Music Icon Connie Francis Dies At 87; Belleville, Newark Native Mourned

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The music world is mourning the death of Essex County native Connie Francis, who passed away at the age of 87 this week.

Francis – who was born in Newark and grew up in Belleville – made her mark on pop culture as a singer and actor in the late 1950s and early 1960s. She became known for hits such as “Pretty Little Baby” and “Who’s Sorry Now?”, and became the first woman to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.”

Francis’ publicist and friend, Ron Roberts, posted a message announcing her death on Thursday:

“It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night. I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news.”

Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said that Francis’ voice, spirit, and connection to the township will “live on forever.”

Melham summarized the feelings of many local residents in a social media post about the Belleville High School Class of 1955 graduate:

“In 2009, Belleville honored Connie by naming the Belleville High School auditorium the Connie Francis Theatre and dedicating Connie Francis Court outside her childhood home. That same weekend, I had the opportunity to meet her — and it’s a moment I’ll never forget. She was warm, gracious, and genuinely humbled by the township’s efforts. Despite her worldwide fame and decades of success, Connie never forgot where she came from. Her pride in Belleville was evident — and our pride in her remains everlasting.”

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