Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Chris Connor was born Mary Loutsenhizeron November 8, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri. Her mother died when she was thirteen and her older sister finished raising her. She studied 8 years through junior and high school and became proficient clarinetist. She first sang publicly in 1945, performing “Amor” at the Jefferson City Junior College’s graduation.

Having been well received Chris decided to pursue a singing career full-time, initially working around Kansas City. Her first professional job was with the University of Missouri college band. Moving between local bands from 1946–47; in 1948 she moved to New York City, struggled to acquire work, finally becoming a member of the Claude Thornhill’s vocal group “The Snowflakes”. During her time with the Snowflakes, Connor recorded “There’s A Small Hotel” and “I Don’t Know Why”. She joined Jerry Wald’s big band and recorded more prolifically with songs like “Cherokee” and “Pennies From Heaven”.

Nearing one of her sporadic engagement departures June Christy recommended Connor to Stan Kenton and subsequent recording of Jeepers Creepers, If I Should Lose You, I Get A Kick Out Of You and All About Ronnie, which would become her signature song. Tired of touring by 1953 she left Kenton, she returned to New York, found a manager who got her work at Birdland that eventually landed her a recording contract at Bethlehem Records. Her solo career took flight and a succession of successful albums followed. She moved to much bigger Atlantic label, becoming the first white female signed. She worked with such jazz musicians like Kenny Burrell, Herbie Mann, Lucky Thompson, Hank Jones, Doc Severinsen, Oscar Pettiford and others.

Chris had a long and prolific career through the Sixties and Seventies recording for FM, ABC, Paramount, JVC, Stanyan, Sony Japan, Progressive and Japanese Lobster Record labels. She made her final two recordings in the early 2000s for HighNote Records. Vocalist Chris Connor died on August 29, 2009, from cancer at age 81.

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