CSR: How long have you been performing, Connie?
Connie: I've been performing professionally for two years and then in 1968 when I was a senior in high school I met Cliff Williamson, who's the producer here at Chart and in time I did my first record.

CSR: How did you get interested in the business?
Connie: Well, I've always been interested in it. My father used to record for Decca records about twenty years ago. He was a regular on the Grand Ole Opry. I was sort of brought up into the business. I sort of fell into his shoes and tried to make a go of it.

CSR: Do you remember the first thing that you ever did on stage in front of people?
Connie: I sure do. the first thing I ever did in front of anybody was a song called "Your Cheatin' Heart". It was in grade school I guess.

CSR: Were you scared?
Connie: Definitely, most definitely.

CSR: Did you have a hand in picking "Angel Of The Morning"?
Connie: I sure did. Cliff and I both liked the song. It was a pop song about three years ago but it was a hit. It had a steel guitar lick in the pop version of it. We thought, well that just might go country. So we decided to record it.

CSR: What do you look for in material for you to record?
Connie: Personally, number one lyrics and number two a good song, you know, whether it's commercial or not. Third I like something with a range rather than just the regular three chords. It is hard to find a good song that has a good melody with a good range. Plus having good lyrics.

CSR: Have you tried writing any of your own material yet?
Connie: No, I haven't.

CSR: Do you think you will?
Connie: No, I'll stick to singing and singing alone.

CSR: Do you play any instruments?
Connie: I play a guitar and a clarinet. I played a clarinet all during high school and when I went to college. Then I got too busy singing and I didn't get time to continue it.

CSR: Are you still going to college?
Connie: No, I had to quit just this past June. I didn't have time for that either, regretfully. But business started to get a little bit better and even my professor advised me to quit and to take advantage of the country music business.

CSR: You're still under 21?
Connie: Yes, I'm 19.

CSR: Do you do club work?
Connie: Not very much. I can and I will but not too much. As far as experience, I've had experience on many, many, many shows. I can't see singing to a bunch of drunks to speak frankly. You don't have to do that but I may be wrong.

CSR: Do you like to work at the package shows or concert things?
Connie: I really like that and I just recently did the Arthur Godfrey show. I just got back from New York, I played six shows and I was a special guest.

CSR: How was that?
Connie: It was fantastic. Arthur Godfrey is a veteran performer. He was wonderful to work with. It was a privilege to have been on his show.

CSR: How was that lined up for you?
Connie: About a year and a half ago I won the All-American College Show that was on network TV. I won against other colleges and, then I did two other shows with them and then I came back about a month and a half ago and Arthur Godfrey took over replacing Dennis James and he heard me sing. I was also a special guest on that show. He was impressed by the country music sound and he asked me to be on his show.  

CSR: We just recently ran an article done by Joe Gibson in CSR about the young people in country music. Do you think so many more young people are interested in the country music now than they used to be?
Connie: I think they're finally beginning to realize that Country and Western is number one and it is still on the way up. Country music and pop are sort of intermingling and we're getting a compromise of the two sounds. I would imagine that it is in the late high school years or early college that they're beginning to dig it. In early high school years I noticed that the kids did not accept it cause it just wasn't the in thing. But now they're getting smart and they realize where it's at. Because country music tells life like it really is and that's what they dig. And I believe that's the reason.

CSR: Do you have any favorite songwriters?
Connie: John D. Loudermilk and Jimmy Webb.

CSR: Have you had any strong influences?
Connie: Yes, my parents. My mother definitely did not push me but I wanted it and I was determined to get it and they've helped me along. I'm 19 and I'm living in my parent's home and that's one thing going for me because a lot of girls coming to Nashville to make it big and they have to get an apartment and they go through the bad times, the ups and downs money wise. I have my parents backing me up and of course with my father having been in the music business, he's been acting as my adviser.

CSR: Would you like to be an actress also?
Connie: Yes, in college I'd been in many productions. I won an award here in Nashville for being the best actress of the year in 1968.

CSR: What are your ambitions?
Connie: Well, I've been talking to a number of people in the business and their goal usually is to sell a million records. I want to get to the very top. I'll take step by step but I'm aiming for the very top. I want to be a superstar. I'm determined and I'm willing to work for it and I know it takes a lot of work and determination and patience but I have it. I'd like to some day mingle my interest in acting and singing and that's my goal.

CSR: Do you listen to all kinds of music, pop and country?
Connie: Yes, I do. I listen to all kinds.

CSR: What are your favorite performers?
Connie: In pop music, Vickie Carr and country western, Sonny James. That's my personal point of view. I think he's one of the finest persons. He's one of the finest persons you'll ever meet. I did a show with him once. He's a fine Christian, a very fine performer and just a fine person.