These artists have recorded #1 hits, sang in movies, written books; was a award winning lyricist with his wife; founded the folk-turned-prog-rock band Strawbs; and was a classically trained pianist-turned rock keyboardist for the British progressive rock band Rare Bird and played Viv Savage in Rob Reiner’s, This is Spinal Tap movie.
Connie Francis
Connie Francis, born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, was a groundbreaking American singer and actress whose talent, resilience, and emotional authenticity made her one of the most beloved pop artists of the 20th century.
Raised in a working-class Italian-Jewish family and fluent in several languages, she began performing as a child, winning talent shows and appearing on television while attending Newark Arts High School. Her father, George Franconero Sr., was instrumental in shaping her career, pushing her to record “Who’s Sorry Now?” in 1957—a song that launched her to stardom in early 1958 after it was featured on American Bandstand.
Albums
Year Album Title #Billboard 200 Chart
- 1958 Who’s Sorry Now?
- 1959 The Exciting Connie Francis
- 1959 My Thanks To You
- 1959 Connie Francis sings Italian Favorites #4
- 1959 Christmas in My Heart
- 1959 Connie’s Greatest Hits #17
- 1959 Rock ‘n’ Roll Million Sellers
- 1959 Country & Western – Golden Hits
- 1959 Connie Francis sings Fun Songs For Children
- 1960 One for the Boys (Not Released)
- 1960 Connie Francis sings Spanish And Latin American Favorites
- 1960 Connie Francis sings Jewish Favorites #69
- 1960 More Italian Favorites #9
- 1961 Songs to a Swinging Band
- 1961 Connie Francis at The Copa #65
- 1961 More Greatest Hits
- 1961 More Greatest Hits #39 (Second edition)
- 1961 Connie Francis sings “Never On Sunday” #11
- 1961 Connie Francis sings Folk Song Favorites
- 1961 Sing Along with Connie Francis
- 1962 Connie Francis sings Irish Favorites
- 1962 Do The Twist #47
- 1962 Connie Francis sings Fun Songs For Children (Rerelease)
- 1962 Connie Francis Sings “Second Hand Love” #111
- 1962 Country Music – Connie Style #22
- 1963 Connie Francis sings Modern Italian Hits #103
- 1963 Connie Francis sings Award Winning Motion Picture Hits #108
- 1963 Follow the Boys #66
- 1963 Greatest American Waltzes #94
- 1963 “Mala Femmena” and Connie’s Big Hits From Italy #70
- 1963 In the Summer of His Years #126
- 1964 Connie Francis sings German Favorites
- 1964 The Very Best of Connie Francis #68
- 1964 Looking For Love #122
- 1964 Connie Francis & Hank Williams, Jr. sing Great Country Favorites
- 1964 A New Kind of Connie… #149
- 1965 Connie Francis sings “For Mama” #78
- 1965 Connie Francis sings All Time International Hits
- 1965 When the Boys Meet the Girls #61
- 1966 Jealous Heart
- 1966 Movie Greats Of The 60s
- 1966 Connie’s Christmas
- 1966 Connie Francis Live at The Sahara in Las Vegas
- 1966 Connie Francis and The Kids Next Door
- 1967 Love, Italian Style
- 1967 Happiness – Connie Francis on Broadway Today
- 1967 Grandes Exitos del Cine de los Años 60
- 1967 My Heart Cries For You
- 1968 Hawaii Connie
- 1968 Connie & Clyde – Hit Songs of The 30s
- 1968 Connie Francis sings Bacharach & David
- 1969 The Wedding Cake
- 1969 Connie Francis sings the Songs of Les Reed
With her expressive soprano and commanding phrasing, she became the first female solo act to top the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to score dozens of hits, including “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own,” and the international anthem “Where the Boys Are,” which she also performed in the 1960 film of the same name.
Known for recording in multiple languages, Francis built a vast global following and maintained a diverse catalog that spanned pop, country, traditional standards, and ethnic songs. Her career, however, was punctuated by intense personal tragedy: she was raped at knifepoint in 1974 in a motel,
which led to years of mental health struggles, and in 1981 her brother George Jr., a former prosecutor, was murdered in a Mafia-related case. She was married four times, including to Dick Kanellis and Joe Garzilli (with whom she adopted a son, Joseph Jr.), though all marriages ended in divorce.
Singles
Year “A side” / “B Side” #US Billboard Hot 100 (if in Top 40)
- 1955 K 12015 “Freddy” / “Didn’t I Love You Enough”
- 1955 K 12056 “(Oh, Please) Make Him Jealous” / “Goody Goodbye”
- 1955 K 12122 “My Treasure” / “Are You Satisfied?” #37
- 1956 K 12191 “My First Real Love” / “Believe in Me (Credemi)”
- 1956 K 12251 “Send for My Baby” / “Forgetting”
- 1956 K 12235 “Everyone Needs Someone” / “My Sailor Boy”
- 1956 K 12375 “I Never Had a Sweetheart” / “Little Blue Wren”
- 1957 K 12440 “No Other One” / “I Leaned on a Man”
- 1957 K 12490 “Eighteen” / “Faded Orchid”
- 1957 K 12555 “The Majesty of Love” (with Marvin Rainwater) / “You, My Darlin’ You” (also with Marvin Rainwater)
- 1957 K 12588 “Who’s Sorry Now” / You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling in Love)” #4
- 1958 K 12647 “I’m Sorry I Made You Cry” / “Lock Up Your Heart” #36
- 1958 K 12669 “Heartaches” / “I Miss You So”
- 1958 K 12683 “Stupid Cupid” “Carolina Moon” #32
- 1958 K 12713 “Fallin'” / “Happy Days and Lonely Nights” #30
- 1958 K 12738 “My Happiness” / “Never before” #2
- 1959 K 12769 “If I Didn’t Care” / “Toward the End Of the Day” #22
- 1959 K 12793 “Lipstick on Your Collar” / “Frankie” #5
- 1959 K 12824 “You’re Gonna Miss Me” / “Plenty Good Lovin”‘
- 1959 K 12841 “Among My Souvenirs” / “God Bless America” #7
- 1960 K 12878 “Mama” / “Teddy” #8
- 1960 K 12899 “Jealous of You (Tango della Gelosia)” / “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” #1
- 1960 K 12923 “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” / “Malagueña” #1
- 1960 K 12964 “Many Tears Ago” / “Senza Mamma e Nnammurata” #7
- 1961 K 12971 “Where the Boys Are” / “No One” #4
- 1961 K 12995 “Breakin’ in a Brand New Broken Heart” / “Someone Else’s Boy” #7
- 1961 K 13005 “Atashi No (rare japanese rendition of Where the Boys Are)” / “Swanee”
- 1961 K 13019 “Together” / “Too Many Rules” #6
- 1961 K 13039 “(He’s My) Dreamboat” / “Hollywood” #14
- 1961 K 13051 “When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart)” / “Baby’s First Christmas” #10
- 1962 K 13059 “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” / “Drop It, Joe” #1
- 1962 K 13074 “Second Hand Love” / “Gonna Git That Man” #7
- 1962 K 13087 “Vacation” / “The Biggest Sin of All” #7
- 1962 K 13096 “I Was Such a Fool (To Fall in Love with You)” / “He Thinks I Still Care” #24
- 1962 K 13116 “I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter” / “Al Di Là” #18
- 1963 K 13127 “Follow the Boys” / “Waiting for Billy” #17
- 1963 K 13143 “If My Pillow Could Talk” / “You’re the Only One Can Hurt Me” #23
- 1963 K 13160 “Drownin’ My Sorrows” / “Mala Femmena” #36
- 1963 K 13176 “Your Other Love” / “Whatever Happened To Rosemarie” #28
- 1963 K 13203 “In the Summer of His Years” / “My Buddy”
- 1964 K 13214 “Blue Winter” / “You Know You Don’t Want Me (So Why Don’t You Leave Me Alone)” #24
- 1964 K 13237 “Be Anything (But Be Mine)” / “Tommy” #25
- 1964 K 13256 “Looking For Love” / “This Is My Happiest Moment”
- 1964 K 13287 “Don’t Ever Leave Me” / “We Have Something More (Than a Summer Love)”
- 1964 K 13303 “Whose Heart Are You Breaking Tonight?” / “Come On, Jerry (Timber)”
- 1965 K 13325 “For Mama (La Mamma)” / “She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round The Mountain”
- 1965 K 13331 “Wishing It Was You” / “You’re Mine (Just When You’re Lonely)”
- 1965 K 13363 “Forget Domani” / “No One Ever Sends Me Roses”
- 1965 K 13389 “Roundabout” / “Bossa Nova Hand Dance (Deixa isso prà là)”
- 1965 K 13420 “Jealous Heart” / “Can I Rely On You”
- 1966 K 13470 “Love Is Me, Love Is You” / “I’d Let You Break My Heart All Over Again”
- 1966 K 13505 “It’s A Different World” / “Empty Chapel”
- 1966 K 13545 “Letter From a Soldier (Dear Mama)” / “Somewhere, My Love”
- 1966 K 13578 “So Nice (Summer Samba)” / “All the Love in the World”
- 1966 K 13610 “Spanish Nights and You” / “Games That Lovers Play”
- 1967 K 13665 “Another Page” / “Souvenir d’Italie”
- 1967 K 13708 “Mama” / “Never On Sunday”
- 1967 K 13709 “My Happiness” / “Al Di Là”
- 1967 K 13710 “Malagueña” / “I Love You Much Too Much” (“Ich hob dich zifeel lieb”)
- 1967 K 13711 “Oh, Lonesome Me” / “Once In A Lifetime”
- 1967 K 13712 “Jealous Heart” / “Will You Still Be Mine”
- 1967 K 13718 “Time Alone Will Tell” / “Born Free”
- 1967 K 13773 “My Heart Cries for You” / “Someone Took the Sweetness Out of Sweetheart”
- 1967 K 13814 “Lonely Again” / “When You Care a Lot for Someone” #22
- 1968 K 13876 “My World is Slipping Away” / “Till We’re Together”
- 1968 K 13923 “Why Say Goodbye” / “Addio, mi’Amore”
- 1968 K 13948 “Somebody Else is Taking My Place” / “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime”
- 1968 K 14004 “I Don’t Wanna Play House” / “The Welfare Check”
- 1969 K 14034 “The Wedding Cake” / “Over Hill Underground”
- 1969 K 14058 “Gone Like the Wind” / “Am I Blue?”
- 1969 K 14089 “Invierno triste azul” / “Noches españolas y tú”
- 1969 K 14091 “Zingara” / “Mister Love”
Throughout her life she battled bipolar disorder and was hospitalized multiple times, yet she staged several comebacks, including a bestselling memoir (Who’s Sorry Now?) in 1984 and concert appearances into the 2000s. She received numerous honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and accolades from the Italian-American and LGBTQ+ communities for her outspoken support.
Film
- 1956 Rock, Rock, Rock! (Singing voice only)
- 1957 Jamboree (Singing voice only)
- 1958 The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (Singing voice only)
- 1960 Where the Boys Are
- 1963 Follow the Boys
- 1964 Looking for Love
- 1965 When the Boys Meet the Girls
Books
- 1963 For Every Young Heart
- 1984 Who’s Sorry Now?
- 2017 Among My Souvenirs
In 2025, her 1962 recording “Pretty Little Baby” became a viral hit on TikTok, introducing her music to a new generation. Francis died on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at age 87 in Pompano Beach, Florida, following hospitalization for complications including a pelvic fracture and pneumonia. She is survived by her son, Joseph Garzilli Jr., and remembered as a pioneering force in American music whose vulnerability, power, and perseverance left a permanent mark on pop history.
Alan Bergman
Alan Jay Bergman, born on September 11, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, was a legendary American lyricist who, alongside his wife and writing partner Marilyn Bergman, helped shape the emotional landscape of American music and film for over six decades. Raised in a Jewish household, he studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1948,
and later earned a master’s degree in music from UCLA. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he developed morale-boosting entertainment programs for troops. After returning to civilian life, he began working in television production and songwriting before marrying Marilyn Keith in 1958.
Some_Notable_Compositions
- “The Windmills of Your Mind” (music by Michel Legrand) for 1968 movie The Thomas Crown Affair
- “The Way We Were” (music by Marvin Hamlisch) for 1973 movie The Way We Were
- “Sleep Warm” (music by Lew Spence) for Dean Martin’s 1958 album Sleep Warm
- “Yellow Bird” written for Norman Luboff’s arrangement of the creole song “Choucoune”
- “Nice ‘n’ Easy” (music by Lew Spence) for Frank Sinatra’s 1960 album Nice ‘n’ Easy
- “Champion the Wonder Horse” (music by Norman Luboff), for The Adventures of Champion; also recorded by Frankie Laine.
- “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (music by Neil Diamond), originally written for the All That Glitters but unused, was expanded by Diamond and released on his 1977 album I’m Glad You’re Here with Me Tonight. Streisand released a solo rendition on her 1978 album Songbird, and later that year she and Diamond recorded the song as a duet
- “Someone In the Dark” (music by Rod Temperton) for Michael Jackson’s soundtrack album for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- “Soldiers in the Rain” (music by Henry Mancini); sung by Diana Krall on Dave Grusin’s 1997 album Two for the Road
- “The Playground” (music by Bill Evans) for Tony Bennett’s album The Playground (1998)
- “I Knew I Loved You” (music by Ennio Morricone) recorded by Céline Dion for the Morricone tribute album We All Love Ennio Morricone (2007)
This formed one of the most iconic songwriting duos in entertainment history. Together, they collaborated with such composers as Michel Legrand, Marvin Hamlisch, Dave Grusin, and Quincy Jones, penning enduring classics like “The Windmills of Your Mind,”
“The Way We Were,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” and “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?”—songs recorded by artists ranging from Barbra Streisand to Frank Sinatra. The Bergmans won three Academy Awards, two Grammys, four Emmys, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980,
receiving its highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 1997. They also wrote for Broadway and television, including theme songs for Maude and Good Times. Alan continued performing into his 90s and remained active in the industry following Marilyn’s death in 2022. He died peacefully at his Los Angeles home on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the age of 99,
following a brief respiratory illness. He is survived by his daughter, film producer Julie Bergman Sender, and granddaughter Emily Sender. His legacy is defined by a remarkable body of lyrical work that gave voice to the most intimate human emotions across generations of music lovers.
Dave Cousins
Dave Cousins—born David Joseph Hindson on Monday, January 7, 1940, in Hounslow, Middlesex—emerged from a working-class London upbringing (his father was killed in WWII) to become the enduring heart and soul of the folk-turned-prog-rock band Strawbs. He met Tony Hooper at Thames Valley Grammar School and co-founded the Gin Bottle Four,
later evolving into the Strawberry Hill Boys in 1963, and ultimately Strawbs in 1967. A University of Leicester graduate in Mathematics and Statistics, he blended musical and academic interests by forming the university folk society and jazz club.
Solo_Albums
- Two Weeks Last Summer (1972) (with Roger Glover, Rick Wakeman, Dave Lambert, etc.)
- Old School Songs (1980) (with Brian Willoughby)
- The Bridge (1994) (with Brian Willoughby)
- Hummingbird (2002) (with Rick Wakeman)
- Wakeman and Cousins “Live 1988” (2005) (with Rick Wakeman)
- High Seas (2005) (with Conny Conrad)
- The Boy in the Sailor Suit (2007)
- Secret Paths (2008)
- Duochrome (2008) (with Ian Cutler) live recordings from the US tour in March 2008
- Moving Pictures (2015) solo acoustic live recording from The Kent Stage, Kent, Ohio US 15 March 2008
After early success in bluegrass and folk, Strawbs signed with A&M Records and released their debut in 1969; their signature hit, “Part of the Union,” reached No. 2 in the UK in February 1973. Over six decades, Cousins wrote the vast majority of the band’s material, mastering instruments like banjo, guitar, dulcimer, and piano, and pursued parallel careers: producing Danish radio (1969–79), executive roles at Radio Tees and DevonAir (1980–90), and later franchising local radio ventures.
He released solo and collaborative albums including Two Weeks Last Summer (1972) and The Bridge (1994), earned an honorary Doctor of Music from Leicester in January 2023, and was active in acoustic and electric Strawbs lineups until retiring from live performance in December 2021.
After a farewell gig at Cropredy in August 2023, his final years were marked by health challenges—including cancer and knee replacements—before he died peacefully on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury at age 85, surrounded by family. He is survived by his third wife
Geraldine, a half‑sister, and five children. Cousins’ legacy spans 23 Strawbs studio albums (most recently The Magic of It All in 2023), a deep catalog of haunting compositions, and a pioneering role in British folk‑prog and independent radio.
David Kaff
David Kaffinetti, known professionally as David Kaff (born April 17, 1946, in England), was a classically trained pianist-turned rock keyboardist and actor who rose to prominence as a founding member of the British progressive rock band Rare Bird (1969–1975), whose million-selling single “Sympathy” became an international hit.
After Rare Bird, he became a session musician on Chuck Berry’s The London Chuck Berry Sessions (1972) before gaining cult‐classic status in 1984 as Viv Savage, the endearingly dim-witted keyboardist in Rob Reiner’s This Is Spinal Tap—
a role he reprised for live promotional tours, including an appearance on Saturday Night Live. He later played with Model Citizenz and Mutual of Alameda’s Wild Kingdom, where his bandmates announced on Friday, July 11, 2025,
that he had “passed away peacefully in his sleep” at the age of 79, remembering him fondly: “David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand”—though the cause of death was not disclosed. Offstage, Kaff embraced visual art during the COVID‑19 pandemic and
remained beloved by fans of prog rock and cult cinema. He is survived by numerous close friends and collaborators who continue to honor his legacy as the man behind the motto, “Have a good time… all the time.”
Videos
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia “Connie Francis” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Francis “Connie Francis discography” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Francis_discography
- Wikipedia “Alan and Marilyn Bergman” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_and_Marilyn_Bergman
- Wikipedia “Dave Cousins” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Cousins
- Wikipedia “David Kaff” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kaff
- People “Connie Francis, ‘Who’s Sorry Now?’ and ‘Pretty Little Baby’ Singer, Dies at 87” https://people.com/connie-francis-dead-age-87-8599290
- Variety “Alan Bergman, Oscar-Winning ‘The Way We Were’ Songwriter, Dies at 99” https://variety.com/2025/music/news/alan-bergman-dead-songwriter-the-way-we-were-1236464646/
- Louder “Strawbs founder, singer and guitarist Dave Cousins has died, aged 85” https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/strawbs-founder-and-singer-dave-cousins-has-died-aged-80
- Blunt Mag “Spinal Tap’s David Kaff Has Died Aged 79” https://bluntmag.com.au/music/spinal-taps-david-kaff-has-died-aged-79/
- 45 Cat https://www.45cat.com/
