Her music is all her own, but is peppered with scenes and emotions familiar to us all, a little like the effect one gets from listening to John Denver's music.
Connors' name pops up in all sorts of unconnected musical places, not just in the songwriting credits of major country artists like Chris LeDoux and Linda Ronstadt.
It's there next to Kurt Bestor as songwriter in a sweeping orchestral oratorio recorded by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Or-chestra and Choir. And just last week it showed up on the pages of Hal Leonard's "Christmas Compilation Song- book," and in Warner Brother's songbook, "Santa's Greatest Hits," piano ar-rangements of Cori Connors' songs.
Ironically, Connors doesn't play the piano, guitar is her instrument of choice. Sur-prisingly, she doesn't even read music.
"Well, you don't need to be able to read to tell a story, or to talk," says Connors. Her turn of phrase and lyric sounds make her music not only a delight to hear, but a treat for the mouth to repeat.
Connors started her career winning songwriting contests. She self-produced albums, which almost sell themselves.
"Certainly not like wildfire, but enough to pay for itself, and the next one," said Connors. Then, other artists wanted to sing her songs.
Now, Connors' latest tunes have been recorded, with Connors singing and playing, and with the musical talents of some of the West's best acoustic artists joining in.
Kate McLeod, Dave and Carla Eskelsen, Tom Shults, Michael Dowdle, Theresa Ellis, Clive Romney, Todd Sorensen and Mark Robinette, along with Connors' daughter Kate and her brother John Hansen. They "catch the energy and the rhythm of the tunes like kids joining in a game of jump rope," said Connors.
All 13 songs on the new CD are original, and most are reminiscent of life growing up in the last days of the past millennium.
Connors is receiving critical acclaim from names in the recording industry as well.
"Pontiac Rocket is the most moving singer-songwriter CD I've ever heard," said El McMeen, recording artist, arranger and author who received a pre-production copy. "It's suffused with love, honesty and hope...the images are both tender and powerful, and the singing is so good--a study in how to breathe and phrase."
El sent the CD to Bob Pegritz, recording artist and radio disc jockey at WVUD in Delaware.
"I listened to it for the first time and was literally floored," said Pegritz. "So far my favorite, is "Idaho Wind," which should only be sung by Cori or John Denver, and since John is with The Lord, there is only Cori."
For more information about Connors, "Pontiac Rocket" or the CD release concert go to www.coricon
nors.com.
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