Concetta!

Connie Stevens

TV & Movie Star/Pop Singer

Stevens was born Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingolia on August 8th, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York. Both of her parents, Eleanor McGinley and Peter Ignolia (stage name “Teddy Stevens”) were musicians. Connie would draw her stage name from her father.

Early on Concetta became a member of a singing group called “The Fourmost” which included future Lettermen Tony Butala. At age 16 she joined “The Three Debs”.

Stevens would move to Los Angeles with her dad in 1953 and kicked off her career in entertainment in 1957 appearing in the motion picture “Young and Dangerous” in a minor role.

This was followed by another teen motion picture “Eighteen and Anxious” also in ’57. That would be followed by “Dragstrip Riot” in 1958 and the same year “The Party Crashers”.

She would catch the eye of comedian Jerry Lewis who cast her in his production of “Rock-A-Bye-Baby” which put her more in the entertainment limelight as well as providing her with the opportunity to cut her first record.

Connie’s Big Break

Her most prominent TV role was that of “Cricket” on the series “Hawaiian Eye”.

Connie “Cricket”

Being signed to Warner Bros studios naturally led to recordings for Connie and her WB debut was accompanying Edd Byrnes on his hit “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)” which charted in the spring of 1959.

Much like Warner Bros.’ star, Joanie Sommers, Connie was slotted into a teen ‘girl’ pop sound – so prominent during that time and she had her debut hit “Sixteen Reasons” in 1960, and very much like Sommers, would enjoy only moderate recording success after that with her final chart appearance coming in 1965.

Connie carried on with movie rolls and even had a one-year run on a TV series of her own from 1964 to 1965 titled “Wendy and Me” along with George Burns.

“Wendy” and George

Although she had roles consistently for years, Stevens was disappointed in her acting career, feeling that she was overlooked by Hollywood.

Stevens continues on today – She was married twice, both times only briefly – from 1967 until 1969 with Eddie Fisher and after that failed marriage did not remarry.

Her awards include:

• The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
• The Palm Springs Walk Of Stars
• The Italian Walk Of Fame in Canada
• Founder’s Metal from the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution for 4 decades of service to the USO

Although aspiring to be a recording star was not high on Connie’s list, being contracted to Warner Bros. more or less determined that there would be sessions for Stevens.

Connie Stevens Selected Discography

Why Can’t He Care For Me b/w Hit the Road To Dreamland – 1958

Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea b/w Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow – 1959 (with Ed Davis)

Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) – #4 Hot 100 (with Edward Byrnes) – April, 1959

Apollo b/w Why Do I Cry For Joey? – August, 1959

Sixteen Reasons – #3 Hot 100 – #10 R&B – #9 UK b/w Little Sister – February, 1960

Too Young To Go Steady – #71 Hot 100 b/w A Little Kiss Is A Kiss, Is A Kiss – July, 1960

Make Believe Lover b/w And This Is Mine – April, 1961

If You Don’t, Somebody Else Will b/w The Greenwood Tree – August, 1961

Why’d You Wanna Make Me Cry – #52 Hot 100 b/w Just One Kiss – May, 1962

Mr. Songwriter – #43 Hot 100 b/w I Couldn’t Say No – August, 1962

Hey Good Lookin’ b/w Nobody’s Lonesome For Me – October, 1962

Connie Stevens Interview with Chuck Laufer – February, 1963

Little Miss Understood b/w There Goes Your Guy – July,1963

They’re Jealous Of Me b/w A Girl Never Knows – March, 1964

Now That You’ve Gone b/w Lost In Wonderland – February, 1965

Something Beautiful b/w In the Deep Of Night – September, 1965

In My Room b/w Don’t You Want To Love Me – January, 1966

All Of My Life b/w That’s All I Want From You – March, 1966

Most Of All b/w How Bitter The Taste Of Love – July, 1966

It Will Never Happen Again b/w What Will I Tell Him – November, 1966

Wouldn’t It Be Nice (To Have Wings and Fly) b/w Cinderella Could Have Saved Us All – March, 1968

5:30 Plane b/w She’ll Never Understand Him (Like I Do) – March, 1970

Keep Growing Strong b/w Tick-Tock – October, 1970

Simple Girls b/w Take Me Back To Roses and Rainbows – June, 1972

Connie Stevens Long Plays

Kookie – Star of 77 Sunset Strip – August, 1959

Connie Stevens on Track “Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)

Connie Stevens The New Singing Sensation of Television – 1960

From Me To You – 1962

The Hank Williams Song Book – 1962

The Complete Warner Bros Singles – 2011 (CD)

America’s Sweetheart – CD