October 11, 2013 | Source: Getty Images
Her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, was known for “Opposite Corners” (1997). Her last, Bob Parkinson, produced “I Challenge You” (1985).
Despite her aspirations, none of her marriages endured, with the longest lasting five years and the shortest a mere four months. She reflected that her career often overshadowed her personal life.
The singer poses for a photo on November 10, 2013 | Source: Getty Images
“If I had put as much effort into choosing husbands as I did my Vegas shows, I would have been better off,” she remarked, noting how her success sometimes strained relationships. “I’ve spent most of my life apologizing for my success,” she said.
The singer and actress pictured in 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Her Legacy and Life Today
Despite her complicated love life, Connie Francis remains a legendary icon at 87, having sold over 80 million records in her glorious career. Her songs defined an era, and her film roles highlighted her versatile talent.
