The Incomparable Connie Francis by George
R. Henaut (Author of With Love, With Connie)
On May 29th 2004 a dream came
true!
I finally experienced my first live
Connie Francis concert.
It was an incredible evening!
Toronto’s Foxy 88.5 FM radio station
which defines itself as “Radio with Class” served as
promotional host for the Connie Francis Concert at the
Toronto Centre of the Arts. Everything about the concert
was first class. The Centre itself is an outstanding
concert hall with exceptional acoustics. No one in the
audience was further than 85 feet from Connie and her
magnificent 20 piece orchestra. My wife, Pauline, and I
had front row seats and were able to meet and greet
Connie following the concert. Seated beside us was a
lady who was enjoying her tenth Connie Francis concert.
We were surrounded by fans who identified with Connie’s
career and her personal tragedies, “the survivor” as
Dick Clark labeled her on A&E’s Biography. But it was
the legendary entertainer that we came to experience and
we were not disappointed.
For fans who have a copy of the 1995 CD
or video, “The Return Concert: Connie Francis Live at
Trump’s Castle” or fans who have been at a recent
concert, you will have experienced much of the program
we enjoyed at the Toronto Concert; including the
audio-visual presentation, the songs, and the dialogue.
The program included her familiar hits: Who’s Sorry Now,
Stupid Cupid/Lipstick On Your Collar/ Everybody’s
Somebody’s Fool, Among My Souvenirs, Don’t Break the
Heart That Loves You, Vacation, Many Tears Ago, Where
the Boys Are and Mama. She included several tributes:
Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Rock and Roll,
and Country Music. Toronto has a large Italian
population and the audience loved the Italian medley.
Everyone was touched by Let Me Try Again and her final
song Maybe This Time. She received several standing
ovations! MC Gary Gamble presented Connie with a
spectacular bouquet. Her encore was a tribute to Sept
9/11: Brother Can You Spare a Dime?
Long before attending the concert,
Pauline and I had enjoyed on numerous occasions the
comprehensive web sites created by Mike Wright and John
Donatelli, Jr. Mike Wright’s site opens with: “She has
the knack of wrenching the emotions with her powerhouse
voice. Connie's music, transcending any and all
boundaries, is capable of taming the beast, soothing the
wounded heart and lifting the fallen spirit.” John
brands Connie as “Incomparable”! We now more fully
appreciate the branding and the powerhouse description.
Gary Gamble, the amiable host of Foxy’s
Morning Show was the MC for the evening. He began by
feigning annoyance at a smudge on his collar,
exclaiming; “Lipstick On My Collar”, but “Who’s Sorry
Now”. Connie walked on stage and into our hearts looking
lovely in a three-piece ankle-length dress of dark
charcoal lace and elegant jeweled sandals. Her low
neckline was enhanced by a sparkling necklace with her
upswept hairstyle revealing matching earrings.
The audience was hushed throughout the
entire performance; listening to every word of dialogue,
cherishing every familiar note sung by the foremost
female singer/entertainer of the golden age of Rock and
Roll; a singer who has earned the title
as
the world’s biggest-selling female singer of all time.
She has recorded in 13 languages, been on the top of the
charts simultaneously in 15 countries. From the moment
the
orchestra played the first notes of one
of her hits, the hall was charged with anticipation,
excitement, and profoundly appreciative applause! We
relived our past as she sang of hers. We appreciated her
ability to laugh at herself , to go beyond her
tragedies, to reach out to us! We were enthralled as one
always is in the midst of greatness. Here was a singer
who did not require smoke, fireworks, a synchronized
light and sound show, floating chairs, precision
dancing, to showcase her talent. All she required was a
powerful voice, a magnetic presence and a gifted
conductor with an orchestra as she captivated us to
journey together down our shared memory lane.
We watched her every movement. The black
grand piano with its vase of exquisite red roses became
part of her as she touched the piano affectionately,
leaned on it, and later climbed three steps to sit on
it. Connie’s mood changed as the music tempo changed.
Much of the time, she was reflective, singing from the
depths of her being, but she could just as easily smile,
snap her fingers, sway her body to the upbeat rhythm of
Stupid Cupid or Vacation.
Following the concert those who had
purchased a meet and greet package were able to enjoy a
wine and cheese reception with Connie. The ladies all
received a single red long stemmed rose; the rose will
undoubtedly be treasured among their souvenirs. Connie
graciously signed pictures, CD’s, books, etc. This is
the type of evening that dreams are made of! Who’s Sorry
Now? Definitely not the 1800 who attended the Connie
Francis Show at the Toronto Centre of the Arts.
