Bobbie Rae Daniels Khoury Simmons
The 1950s were an exciting decade for Bobbie. She was married to the successful record producer, George Khoury of Khoury Records in Lake Charles. Bobbie always enjoyed traveling. Her face would light up telling her children and grandchildren about her annual trips to Hot Springs, Ark., during these years. In 1959, Bobbie traveled to Philadelphia for the American Bandstand TV show when Khoury Records had the number two hit with 'Sea of Love' recorded by Phil Phillips. A photo with Dick Clark commemorates this trip.
The 1960s and '70s saw Bobbie quickly grow into an independent and successful business woman. She married Hampton Louis Simmons in 1962. They are remembered as the owners of The China Doll hair salon which opened in 1965. She took intense pride in her craft and in building lasting relationships with her clientele, many of whom became her best friends. The business was a testament to her strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit as it grew to include skin care and a clothing boutique. The China Doll left a lasting impression on the community from its location on South Ryan St. for over 35 years.
Bobbie and Louis retired back to her family home in Merryville for 14 years then moved to Arkansas in 2012 to be near their children and their four grandsons. Being able to attend graduations, football games, trips to Petit Jean Mountain and Oaklawn Horse Races as a family meant the world to 'Granny'.
An avid gardener, Bobbie had a natural ability to nurture plants and create beauty in her surroundings. Wherever she lived, she spent countless hours tending to her flower beds, finding peace and joy in harvesting beautiful flowers, planning for the next season, and sharing cuttings with her friends and family members. Many of those heirloom plants live on in yards around the country and are a lasting reminder of their original caretaker.
Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse, Hampton Louis Simmons; her sister, Marie Daniels Pickens Schiflett, and her brother, John Wayne Daniels (Jackie).
She is survived by her children, Tye Keef (Terry), Daniel Simmons (Jennifer), and Caleb Simmons (Mark and Jonathan); her grandchildren, Sean Flynn (Elizabeth), Josh Flynn, Chandler Simmons, and Noah Simmons (Reagan); sister, Linda Grant (Larry); four nieces and many other family and friends who will miss her dearly.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall when all of her family is able to gather.
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American Press
3 days ago
- American Press
Bobbie Rae Daniels Khoury Simmons
Bobbie Rae Daniels Khoury Simmons, 94, departed this life on July 3, 2025, in Greenbrier, Ark. She was born in Merryville, La., on Nov. 18, 1930, to Fletcher 'Sank' and Essie Mae Alston Daniels. Bobbie's early years were remembered as a joy-filled childhood in a small town surrounded by friends and family. She spoke fondly of her school years at Merryville High School, especially enjoying being a cheerleader and class officer. She graduated in 1948, where she soon set off for the big city of Lake Charles with determination and a dream. The 1950s were an exciting decade for Bobbie. She was married to the successful record producer, George Khoury of Khoury Records in Lake Charles. Bobbie always enjoyed traveling. Her face would light up telling her children and grandchildren about her annual trips to Hot Springs, Ark., during these years. In 1959, Bobbie traveled to Philadelphia for the American Bandstand TV show when Khoury Records had the number two hit with 'Sea of Love' recorded by Phil Phillips. A photo with Dick Clark commemorates this trip. The 1960s and '70s saw Bobbie quickly grow into an independent and successful business woman. She married Hampton Louis Simmons in 1962. They are remembered as the owners of The China Doll hair salon which opened in 1965. She took intense pride in her craft and in building lasting relationships with her clientele, many of whom became her best friends. The business was a testament to her strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit as it grew to include skin care and a clothing boutique. The China Doll left a lasting impression on the community from its location on South Ryan St. for over 35 years. Bobbie and Louis retired back to her family home in Merryville for 14 years then moved to Arkansas in 2012 to be near their children and their four grandsons. Being able to attend graduations, football games, trips to Petit Jean Mountain and Oaklawn Horse Races as a family meant the world to 'Granny'. An avid gardener, Bobbie had a natural ability to nurture plants and create beauty in her surroundings. Wherever she lived, she spent countless hours tending to her flower beds, finding peace and joy in harvesting beautiful flowers, planning for the next season, and sharing cuttings with her friends and family members. Many of those heirloom plants live on in yards around the country and are a lasting reminder of their original caretaker. Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse, Hampton Louis Simmons; her sister, Marie Daniels Pickens Schiflett, and her brother, John Wayne Daniels (Jackie). She is survived by her children, Tye Keef (Terry), Daniel Simmons (Jennifer), and Caleb Simmons (Mark and Jonathan); her grandchildren, Sean Flynn (Elizabeth), Josh Flynn, Chandler Simmons, and Noah Simmons (Reagan); sister, Linda Grant (Larry); four nieces and many other family and friends who will miss her dearly. A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall when all of her family is able to gather.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Connie Francis was the voice of a generation and the soundtrack of post-war America
Connie Francis dominated the music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hits like Stupid Cupid, Pretty Little Baby and Don't Break the Heart That Loves You. The pop star, author and actor has died at 87, and will be remembered for recording the soundtrack songs of post-World War II America. An early life of music Francis was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents. At a very early age, Francis was encouraged to take accordion and singing lessons, compete in talent shows, and later she would perform occasionally on the children's production Star Time Kids on NBC, remaining there until she was 17. Within these early recordings you can hear her style begin to develop: her tone, great pitching, her versatility in vocal range. Her vocal delivery is technically controlled and stylistically structured, often nuanced – and even at this early stage demonstrating such power coupled with an adaptability for a broad range of repertoire. At 17, Francis signed a contract with MGM Records. One of her early recordings was the song Who's Sorry Now?, written by Ted Snyder with lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby in 1923. Her version was released in 1957 and struggled to get noticed. The following year, Francis appeared with the ballad on American Bandstand. This performance exposed Francis' talent for interpretation and her ability to bridge the teen and adult fanbase. The song would become a hit. It's useful to listen to the original version to gain more insight into Francis' vocal approach and styling. The original is an instrumental song of its time, with light whimsical call and response motives in a foxtrot feel. But in Francis' version, she demonstrates her ability to revitalise a late 1950s pop music aesthetic. In an emotional delivery she croons her own rendition, with the country styling elements of Patsy Cline. The voice of a generation Following Who's Sorry Now?, Stupid Cupid (1958), Where The Boys Are (1960, the titular song of a feature film starring Francis) and Lipstick on Your Collar (1959) became the soundtrack songs of post-war America. Francis was supported with songs penned by the some of the best songwriters from the Brill Building, a creative collective in Manhattan that housed professional songwriters, working with staff writers Edna Lewis and George Goehring. In 1960, Francis released her hit Everybody's Somebody's Fool written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield. It was a teeny-bopper classic, and she became the first women to top the Billboard Hot 100. Styled after some of the other greats of the time – such as Frank Sinatra (1915–98), Dean Martin (1917–95) and Louis Prima (1910–70) – Francis' performance on the Ed Sullivan show highlighted her connection to her Italian heritage and ability to draw from a broad repertoire. On the show, she performed Mama and La Paloma. Each performance is very carefully styled, a thoughtful approach to dynamics, sung in both English and Italian. Don't Break the Heart That Loves You, a number one hit from 1962, features Francis' gorgeous crooning harmonies. Then, the song breaks down into an earnest spoken part and finishes with a powerful belted vocal part of long notes. The song is full of confidence and hope. Away from the microphone Francis had two key roles in films, starring in Where the Boys Are (1960) and the comedy Follow the Boys (1963). She was an author of two books. The second, Who's Sorry Now?, became a New York Times bestseller. Francis was involved with humanitarian causes. She was particularly involved with Women Against Rape, following her own violent rape in 1974, and the Valour Victims Assistance Legal Organisation, dedicated to supporting the legal rights of crime victims. A lesser known song in her repertoire, fitting to include here, is her version of Born Free from 1968. As a singer, Francis worked at her craft and transitioned effortlessly from one genre to another, performing for over five decades. She will be remembered as a trailblazing solo artist, leaving a strong legacy in popular music culture. She was the voice of one generation when she was a star. And in her final year she became the voice of a new generation as Pretty Little Baby, released in 1962, went viral on TikTok, with more than 1.4 million videos using her voice to share stories of their lives. This article is republished from The Conversation. It was written by: Leigh Carriage, Southern Cross University Read more: I created a Vivaldi-inspired sound artwork for the Venice Biennale. The star of the show is an endangered bush-cricket From Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Ronnie Yoshiko Fujiyama: how electric guitarists challenge expectations of gender Muhammadu Buhari: Nigeria's military leader turned democratic president leaves a mixed legacy Leigh Carriage does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
New York Times
17-07-2025
- New York Times
All Aboard a Steam Train to See ‘The Railway Children'
The steam train departed the station with a gentle chug, belching clouds of steam that streamed past the carriage windows. Gathering speed, the locomotive transported its passengers through a damp green valley, past gray stone buildings, rain-dripping oak trees, banks of ferns and hillsides dotted with sheep. For many visitors to the Keighley and Worth Valley heritage railway, the picturesque five-mile route through northern England from the town Keighley to Oxenhope village is the main attraction. But for the passengers on Tuesday, it was just the beginning. A theater adaptation of Edith Nesbit's classic children's book, 'The Railway Children,' awaited them when they stepped down from the train in Oxenhope. To take their seats, passengers headed into a large engine room shed next to the platform, where they sat on either side of a railway track. The scenes played out on a movable set that shunted up and down the tracks. And at certain key moments in the play, a second real steam train rolled in as part of the action. It was a fitting setting for a play set entirely around a small village station in the steam age. 'The Railway Children' follows three children — Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis — who must leave their comfortable London home for a simple cottage in the countryside after their father is imprisoned on suspicion of being spy. The children are cheerfully resilient in the face of sudden poverty and are soon welcomed into the rural community. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
