Commuting to New York City from New Jersey was a totally new part of my life. It was simply a thrill for me to leave my house at 10:00 am and get to Connie Francis office at about 11:00 am, arriving in the largest, most vibrant city in the world. This was a brand new, exciting experience for me just the ride into the city by commuter train or by a bus ride to the Port Of Authority Terminal in Midtown New York. I then took the Subway to Connie’s office.
I rode with many people from all walks of life, but with those who had the most of the more elite jobs. These people left New Jersey, later than most of the commuter crowd and arrived at their office and stores at lunch time.
After writing the hit song, “Vacation”, somehow I had the feeling that there was an end to those successful events at that office. This was just a feeling, but as it turned out, I saw a real “clue” about my own future.
It happened one day, when I arrived at the office. I was approached by Mr. Franconero (Connie’s father). He introduced me to Peggy Santiglia, an attractive young lady whose influence caused me to change my entire musical direction. At the time when I was “discovered” by Connie, I was a Rock ‘n Roller. I was a fan of Bobby Rydell, Dion & the Belmonts and other American Bandstand artists who appeared on that show every day. .
I took a liking to the country type of songs and, of course, I was, again, a dedicated fan of American Bandstand, watching the show, whenever possible. But Peggy’s style caused me to take notice and shift my taste to Rhythm and Blues. I had never heard any Caucasian vocalist with a blues style before. Peggy’s specific talents influenced me in a big way. Her style and sound, really turned my head around. “Blue Eyed Soul”, as it was called, was about to take the world by storm!
Mr. Franconero asked the two of us to write a song together. It took about a half hour for us to write a song called, “Thunder & Lightnin'”, a song with an R & B flavor. When it was completed, we sang it for him and he got so excited that he called a local demo studio and reserved time for us to record a demonstration record.
We recorded the song and Connie’s dad went crazy! He called Connie and played it for her (on the phone). She liked the song but was confused as to her dad’s phone call. Her father said, I think this is a SMASH! In fact he told her he had pressed up 100 master 45 records and he was ready to have these masters shipped and released for DJ’s to play on local radio stations, ASAP!
Connie went crazy when she found out that her father had created a new label which read, “Connie Francis Records”! She had a violent reaction .. it happened this way, “Do you want to get me into a MAJOR LAWSUIT?”
“If we create a label with my name or any name on it, we will be in violation of our contract with MGM!
“I want you to destroy every copy of that record and also ask our friend, Peggy to find another office to show off her talents” she exclaimed. Peggy and Denise (Peggy’s singing partner from nearby Bellevile, New Jersey) are both my good friends, but this office has one female singer and that is “Connie Francis” and no other!”.
This really hurt me to hear, but I had no options in respect to Connie’s decision, at that time. I felt that it might be just a matter of time and I might be shown the door as well, like Peggy!
It was truly a depressing time for me. I found, what I felt, was a totally new direction and the real influence of my change of taste and direction was because of Peggy. I thought at that moment, she might be out of my life forever!
Unbeknownst to me, she didn’t walk into “oblivion”. Sometime soon afterward, Peggy ended up in a music company owned by Feldman, Goldstein and Gotteher (known as “FGG”). She was the lead singer of a great big, super-smash hit which I still hear today, on “Oldies Radio”, called, “My Boyfriend’s Back”. I was not surprised! I knew the minute I heard that recording, I knew exactly who it was singing lead!
The group name was the “Angels” who had many million selling hits for many years thereafter.
Thank you Peggy!! You changed my life, once again, for the rest of my career with your style and unique singing voice. Now, Peggy is on Facebook! She is still doing what she loves, “Singing and Performing” with the Angels
The Angels have been a major part of Lou Christie’s hits as well as other major artists in the music business throughout the 1960’s to the 1980’s. This was a major change in the path of my future path in the music.
More to read about Life after Connie Francis: