Connie Smith is1 of 14 children. She was born ini Elkhart, IN in 1941 then moved to West Virginia. At a young age she stated she would sing one day on the "Grand Ole Opry" and what was a wish became a reality when this Ohio housewife and mother of two boys was discovered by Bill Anderson at a fair in Columbus, OH where she accompanied herself on the guitar. Within six months she had a recording contract with RCA and a  hit with "Once A day" that stayed 6 weeks at #1 in 1964--a feat never matched by another country female singer to this day.

Connie's early successes with RCA with Producer, Bob Ferguson are her best remembered; however, it is not her best work. She displayed a unique and powerful voice (at times overwhelmingly so) and racked up hits with "Run Away Little Tear", "Cincinnati, Ohio", "Tiny Blue Transistor Radio", "Ain't Had No Lovin'" among many others. It wasn't until the latter years of the decade her powerful voice gained the nuances that make her one of the best singers in show business. She had hits with "Just One Time", "Just For What I Am", "If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave it Alone)", "Ribbon of Darkness" and "Love Is The Look You're Looking For" that displayed her husky throated soulful song styling and impeccable phrasing. This could be due in part to several reasons. It was stated she had an abusive father that lead to a nervous breakdown in her teens and her meteoric rise to fame had taken a toll on her marriage and family. This could be a point of reference for the sincere hurt and brutal honesty in her singing that is seldom heard so clearly and painfully in music today.

Her next stint was also successful when she joined Columbia. Much of her single material was meant for "crossover" although she remained true to her country roots without every compromising by cutting and writing some remarkable album tracks. As with all her albums, Connie is a born again Christian and always included at least two gospel or religious songs on each album and occasionally made Lps only in this genre. Connie's voice had ripened like fine Brie.

By 1977, she was married again and had 3 more children and her hit days were pretty much behind her when she signed with Monument Records. She did not need the record company--they needed her and the ensuing two albums were a mixed bag. She then retired and made rare appearences on The Grand Ole Opry. When she sang only religious songs this signified she was not actively recording.

When her second marriage ended and her children were grown she almost disappeared from the country music scene. Later, she married fellow country singer Marty Stuart (17 years her junior) and her career took a turn. She released her first album in 20 years co-produced  and co-penned by Stuart entitled simply--"Connie Smith". It was grossly overlooked by the radio stations but is a masterful and welcome recording with it's refreshing honesty and experienced singing--a rarity in C&W music today.

Connie is full swing today. She has recorded a gospel album with two of her well known country female friends (Love Will Abide) and the reissues are coming out with much more frequency during a time when only one reissue was in print. For awhile locating Connie Smith CDs was rarer than plutonimum. She has a live CD from Branson, MO in print as well as a deluxe 4 CD retrospective from Bear Family Records of her early RCA work, as well as several CDs  from RCA (that cover basically the same material). Sony has released a 10 track singles CD and Monument has also released her singles on CD as well. Neither of these recordings are her best work but do contain some fine songs. Still  there is not a great deal of Connie Smith CD recordings out there unless you include her duets with her husband and her collaboration with John Prine on "In Spite Of Ourselves".

Her vinyl recordings are not always that easy to obtain. It is especially important when you see one you like to carefully check the seller's rating score. This will help you from being disappointed by a grading system that may be lower than your expectations. So please be careful. Also contact the seller before purchase/bidding if necessary with any questions you may have. Most of them will be eager to help you.

Also remember many of her recordings may be listed in mono--particularly the earlier 45s (although all the Lps do have stereo counterparts but may not be readily available). You can buy with a great deal more confidence today thanks to technology whereas years ago you had to rely on on those magazine auction/set sale items and take what you could get. Ebay is very proactive when it comes to their sellers, allowing you greater safety to buy with assurance and if required, returning items when necessary. Please make sure items are returnable before purchase or bidding, as some are not. This practice is up to the seller's discretion.

Do not expect to find a tremendous amount of product on sale or auction at one time. As stated earlier, her material is just not that readily available at times. But whatever you acquire, remember  you are getting the very best. A lady in every sense of the word who sings with conviction, power, assurance and a style of phtasing that is uniquely her own--from the highs to an easy drop to the throaty lows. She is vastly underrated. Dolly, Tammy and Loretta racked up the fame while Connie chose to spend more time with her family. Had she stayed in the forefront she would have earned the title of  "The Queen of Country Music". And she really is in the hearts of many. Enjoy your shopping experience and I hope this guide helps you. Thank you.

For those of you who know her as an old friend will delight in finding these recordings and for the newer fans, you will be surprised when her voice pierces your heart like a bolt of lightening. She's that good. On of the best in the history of music in any genre.