Connie Smith Biography
Connie Smith(Constance June Meador) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Further, she began her music career in 1964.
Connie SmithAge
Smith was born on August 14, 1941, in Elkhart, Indiana, United States. She is 81 years old as of 2022.
Connie Smith Height
Smith stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 6 inches.
Connie Smith Family
Smith was born to Wilma and Hobart Meador. However, her biological father was an alcoholic and abusive to her family. Her mother divorced him and re-wedded. She exchanged vows with Tom Clark. Clark brought 8 kids to the marriage while her mom (Meador) brought five kids counting Smith. Later, they had two more kids thus they were raising 15 kids. Clark played the mandolin while one of her brothers played the fiddle and her other brother played guitar. Further, Smith has 4 siblings, 2 half-siblings, and 8 step-siblings.
Connie Smith Husband
Smith exchanged vows with her husband, producer, and country artist, Marty Stuart on July 8, 1997. Stuart was born on September 30th, 1958 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and is 64 years old as of 2022. Further, he serves as a country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician. Before Smith, he tied the knot with Johny Cash’s daughter, Cindy, from 1983 till their divorce in 1988. Initially, he had met Smith when he was 12 years old at the Indian reservation in my hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi when she served in the fair.
Moreover, he voiced that he had always admired her since he was young and that they sustained their marriage by committing and making God the center. “Make the Lord the center … and commit.”He voiced. Prior to Stuart, she married thrice. In 1972 she tied the knot with Marshall Haynes, a telephone repairman. Haynes was frequently on tour with Smith in the late 70s. They had three daughters before their divorce. Later, in 1992 they divorced. After her third divorce, she voiced that she wouldn’t tie the knot again.
In 1966, she exchanged vows with Jack Watkins, a guitarist in her touring band at the time. The couple had a son prior to their divorce. They later divorced in 1967. When she was 19 years old, in 1961 she tied the knot with Jerry Smith, a Ferro-analyst at the Inter-Lake Iron Corporation in Beverly, Ohio. Together, they had a son named Darren Justin on March 9th, 1963. In the late 70s, Justin served as a missionary but currently serves as a psychologist. However, they divorced in 1966.
Connie Smith Net Worth
Smith has an estimated net worth of between $1 Million-$5 Million which she has earned through her successful career as a singer and songwriter.
Connie Smith Education
Smith finished her high school education at Salem-Liberty High School in 1959 as the class salutatorian. After graduation, she went on to serve as a telephone operator in Lowell, Ohio.
Connie Smith Career
1964
Smith serves as a country music singer and songwriter. Further, she began her music career in 1964. However, she was influenced by music when she was a child as her stepfather played the mandolin while one of her brothers played the fiddle and her other brother played guitar. After a lawnmower accident that nearly cut off her leg, she took up the guitar. While recuperating at the hospital, she was presented with a guitar and learned how to play different chords. Further, she didn’t perform publicly till she was in high school.
A friend had invited her to sing Connie Francis’s pop hit “My Happiness.” Upon graduating high school, she served as a telephone operator in Lowell, Ohio, a drugstore clerk, a dental assistant, and in a grocery store. After her marrying her first husband, Jerry Smith, she began performing after he encouraged her to sing. Briefly, she joined the cast of the Saturday Night Jamboree, a local country music TV show.
Succeeding her initial performance, she was fired. Later, she auditioned and successfully attained a spot on a similar program for WSAZ-TV. In August 1963, she took up a talent contest at the Frontier Ranch country music park near Columbus, Ohio. She performed Jean Shepard’s “I Thought of You” and procured the talent contest and five silver dollars. Else, country singer-songwriter, Bill Anderson served as a judge. In January 1964, she ran into Anderson again at a country music package concert in Canton, Ohio.
He invited her to perform alongside him on Ernest Tubb’s Midnite Jamboree show in Nashville, Tennessee. In March 1964, she performed on the program but alongside Ernest Tubb, not Anderson. Impressed by her performance, Loretta Lynn gave her career advice after the show. Smith returned to Nashville after the show and recorded demos by Anderson that he planned on pitching to other country artists. Anderson’s manager, Hubert Long submitted the demo recording to the RCA Victor label where producer, Chet Atkins heard it.
On June 24th, 1964, she signed a recording contract with Atkins after he was impressed by her vocals. Following her signing to RCA, Atkins enlisted Bob Ferguson to serve as her producer. Her initial session was on July 16, 1964, and recorded four songs where three were written by Bill Anderson. On July 18th, she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. The song, “Once a Day” was her debut single. Released in August 1964, the song hit number one on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart on November 28.
For 8 weeks, the songs held position 1 between late 1964 and early 1965. It became the initial debut single by a female country artist to reach number one. For just about 50 years, the single held the record for the most weeks spent at number one on the Billboard country chart by a female artist. After the song’s success, she started regularly performing. Briefly, Bill Anderson served as her manager but later Charlie Lamb replaced him. She made her initial network TV appearance in October 1964 on ABC’s The Jimmy Dean Show.
1965
In March 1965, RCA Victor issued her self-titled debut album, Connie Smith. The album reached the number one spot and spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Bill Anderson realized his promise to RCA Victor and progressed to writing Smith’s next single releases. In 1965, RCA released Smith’s follow-up single written by Anderson dubbed “Then and Only Then” which reached number four on the Billboard country songs chart. Anderson-penned top-ten single dubbed “I Can’t Remember” succeeded the song.
In October 1965, “I Can’t Remember” featured on her second studio album, Cute ‘n’ Country. Despite hating the name of the LP, it went on to be her second disc to top the Billboard country albums chart. Through early 1966, she had top five Billboard country singles with Anderson’s “Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You)” and Priscilla Mitchell’s “If I Talk to Him.” In 1965, she served as a member of the Grand Ole Opry radio show. Additionally, she and Ferguson tried pop production thus a new style featured on her next studio releases Born to Sing (1966) and Downtown Country (1967).
Both albums had full orchestras in the background and cover versions of singles by pop artists of the time. Also, featured on the LP were the singles “Ain’t Had No Lovin'” and “The Hurtin’s All Over.” Both hit the Billboard country top five. During that time she featured in a number of country music vehicle films performing many of her current hit recordings.
1996 to 1967
In 1966, she appeared in the films Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar and The Las Vegas Hillbillys, the latter of which starred Jayne Mansfield. Moreover, in 1967, she starred in The Road to Nashville and Hell on Wheels. In 1966, she formed her own touring band dubbed the Sundowners. The budget RCA Camden subsidiary label issued her next studio LP titled Connie in the Country in February 1967. The LP counted covers of popular country recordings of the eon and a new single by her that reached the top 20 titled“Cry, Cry, Cry.” In May 1967, RCA released an album of songs written exclusively by Bill Anderson dubbed Connie Smith Sings Bill Anderson.
Furthermore, it counted covers of Anderson’s own hits such as “City Lights” and “That’s What It’s Like to Be Lonesome.” Also, included on the album was “Cincinnati, Ohio” which Smith issued as a single and brought the song to the Billboard country top five. In June 1967, the city of Cincinnati, Ohio declared its own “Connie Smith Day” after the success of the album. Her other hits include”I’ll Come Runnin,” “Burning a Hole in My Mind,” “Baby’s Back Again,” and “Run Away Little Tears.”Three of these recordings were counted on her 1967 album, I Love Charley Brown, which reached the nation’s LP’s top 20.
1968 to 1970
By 1968, she had reached the peak of her career. In 1968, she discovered Christianity which brought relief to her personal and professional life after being stressed to the point of leaving her career due to the pressures of her several responsibilities. Eventually, she chose to continue with her career and recorded for RCA every few months. However, she decreased her touring schedule. For the remainder of her time, she dedicated herself to family life and made endeavors to appear in more Christian music shows.
Additionally, she served with ministers Billy Graham and Rex Humbard. Also, she appeared on a number of Christian television shows. With her commitment to RCA, the label progressed issuing new albums and singles with regularity. In the company of her new religious convictions, she made prioritized including gospel recordings on her secular albums. In 1968 and 1969, RCA Victor issued the studio LPs, Sunshine and Rain, Back in Baby’s Arms, and Connie’s Country. The recordings relinquished a cover of Marty Robbins’s “Ribbon of Darkness.”
Smith’s adaptation reached the top 20 of the Billboard nation singles chart. In Canada, the song became her initial song to top their RPM Country chart. In the 1970s, she made the top ten of the North American country charts with less frequency but continued having fruitful success. The singles penned by Bill Anderson “You and Your Sweet Love” and “I Never Once Stopped Loving You” made the Billboard country top ten in 1970. Issued in 1970, her fifteenth studio LP dubbed the same. Else, it made the top 20 of the Billboard country albums chart.
During this period, she teamed up with country singer-songwriter, Nat Stuckey to record two duet studio albums. Smith’s producer (Bob Ferguson) and Stuckey’s producer (Felton Jarvis) devised the idea. The duo’s initial duet sessions produced a cover of Sonny James’s “Young Love,” which reached the top 20 of the Billboard country songs chart. Moreover, their initial album dubbed the same featured covers of country and pop songs of the eon. In order for Smith to record more gospel music, the duo cut a spiritual-motif LP in 1970 dubbed Sunday Morning with Nat Stuckey and Connie Smith.
Frequently, Christian radio shows opened their programs with the duo’s gospel music, which influenced RCA to issue”If God Is Dead (Who’s That Living in My Soul)” as a single in 1970. The song culminated in the lower reaches of the Billboard country chart. In the early 70s, she started recording more songs written by Dallas Frazier. The pair became close friends, which prompted Frazier to pen songs for Smith that mirrored situations in her personal life. Both she and Frazier depicted her 1970 single “Where Is My Castle” as being autobiographical of her recent marital issues. The single reached the top 20 of both the Billboard and RPM country singles charts.
1971 to 1973
In 1971, RCA released her cover of Don Gibson’s “Just One Time.” Supported by a big rhythm section, the recording reached number two on the Billboard and RPM country charts and thus became her most commercially-successful single of the 1970s. Her eighteenth studio LP dubbed the same reached number 14 on the Billboard country albums chart and featured liner notes penned by Loretta Lynn.
With her being among RCA’s top-selling recording artists, she had enough pressure to cajole executives to let her record another gospel album. Thus, the 1971′s Come Along and Walk with Me. The studio album starred gospel tracks penned by spiritual writers such as Dottie Rambo. In 1972, she had three nonstop top singles on the Billboard country chart: “Just for What I Am”, “If It Ain’t Love (Let’s Leave It Alone)” and “Love Is the Look You’re Looking For.”
RCA issued the singles on three separate LPs: Ain’t We Havin’ Us a Good Time (1972), If It Ain’t Love and Other Great Dallas Frazier Songs (1972) and Love Is the Look You’re Looking For (1973). If It Ain’t Love And Other Great Dallas Frazier Songs, was her most commercially-successful album having reached number 14 on the Billboard country albums chart. The studio project was recorded as an homage to Dallas Frazier and featured ten songs penned by him. Frazier sang a number of duets with Smith on the project. Prior to leaving her contract with RCA, the label issued more LPs, including the compilation, Dream Painter (1973). Its title track charted in the Billboard top 40.
Upon the promise of getting better royalty and more creative control, she renewed her contract in 1973. The promises were not met thus she hired a lawyer and left RCA for a contract with Columbia Records. She signed a new recording contract with h Columbia Records in 1973. Aside from more control, she attained the chance to record one gospel album yearly. While there, she met with Clive Davis, who agreed to produce her. Nonetheless, the label dismissed Davis before they could work together thus producer Billy Sherrill chose to work with Smith.
Following a dispute about religion, they didn’t work together. Furthermore, she began recording with producer George Richey, who recently had success writing material for George Jones and Tammy Wynette. While at Columbia Records, she was pressured to record more pop production than before. Her initial Columbia LP dubbed A Lady Named Smith (1973) counted pop production like string instrumentation and overdubbed background vocals. Additionally, the LP hit number 31 on the Billboard country albums chart.
Moreover, Richey allowed issuing of “Ain’t Love a Good Thing” as her initial Columbia single. Regardless, Richey-Smith co-wrote, “You’ve Got Me (Right Where You Want Me),” which proved to be the initial label single. This disappointed her enough that she chose to terminate their professional relationship. God Is Abundant served as the last Richey-produced project and her initial Columbia gospel LP. The album hit number 20 on the Billboard country albums chart. Moreover, she selected Ray Baker as her next producer.
1974 to 1975
The two had a more compliant relationship and recorded together throughout the decade. Baker produced her next Columbia album dubbed That’s the Way Love Goes (1974). The LP featured a number of original recordings and cover tunes. The album counted “Ain’t Love a Good Thing,” which was finally issued as a single. To boot, it became her eighteenth top-ten song on the Billboard country chart. Even though she recorded two gospel projects in 1974, the label waited until 1975 to release both LPs.
Columbia issued a secular project dubbed I Never Knew (What That Song Meant Before) (1974). Its title track became a top 20 Billboard country single, culminating at number 13. Following it was the traditional country LP, I Got a Lot of Hurtin’ Done Today/I’ve Got My Baby On My Mind in 1975.“I’ve Got My Baby on My Mind” and her cover of Hank Williams’s “Why Don’t You Love Me” hit the nation’s top 20. In 1975, Columbia issued both of her 1974 gospel projects. The initial was Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel.
1976 to 1977
In 1976, the project was selected by the Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Performance. The second 1975 religious LP was the gospel-sway Christmas album dubbed Joy to the World. In 1976, Columbia released two more country albums of Smith’s material: The Song We Fell in Love To and I Don’t Wanna Talk It Over Anymore. Both LPs culminated in the Billboard country albums top 40. The album comprised the number 13 country single “I Don’t Wanna Talk It Over Anymore” and her twentieth top ten, a remake of The Everly Brothers’ “(Till) I Kissed You.”
“(Till) I Kissed You” was her second single to top Canada’s RPM country chart. In 1977 Smith migrated to Fred Foster’s Nashville label, Monument Records. During her tenure there, she was pressed into recording more country pop material than before. Additionally, she received singing lessons from a songwriter. Between 1977 and 1978 Monument issued two LPs of Smith’s material. Her only commercially-successful Monument single was a cover of Andy Gibb’s “I Just Want to Be Your Everything.”
1978 to 1998
The single hit number 14 on the Billboard country chart. Between 1978 and 1979, she reached progressively-lower positions on the nation chart as Monument released. It was at this time, she decided to leave her country music career entirely to concentrate on raising her children and catering to her religious wants. For three years, she stayed in semi-retirement and committed only to infrequent performances at the Grand Ole Opry. At the Opry, she only performed gospel songs. In 1983, she resolved to return to her career.
She re-signed with Monument Records but quit following the label’s file for bankruptcy. Fortunately, singer and songwriter Ricky Skaggs assisted her to gain a new recording contract with Epic Records. The initial single, “A Far Cry from You” (1985), was penned by Alternative country artist Steve Earle. It hit number 71 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Alongside, Marty Stuart, she served as the album’s main producer and signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1996.
Despite the label wanting her to record an album of duets, she decided to record a solo studio album. In October 1998 she issued her second self-titled studio album. It comprised ten tracks, nine of them co-written by both her and Stuart. Her 1998 project gained limited commercial attention but received critical praise for its traditional and contemporary style. In 1998, she made a second cameo appearance in a film, depicting a “Singer at the Rodeo Dance” in The Hi-Lo Country featuring Woody Harrelson and Billy Crudup.
2003 to 2021
In August 2003, she issued a gospel album with country artists Barbara Fairchild and Sharon White dubbed Love Never Fails on Daywind Records. The Dove awards nominated the album produced by country and bluegrass performer, Ricky Skaggs (White’s husband). In November 2008, she joined the cast of Marty Stuart’s half-hour television series The Marty Stuart Show, which aired on the RFD-TV network Saturday nights.
In August 2011 Smith issued her initial new solo recording in thirteen years, dubbed Long Line of Heartaches via Sugar Hill Records. Marty Stuart produced the record and it included five songs written by the pair. Harlan Howard, Kostas, Johnny Russell, and Dallas Frazier wrote tracks included on the disc. In August 2021, her next studio album was issued on the Fat Possum label dubbed The Cry of the Heart. This was the third project produced by Stuart and her initial album of new material in a decade.
Connie Smith Awards
In 1964, she attained Billboard Magazine’s Most Promising Female Country Artist. Additionally, in 1965, she attained the same award. Also, she gained Cash Box’s Most Promising Female Country Vocalist and Country Music Review’s Most Promising Female Singer. In 1966, she attained Cash Box’s Most Programmed Female Artist. Further, she won Country Music Life Award’s Favorite Female Artist. Moreover, she won Record World’s Top Female Vocalist and Most Outstanding Female Country and Western Vocalist.
In 1979, she won the Music City News Awards’ Gospel Group/Act of the Year. Also, she attained Country Music Television’s 40 Greatest Women of Country Music. Moreover, she won Country Universe’s 100 Greatest Women – Rank (#24). In 2011, she got inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Furthermore, in 2012 she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame induction. To boot, she won Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time – Rank (#69).
Connie Smith-Once a Day
On July 18th, she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry with “Once a Day” as her debut single. Released in August 1964, the song hit number one on the Billboard Magazine Hot Country Singles chart on November 28. For 8 weeks, the songs held position 1 between late 1964 and early 1965. It became the initial debut single by a female country artist to reach number one. For just about 50 years, the single held the record for the most weeks spent at number one on the Billboard country chart by a female artist.
Once a Day(lyrics)
When you found somebody new
I thought I never would
Forget you
For I thought then I never could
But time has taken all the pains away
Until now, I’m down to hurtin’ once a day
Once a day (once a day)
All day long (all day long)
And once a night (once a night)
From dusk ’til dawn (dusk ’til dawn)
The only time
I wish you weren’t gone
Is once a day, every day, all day long
I’m so glad that I’m not like a girl I knew one time
She lost the one she loved then slowly lost her mind
She sat around and cried her life away
Lucky me I’m only cryin’ once a day
Once a day (once a day)
All day long (all day long)
And once a night (once a night)
From dusk ’til dawn (dusk ’til dawn)
The only time
I wish you weren’t gone
Is once a day, every day, all day long
Once a day, every day, all day long
Connie Smith Social Media Platforms
She is active on her social media accounts and is often seen posting on her Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. She has over 7112 followers on Instagram.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.