Norman Connors

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Norman Connors

Norman Connors (born March 1, 1947 in Philadelphia ) is an American jazz musician ( drums , composition, arrangement) and music producer who is best known for his productions in the field of disco music and contemporary R&B .

Live and act

Connors was interested in jazz very early on , thanks to school friends like Lex Humphries . As a student in his hometown, he had the opportunity to play with John Coltrane instead of Elvin Jones . He studied music at Temple University and then New York's Juilliard School of Music . During his studies he played with Jackie McLean , Jack McDuff and Sam Rivers ( Emanation ). In 1967 he was involved in the recording of Archie Shepps album Magic of JuJu . In the next few years he was part of Pharoah Sanders' band . In 1972 he released his first jazz album on Cobblestone Records ; he worked with musicians such as Carlos Garnett , Onaje Allan Gumbs and Herbie Hancock .

He had his first R&B hit (with Michael Henderson and Jean Carn) with Valentine Love , a release from his album Saturday Night Special , which was released on Buddha Records . In You Are My Starship there is a version of The Creator Has a Master Plan with saxophonist Gary Bartz and pianist Hubert Eaves III . Currently Connors is focused on smooth jazz and crossover .

He also produced for Jean Carn, Phyllis Hyman , Al Johnson and the saxophonist Marion Meadows.

Discographic notes

Albums

year Title
music label
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1974 Slewfoot
Buddah 5611
- R&B51 (6 weeks)
R&B
First published: October 1974
Vocals: Jean Carn
Producer: Skip Drinkwater
1975 Saturday Night Special
Buddah 5643
US150 (5 weeks)
US
R&B35 (19 weeks)
R&B
First release: August 1975
Vocals: Jean Carn
Producer: Skip Drinkwater
1976 You Are My Starship
Buddah 5655
US39
gold
gold

(24 weeks)US
R&B5 (33 weeks)
R&B
First published: May 1976
Vocals: Michael Henderson , Phyllis Hyman
Producers: Jerry Schoenbaum, Skip Drinkwater
1977 Romantic Journey
Buddah 5682
US94 (16 weeks)
US
R&B24 (17 weeks)
R&B
First published: March 1977
Vocals: Eleanore Mills, Phillip Mitchell
Producers: Jerry Schoenbaum, Skip Drinkwater
1978 This Is Your Life
Arista 4177
US68 (17 weeks)
US
R&B20 (24 weeks)
R&B
First published: May 1978
with The Starship Orchestra
Lead Vocals: Eleanore Mills
Producer: Norman Connors
1979 Invitation
Arista 4216
US137 (7 weeks)
US
R&B34 (12 weeks)
R&B
First release: June 1979
Lead Vocals: Adaritha
Producer: Norman Connors
1980 Take It to the Limit
Arista 9534
US145 (6 weeks)
US
R&B30 (23 weeks)
R&B
First published: September 1980
Lead Vocals: Adaritha, Glenn Jones,
Al Johnson, Leon Ware
Producer: Norman Connors, Jean Carn
1981 Mr. C
Arista 9575
US197 (2 weeks)
US
R&B51 (6 weeks)
R&B
First published: November 1981
Arranger: Ben Wright
Producer: Norman Connors
1988 Passion
Capitol 48515
- R&B39 (13 weeks)
R&B
First published: April 1988
Lead Vocals: Gabrielle Goodman , Spencer Harrison
Producer: Norman Connors
1993 Remember Who You Are
MoJazz 7003
- R&B70 (8 weeks)
R&B
First published: March 1993
Executive Producer: Steve McKeever

More albums

Compilations

year Title
music label
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1978 The Best of Norman Connors & Friends
Buddah 5716
US175 (5 weeks)
US
R&B44 (9 weeks)
R&B
First published: November 1978
Executive Producer : Jerry Schoenbaum

More compilations

  • 1982: Just Imagine (Accord 7210)
  • 1990: The Best Of (Sequel Records 118)
  • 1998: The Very Best Of (with Aquarian Dream; BMG 74321 578172)
  • 1999: The Best of Norman Connors Melancholy Fire ( Razor & Tie 7930182194-2)
  • 2001: The Best of Norman Connors (Buddah 74465 99809 2)

Singles

year Title
album
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1975 Valentine Love
Saturday Night Special
US97 (3 weeks)
US
R&B10 (14 weeks)
R&B
First published: October 1975
Singing: Michael Henderson , Jean Carn
Piano: Hubert Eaves III
Writer: Michael Henderson
1976 We Both Need Each Other
You Are My Starship
- R&B23 (11 weeks)
R&B
First published: June 1976
Singing: Michael Henderson, Phyllis Hyman
Writer: Michael Henderson
You Are My Starship
You Are My Starship
US27 (16 weeks)
US
R&B4 (17 weeks)
R&B
First published: August 1976
Saxophone: Gary Bartz
Author: Michael Henderson
1977 Betcha by Golly Wow
You Are My Starship
- R&B29 (9 weeks)
R&B
First published: December 1976
Singing: Phyllis Hyman; Saxophone: Gary Bartz
Author: Linda Creed , Thom Bell
Original: Connie Stevens - Keep Growing Strong, 1970
Once I've Been There
Romantic Journey
- R&B16 (14 weeks)
R&B
First published in May 1977
singing and author Phillip Mitchell
Billboard dance charts: Place 30 (5 weeks)
1978 This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life
- R&B31 (12 weeks)
R&B
First published: June 1978
Singing: Eleanore Mills
Writer: Jimmy Webb
Original: Thelma Houston , 1969
1980 Take It to the Limit
Take It to the Limit
- R&B28 (11 weeks)
R&B
First published: August 1980
Lead vocals: Adaritha
Writer: Phyllis St. James0
Melancholy Fire
Take It to the Limit
- R&B20 (16 weeks)
R&B
First published: November 1980
Lead vocals: Glenn Jones; Bass: Byron Miller
Writer: David DeMarco
1982 She's Gone
Mr. C
- R&B86 (2 weeks)
R&B
First published: October 1981
Author: Nigel Martinez
1988 I Am Your Melody
Passion
- R&B26 (14 weeks)
R&B
First release: February 1988
feat. Spencer Harrison
Authors: Jacques Burvick, Marion Meadows
1993 Remember Who You Are
Remember Who You Are
- R&B86 (3 weeks)
R&B
First release: March 1993
feat. Phyllis Hyman
Authors: Lynn DeFino, Roxanna Ward

More singles

  • 1977: For You Everything (vocals: Phillip Mitchell, Eleanore Mills; released September)
  • 1978: Say You Love Me (with The Starship Orchestra; release: June)
  • 1978: Wouldn't You Like to See (with The Starship Orchestra; release: November)
  • 1979: Your Love (release: August)
  • 1979: Handle Me Gently (release: October)
  • 1980: New York, New York (with The Starship Orchestra; release: April)
  • 1988: Lovin 'You ( feat.Gabrielle Goodman ; released September)
  • 1988: You're My One and Only Love (feat.Gabrielle Goodman)
  • 2014: Mother of the Future

swell

  1. a b c Chart sources: Billboard Hot 100 Billboard 200
  2. Gold / platinum database US
  3. ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
  4. ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 .

Web links