Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

[VaHawk]

At the outset, I apologize to everyone who clicked here without knowing the topic, and who clicked here not really caring about the topic.

 

I just wish everyone here, who is a true rock and roll fan, especially those baby boomers who are old enough to remember Connie to post a protest to [email protected] for the exclusion of this icon of rock and roll music from their so-called Hall of Fame.

 

How can an entity call itself a Rock and Roll HALL OF FAME, and not have this person, the FIRST female superstar of R&R history, not only not a current member, but one who was not an INITIAL inductee?

 

My email to them follows, and I hope some of you will respond in kind:

 

"I'm sitting here listening to the Solid Gold Oldies station on Comcast, and who comes on? Connie Francis!!! Just wondering how you could not have Connie in the R&R Hall of Fame????????????

 

Do you know how many pubescent boys in the 1950's and 1960's were in love with her? Aren't you aware of the fact that she starred in Elvis Presley movies? Aren't you aware of the fact that she was the first female superstar in early R&R history?

 

Could someone explain to me why Connie Francis is not honored in your Hall of Fame? Not, that I expect an answer. Thanks,"

 

Please support Connie!

[DelawareGuy]

RE: Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

 

Where The Boys Are ... That's Where I Want To Be ...

[mmk]

RE: Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

 

where can we see a list of all of those inducted into the Rockand Roll hall of fame. Before I start bitching about who is not inducted, I would like to know who is. (Do not want ot put me foot in my mouth)

[Trixie]

I'll support this cause 100%, my beloved raptor!

And speaking of Italo-american entertainers, don't you think that Rosemary Clooney's "Come on-a-my House" features just about the grooviest use of harpsichord EVER in popular music (Addams Family Theme song notwithstanding)?

 

Sigh... I wish I owned a harpsichord... .

 

Trix

[VaHawk]

RE: Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

 

No problem. Check out this site:

 

http://encarta.msn.com/media

 

AC/DC 2003

Aerosmith 2001

Allman Brothers Band, The 1995

Animals, The 1994

Baker, LaVern 1991

Ballard, Hank 1990

Band, The 1994

Beach Boys, The 1988

Beatles, The 1988

Bee Gees, The 1997

Berry, Chuck 1986

Bobby "Blue" Bland 1992

Booker T. and the M.G.'s 1992

Bowie, David 1996

Brown, James 1986

Brown, Ruth 1993

Browne, Jackson 2004

Buffalo Springfield 1997

Burke, Solomon 2001

Byrds, The 1991

Cash, Johnny 1992

Charles, Ray 1986

Clapton, Eric 2000

Clash, The 2003

Coasters, The 1987

Cochran, Eddie 1987

Cooke, Sam 1986

Cream 1993

Creedence Clearwater Revival 1993

Crosby, Stills and Nash 1997

Darin, Bobby 1990

Diddley, Bo 1987

Dion 1989

Domino, Fats 1986

Doors, The 1993

Drifters, The 1988

Dylan, Bob 1988

Eagles, The 1998

Earth, Wind & Fire 2000

Eddy, Duane 1994

Elvis Costello and the Attractions 2003

Ertegun, Nesuhi

(Lifetime Achievement) 1991

Everly Brothers, The 1986

Flamingos, The 2001

Fleetwood Mac 1998

Four Seasons, The 1990

Four Tops, The 1990

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers 1993

Franklin, Aretha 1987

Gaye, Marvin 1987

Gladys Knight and the Pips 1996

Grateful Dead 1994

Green, Al 1995

Haley, Bill 1987

Hammond, John

(Lifetime Achievement) 1986

Harrison, George 2004

Hayes, Isaac 2002

Hendrix, Jimi 1992

Holly, Buddy 1986

Hooker, John Lee 1991

Impressions, The 1991

Isley Brothers 1992

Jackson Five, The 1997

Jackson, Michael 2001

James, Etta 1993

Jefferson Airplane 1996

Joel, Billy 1999

John, Elton 1994

Joplin, Janis 1995

King, B. B. 1987

Kinks, The 1990

Led Zeppelin 1995

Lee, Brenda 2002

Lennon, John 1994

Lewis, Jerry Lee 1986

Little Richard 1986

Little Willie John 1996

Lovin' Spoonful, The 2000

Mamas and the Papas 1998

Marley, Bob 1994

Martha and the Vandellas 1995

Mayfield, Curtis 1999

McCartney, Paul 1999

McPhatter, Clyde 1987

Mitchell, Joni 1997

Moonglows, The 2000

Morrison, Van 1993

Nelson, Ricky 1987

Orbison, Roy 1987

Parliament-Funkadelic 1997

Perkins, Carl 1987

Pickett, Wilson 1991

Pink Floyd 1996

Pitney, Gene 2002

Platters, The 1990

Police, The 2003

Presley, Elvis 1986

Prince 2004

Price, Lloyd 1998

Queen 2001

Raitt, Bonnie 2000

Ramones 2002

Redding, Otis 1989

Reed, Jimmy 1991

Righteous Brothers, The 2003

Robinson, Smokey 1987

Rolling Stones, The 1989

Sam and Dave 1992

Santana 1998

Seger, Bob 2004

Shannon, Del 1999

Shirelles, The 1996

Simon and Garfunkel 1990

Simon, Paul 2001

Sly and the Family Stone 1993

Springfield, Dusty 1999

Springsteen, Bruce 1999

Staple Singers, The 1999

Steely Dan 2001

Stewart, Rod 1994

Supremes, The 1988

Talking Heads 2002

Taylor, James 2000

Temptations, The 1989

The Dells 2004

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 2002

Traffic 2004

Turner, Big Joe 1987

Turner, Ike and Tina 1991

Valens, Ritchie 2001

Velvet Underground, The 1996

Vincent, Gene 1998

Waters, Muddy 1987

Who, The 1990

Wilson, Jackie 1987

Wonder, Stevie 1989

Yardbirds, The 1992

(Young) Rascals, The 1997

Young, Neil 1995

Zappa, Frank 1995

ZZ Top 2004

 

Please. Bonnie Raitt, who I LOVE!!, but who was ignored for over 20 years before she recorded a hit album? Ritchie Valens, who died at age 17 with three, yes that's right three!!!, minor hits? Versus, the first female superstar in rock and roll history with multiple, platinum hits????? Go figure?

[VaHawk]

I ABSOLUTELY love Rosemary Clooney! I love that song, but from the interviews I've read and seen, I do believe that Rosemary herself, HATED that song!

[mmk]

thank you for the list

 

I do agree with you, where is Connie Francis? However, where is Carol King and Ronnie Spector? And to move ahead a decade, what about Blondie and Pat Benatar?

 

Also, I love "Come on a My House, My House" but according to some liner note I read on my Digital cable music selection, it did state that she did hate that song but did record it anyway. I always wanted to see an updated dance version of that song done.

[seaboy4hire]

My question is why is there only a small handfull of woman in the hall of fame? Yes I will admit I am a bit biased towards female singers but there are some powerful female voices out there that ROCK! A couple examples that come to mind are Heart and Blondie. I wonder if there is a female Rock and Roll & Hall of Fame? If not I think there should be one.

 

Hugs,

Greg

Greg Seattle Wa [email protected]

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/gregseattle.html http://briefcase.yahoo.com/seaboy4hire

[mmk]

totally forgot about Heart. Ann and Nancy Wilson should definitely be there also. And what about Joan Jett? She defintely fits into the "rock" category.

[VaHawk]

RE: Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

 

>thank you for the list

 

You're welcome.

>

>I do agree with you, where is Connie Francis? However, where

>is Carol King and Ronnie Spector? And to move ahead a

>decade, what about Blondie and Pat Benatar?

 

And I could ask in return, where is the absolutely most fabulous feminine voice in R&R history from the early to late 60's? You know who I mean? Does the name Leslie Gore ring a bell?

 

I would agree with you about Deborah Harry and Blondie, as they were the very group that introduced rap music to mainstream America via the song "Rapture"! Pat Benatar, although good, imo, doesn't merit Hall of Fame credentials.

 

Carole King is indeed in the Hall as a non-peformer, due to her multiple song writing credits while at the old Brill studio in NYC, especially in conjuncture with ex-husband Gerry Goffin. I do believe she only had one hit album as a performer, although that album is a classic in rock music.

 

Ronnie Spector, is great, especially as the epitome of the Phil Spector, 1960's, girl group lead singer! Fabulous voice as the lead singer of the Ronettes, but unfortunately competing against so many other "1960's girl groups"! The Shirelles, The Supremes, and Martha and the Vandellas are already in the Hall, but that doesn't mean that the Ronettes shouldn't be there also!

[VaHawk]

"My question is why is there only a small handfull of woman in the hall of fame? Yes I will admit I am a bit biased towards female singers but there are some powerful female voices out there that ROCK!"

 

That was DEFINITELY one of my observations also!

 

WTF! I'll also admit that I'm way biased towards female singers!

 

In every genre of music, whether it is rock&roll, jazz, blues, gospel, bluegrass or country&western, I would much rather hear a woman's beautiful voice singing than any man's voice! But, don't get me wrong, I love beautiful male voices also, as my love for Van Morrison will attest towards! Also love many male voices in all genres including: Mick Jagger, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, John Prine, ad nauseum, as there are way too many to bore everyone with!

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Heckfire at bringing up Connie Francis Hawkster!

 

I'm just psyched that she'll be performing in Vegas next month for a week of shows at one of the casinos. Billboards with her mug are up all over the strip and if i'm around, i'd love to have a Connie Francis-sing-along. Live and in-person no less

 

Do you think she ever gets the 'Tom Jones treatment,' with guys throwing their briefs onto the stage while catcalling her to come 'work the crowd.' Connie never was much into the pelvic thrusting from my dismal recollection...

 

Now all we need is Ann Margaret to join the show and i'll cough up the extra cash to get into the VIP section. Can you imagine the two of them onstage together? It'd be like a Joan & Christina Crawford reunited moment. I bet it'd sell out.

 

 

Warmest Always,

 

 

 

Benjamin Nicholas

[VaHawk]

RE: Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

 

"Now all we need is Ann Margaret to join the show and i'll cough up the extra cash to get into the VIP section. Can you imagine the two of them onstage together? It'd be like a Joan & Christina Crawford reunited moment. I bet it'd sell out."

 

Are you for real? GOD, I LOVE ANN-MARGARET!

 

That pov, has gotten me a lot of flack, in my lifetime. Stupid queer boy, getting all "turned on" by A-M!

 

IMO, she is the most beautiful woman in the entire world, at least in my lifetime, although Sophia Loren, is a DAMN CLOSE second!

[VaHawk]

RE: Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

 

Deleted. DB problems are crazy!

[eastbayguy]

>I just wish everyone here, who is a true rock and roll fan,

>especially those baby boomers who are old enough to remember

>Connie to post a protest to [email protected] for the

>exclusion of this icon of rock and roll music from their

>so-called Hall of Fame.

 

OK, my message was just sent to this address supporting Connie's inclusion. Let's hope they react in a positive fashion.

 

Good call on this one, Hawk.

 

--EBG

[+ Cash4Trash]

As the lead on so many Phil Spector records here's a vote for

Darlene Love.

[+ deej]

>i'd love to have a Connie Francis-sing-along

 

Wow, what a blast from the past!

 

When I was a kid, SING ALONG WITH CONNIE FRANCIS was my Mom's favorite record. She'd play it over and over (singing along, of course) while cleaning the house every Saturday. I think it got in my blood or something. :9

 

I keep hoping it'll be released on CD, but I don't think it was "commercial". I seem to remember it was a promo item from Brylcream or something like that.

 

And yes, Hawk, Ann Margret and Sophia Loren are two women who've made me question exactly where I fall on the Kinsey scale. (Not for very long, though.) }(

[buckguy]

Sorry to hit a sour note but...

(1) Only a few people get inducted every year, so a few deserving folks are always going to be absent

(2) Ronnie Spector & Darlene Love (who ghosted on countless records for other Spector singers including Ronnie is probably the more deserving of the two) are probably more deserving than Connie Francis, if only because they are more clearly in a rock genre.

(3) Connie Francis was more of a pop singer (ditto Rosemarie Clooney, who had a lot of jazz influences, too) and she really didn't influence anything. If you look at singers with similar mixes of rock & pop like Dionne Warwick, they don't seem anything like Connie. At best you could say she influenced semi-singers like Connie Stevens who did similar material.

(4) Seminal influences and pathbreakers deserve to get in first; for example, the Shirelles--the first crossover girl group (and a great showcase for Carole King's song writing) have been inducted. They were the first female group to score #1 hits and one of the first Black female acts that weren't undercut by tepid covers by white singers.

(5) A group like Buffalo Springfield, which was the springboard for solo careers (Neil Young, Stephen Stills), numerous groups (Poco, CNN, etc.), and genres (they and the Byrds are a big foundation of country rock) makes sense as an inductee even though they only made 3 albums. Among female "rock-n-roll" performers, Etta James, Ruth Brown, or Aretha Franklin fit this criteria better than someone who sang bubble gum and old standards. Or a middling act like the Wilson sisters (gag!). A pretentious but decade defining act like Patty Smith would make more sense. Joni Mitchell (also kind of pretentious, but more popular makes sense)--she helped define the singer-songwriter era and attempted to stretch idiom particularly in the direction of jazz.

(6) What is impressive is that truly groundbreaking performers like the Impressions (who clearly integrated R&B, pop & gospel), who are little remembered now, did make it. "It's all right" or the civil rights anthem "People get ready" have a more important place than pap like "Everybody's somebody's fool". Frank Zappa was an early inductee even though he was always well outside the pale. Connie has had enough of a diva's life to make the gay hall of fame, but a seminal figure in rock-n-roll she wasn't.

[Trixie]

RE: Connie Francis - R&R Hall of Shame

 

Ms. Francis may not have been a "rocker" as we know the word today, but she is still an enduring pop vocalist. During her heyday, nice white girls just couldn't get down & dirty the way the boys could, or the colored folk. Not if they wanted to protect their reputations! La Connie was working with a limited palette, to be sure, but she was still every white boy's dream date, and the No. 1 role-model for '50's teenage girls, rivaled only by Annette! There's more to Rock'n'Roll than a boy and his guitar.

 

Patti Smith & Blondie are glaring omissions. As are R.E.M., The B52's, The producer Giorgio Moroder, and (dare I say it?) ABBA. And Good Lord, where in the Heck are Pretenders, The on that list? I mean, any of these artists have meant more to popular culture than

ZZ Top!

 

(And, in my own personal opinion, X deserves consideration as the most important group to rise out of the LA punk apocolypse and introduce an american sound and soul to punk, the effects of which can still be heard today in so many "alternative" bands.)

 

La Trix

[Rick Munroe]

>Now all we need is Ann Margaret to join the show and i'll

>cough up the extra cash to get into the VIP section. Can you

>imagine the two of them onstage together? It'd be like a Joan

>& Christina Crawford reunited moment.

 

Ann-Margret is Connie Francis's adopted daughter? Connie beat Ann-Marget with a wire hanger?? :o

 

Hawk, I totally agree about Connie. She has never received the respect she deserved; few people realize that she actually produced a lot of her records but she let the male co-producers take full credit. Btw, my 2 favorite Connie songs are "Drop It Joe" and "Hollywood," and her "Connie & Clyde" album is one of my most often-played CD's. Derek and I discovered her in college while rummaging through old LP's in a flea market, and were amazed at her talent and versatility. Connie rocks.

[Guest Wildcat]

I agree with you Connie Francis has to be there! And so does Tom Jones (It's Not Unusual, Green Green Grass of Home, Delilah, etc.) And also The Osmonds - Donnie and Marie, Hermans Hermits, The Monkees and so many more!!!!x(