Chris Connor
Chris Connor ( born: Mary Loutsenhizer; born November 8, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri; † August 29, 2009 in Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey) was an American jazz singer.
Life
Chris Connor was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her father, an amateur violinist, took her to concerts of the big bands that made guest appearances in the city. Another important influence is exerted from the singing of Anita O'Day. In 1945, she sang in a college band, 1949/50, she came to New York and began her career as a singer in the vocal band of Claude Thornhill, the Snowflakes. After a stint in the orchestra by Jerry Wald they took over 1952/53, the vocals in the band of Stan Kenton, which she had been recommended by June Christy. As of July 1953 Connor worked as a soloist and took numerous boards first for Bethlehem Records, then in 1955 for Atlantic Records on. The "Atlantic " years are regarded as the culmination of their work - in this period was also the album Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac Of Song (1957). She became famous with the hit All About Ronnie. During this time she sang in the bands of Ralph Burns, Ralph Sharon, Richard Wess, Jimmy Jones, Al Cohn, Don Sebesky and Maynard Ferguson. Your successful time at Atlantic Records lasted until 1962.
According to the authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz it is "the" Cool- singer "par excellence".