Chris Connor
American jazz singer (1927–2009)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mary Jean Loutsenhizer, known professionally as Chris Connor (November 8, 1927 – August 29, 2009),[1] was an American jazz singer.
November 8, 1927
Chris Connor | |
|---|---|
Chris Connor, circa 1950. | |
| Born | Mary Jean Loutsenhizer November 8, 1927 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | August 29, 2009 (aged 81) Toms River, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1952–2009 |
| Works | Discography |
| Partner | Lori Muscarelle |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
Early life
Mary Jean Loutsenhizer was born on November 8, 1927 in Kansas City Missouri.[2] Her mother was a housewife while her father was a telegraphist for Western Union who taught Mary Jean how to use Morse Code. She was raised alongside her elder sister, Fran, who was eight years older. Mary Jean enjoyed singing from an early age with her sister and performed before a live audience for the first time in a school play where she sang in Spanish.[3] At age 13, the family relocated to Jefferson City, Missouri[4] and she later attended high school where she was first clarinet in their band.[5] In an interview with Jazz Wax, she told Marc Myers that playing the instrument taught her how to read music and learn about breath control.[3] However, Mary Jean had intentions of becoming a singer instead[6]
Mary Jean continued singing, including a successful performance at a junior college graduation in 1945.[2] In her teens, she took on the gender-neutral stage name of Chris Connor.[7] Following high school graduation,[6] she took a job singing with a big band at the University of Missouri[6][5] led by Paul Cherches.[3] Cherches had arrangements of songs by Stan Kenton and his orchestra, whom she had aspired to sing with.[3][5] She also played night-time gigs with friend, Bob Brookmeyer[4] while working as a secretary in Jefferson City during the day-time.[5] With her sets sight on becoming successful, she moved to New York City in 1949.[2][5] She was informed by a road manager that Claude Thornhill was auditioning female singers. Thornhill liked her voice and had her join his new singing group, The Snowflakes.[3]
Career
In 1949, Connor recorded two songs with Claude Thornhill's band: "There's a Small Hotel" and "I Don't Know Why".[8] With Jerry Wald's big band she recorded "You're the Cream in My Coffee", "Cherokee", "Pennies from Heaven", "Raisins and Almonds", and "Terremoto".[8] Connor and Thornhill reunited in 1952 for a radio broadcast from the Statler Hotel in New York City for which she sang "Wish You Were Here", "Come Rain or Come Shine", "Sorta Kinda", and "Who Are We to Say".[8]
She made her final recordings for HighNote: Haunted Heart in 2001 and Everything I Love in 2003.[9]
Billboard reported in 1955 that Connor's first two solo albums for Bethlehem, Sings Lullabys of Birdland and Sings Lullabys for Lovers, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on the jazz chart for the week ending April 23, 1955.[10] In 1957, she ranked No. 10 in the Favorite Female Vocalist disk jockey popularity poll behind Lena Horne and June Christy.[11]
Death
A resident of Toms River, New Jersey, Connor died there from cancer on August 29, 2009, at the age of 81. Her longtime partner was her manager, Lori Muscarelle.[1][12]
Discography
- Chris Connor Sings Lullabys of Birdland (Bethlehem, 1954)
- Chris Connor Sings Lullabys for Lovers (Bethlehem, 1954)
- This Is Chris (Bethlehem, 1955)
- Chris Connor (Atlantic, 1956)
- He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (Atlantic, 1956)
- I Miss You So (Atlantic, 1957)
- Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song (Atlantic, 1957)
- Chris Craft (Atlantic, 1958)
- A Jazz Date with Chris Connor (Atlantic, 1958)
- Sings Ballads of the Sad Cafe (Atlantic, 1959)
- Witchcraft (Atlantic, 1959)
- Chris in Person (Atlantic, 1959)
- A Portrait of Chris (Atlantic, 1960)
- Two's Company with Maynard Ferguson (Roulette, 1961)
- Double Exposure with Maynard Ferguson (Atlantic, 1961)
- Free Spirits (Atlantic, 1962)
- At the Village Gate: Early Show/Late Show (FM, 1963)
- A Weekend in Paris (FM, 1964)
- Sings Gentle Bossa Nova (ABC-Paramount, 1965)
- Chris Conner Now! (ABC 1966)
- Sketches (Stanyan, 1972)
- the Finest of Chris Connor (Bethlehem, 1975)
- Sweet and Swinging (Progressive, 1978)
- Live (Applause, 1983)
- Three Pearls with Ernestine Anderson, Carol Sloane (Eastworld, 1984)
- Love Being Here with You (Stash, 1984)
- Classic (Contemporary, 1987)
- New Again (Contemporary, 1988)
- As Time Goes by (Enja, 1991)
- Angel Eyes (Alfa, 1991)
- The London Connection (Audiophile, 1993)
- Haunted Heart (HighNote, 2001)
- I Walk with Music (HighNote, 2002)
- Everything I Love (HighNote, 2003)