CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY JULY 18, 2025
CONNIE FRANCIS DIED YESTERDAY AT AGE 87. WHO, SOME MIGHT ASK. FRANCIS SOLD MORE THAN 100 MILLION RECORDS DURING HER PRIME IN THE 1950S AND 60S. HITS INCLUDED “WHO’S SORRY NOW,” “WHERE THE BOYS ARE,” LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR, AND “STUPID CUPID.”
FRANCIS WAS PLAGUED BY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND CAME TO RELY LARGELY ON NIGHTCLUBS AND THE NOSTALGIA CIRCUIT. I HAD DINNER WITH HER IN PALM BEACH ON HER 75TH BIRTHDAY. A PICTURE APPEARS ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE AND X ACCOUNT.
THOSE WERE SIMPLER TIMES IN SOME WAYS, AT LEAST THE MUSIC WAS. IT WAS ABOUT TEENAGE LOVE. THERE WAS SOME SUGGESTIVE MATERIAL BUT IT WASN’T AS BAD AS IT IS TODAY. YOU COULD ALSO HEAR MOST EVERY WORD. GROUPS LIKE THE PLATTERS, THE TEMPTATIONS, DION AND THE BELMONTS, JAY AND THE AMERICANS, AND SOLO ACTS LIKE ELVIS, RICKY NELSON, JOHNNIE MATHIS, PAUL ANKA, CONNIE AND MANY OTHERS PROVIDED THE MUSIC OF MY YOUTH. MOST ARE NOW GONE BUT THEIR MUSIC ENDURES IN MY MEMORY AND ON VARIOUS PLATFORMS THAT CAN STILL BE HEARD. ASK ALEXA AND SHE WILL PLAY THEM FOR YOU. I’M CAL THOMAS.
