
![]() Connie Francis, born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, narrates her dramatic life story as the sheltered Italian-American girl from Newark High School, who defied her Mafioso father, shed her old-school accordion and became the most popular female vocalist of the 1950s and ‘60s. Outspoken, funny and elegantly beautiful at age 75, America’s “Sweetheart of Song” recalls her triumphs and personal sorrows in a nostalgic cavalcade of Top 40 music clips:
Connie became a mainstay of television variety shows - Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, Jimmie Rodgers, Pat Boone, Dean Martin and Andy Williams. As a teen sensation at the dawn of rock and roll, she dated Frankie Avalon, created hit records with Neil Sedaka and fell deeply and dangerously in love with Bobby Darin. Connie’s big voice and demure charm took her to Hollywood in the early 1960s. And with a unique gift for foreign languages, she created an impressive roster of hit singles in Germany, France, Italy and the Spanish-speaking world and became the first non-European honored as the Continent’s “Most Popular Musical Artist.” The 56-minute PBS musical tribute will be structured
around on-camera interviews and
dramatic readings by Ms. Francis from her forthcoming autobiography filmed in a
glamorous recording studio where she’ll share fascinating, often funny back stories
for each of her song hits. Produced by Paulson Productions and veteran producers John Paulson, James Arntz and Tom Wertz. |