Chris Connor
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Chris Connor (born 8 November 1927, Kansas City, Missouri) is a jazz singer known for her distinctive style and expression. She was born Mary Loutsenhizer to her father Clyde, a telegrapher and violinist, and her mother Mabel. Connor studied and became proficient in the clarinet. [1]
Connor joined the "Snowflakes", a vocal group of Claude Thornhill's band, and moved on to become Stan Kenton's lead singer. [2]
She recorded for Bethlehem Records originally and then began a long association with Atlantic Records. Her trademark songs are well known to most people familiar with jazz of the 1950s and 1960s; among them are "Lullaby of Birdland" and "All about Ronnie."[3] [4]
Connor currently lives on the East Coast and has retired from public appearances. She is, however, recording a new album.[citation needed]
[edit] Selected discography
- Sings Lullabies of Birdland (1953, Bethlehem) (deleted)
- This is Chris (1955, Bethlehem) (deleted)
- Chris Connor (1956, Atlantic) (reissued by Collectables)
- Jazz Date with Chris Connor (1956, Atlantic) (reissued by Collectables)
- Chris Craft (1957, Atlantic) (reissued by Collectables)
- Chris in Person (1959, Atlantic) (live) (reissued by Collectables)
- Double Exposure (1961, Atlantic) (with Maynard Ferguson)
- New Again (1987, Contemporary) (deleted)
[edit] Compilations
- Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years (1999, 32 Jazz) (out of print)
- Complete Bethlehem Years (box) (2007, Fresh Sounds Spain)