In 1958, Connie Francis' “Who’s Sorry Now?” Went Gold. Then Came More Success — and Sorrow

After a slow career start, singer-actor Connie Francis became one of the top-charting female vocalists of the late 1950s and early '60s. On one hand, she enjoyed tremendous success; on the other, she endured immense tragedy including the violent death of her brother. In an interview, she said she wanted to be remembered for persevering through the worst times of her life. She co-starred in the 1960 film "Where the Boys Are." To hear her sing the title song, you can go to this video or check out the 1978 disco version on the official Connie Francis YouTube channel.The black and white photo in the thumbnail and chapters shows Francis in 1964. Credited to an unknown author, it's in the public domain and is available on Wikimedia Commons.The color photo in the chapters is from 2011 and also in the public domain. Attributed to Davidatedenderivative work: TVJunkie, it's accessible here on Wikimedia Commons.The art that frames two sides of the photo was created by Bob Jones. Song of the Day creator Sheldon Zoldan researched, wrote and narrated this short story, one of 35 tributes to music stars who passed away in 2025. Song of the Day used to be a daily feature delivered to an email list of subscribers. Sheldon ended it in early 2026 which, I suppose, means that Song of the Day deserves a tribute of its own. The good thing is that the tributes to music makers live on. Each is a snapshot of the life of one music maker whose work made an impact on the lives of many.Send us Fan MailThis is Kate Jones. Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation®, available on YouTube and in podcast directories including Apple, Spotify, iHeart and Audible.