Connie Francis

Born Constance Franconero, Connie Francis is a key figure in the era that saw the transition of pop music sung by vocalists to pop music sung by rock 'n' rollers. MGM had Francis try everything under the sun, and this New Jersey native's vocal style always leaned towards crossover country. Her Nashville work is fairly decent, but she also recorded nightclub standards, jazzy swingers and somewhat bleached Italian folk tunes. Francis has had her share of personal tragedies (which adds poignancy to her old teen tragedy tunes), but her career has nevertheless lasted for decades. She also co-starred in the ever-popular Where the Boys Are, and her most enduring hit -- a lightly R&B-ish reading of "Who's Sorry Now" -- still gets considerable airplay on oldies stations.