Norman Connors

Biography

Norman Connors (born March 1, 1947) is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, and producer who has led a number of influential jazz and R&B groups. He also achieved several big R&B hits of the day, especially with love ballads. He is possibly best known for the 1976 hit, "You Are My Starship×You Are My Starship1976 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1We Both Need Each Other4:11A2Betcha by Golly Wow6:21A3Bubbles6:24B1You Are My Starship4:31B2Just Imagine4:00B3So Much Love2:44B4The Creator Has a Master Plan7:07" on which lead vocals were sung by Michael Henderson.

Biography

Connors lived in the same Philadelphia neighbourhood as comedian/actor Bill Cosby and had an interest in jazz from a very early age when he began to play drums. Whilst at elementary school, Connors was exposed to jazz extensively and became heavily influenced by the drummer Lex Humphries and the younger brother of bassist and Jazz-Messenger player, Spanky DeBrest. He first met his idol, Miles Davis, aged just 13 in 1960.
He once sat in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane performance he attended while in middle school. Connors studied music at Temple University and Juilliard. His first recording was on Archie Shepp's 1967 release, Magic of JuJu. He played with Pharoah Sanders for the next few years until signing in 1972 with jazz label, Cobblestone Records, a division of Buddah Records, and releasing his first record as a bandleader.
Connors began to focus more on R&B material in the mid-1970s after signing with Buddah Records and then becoming the label's A&R manager. He scored several US hits with songs featuring guest vocalists such as Michael Henderson, Jean Carn, and Phyllis Hyman. The most successful of these was "You Are My Starship×You Are My Starship1976 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1We Both Need Each Other4:11A2Betcha by Golly Wow6:21A3Bubbles6:24B1You Are My Starship4:31B2Just Imagine4:00B3So Much Love2:44B4The Creator Has a Master Plan7:07" (No. 4 R&B, No. 27 Pop), featuring Henderson in 1976, while "Valentine Love", his first chart success, made No. 10 R&B in 1975, with vocals from Henderson and Jean Carne. Dee Dee Bridgewater also performed with him on the jazz album "Love from the Sun×Love From the Sun1973 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Revelation9:00A2Carlos II6:08A3Drums Around the World5:40B1Love From the Sun8:14B2Kumakucha (The Sun Has Risen)6:09B3Holy Waters5:28". He has also produced recordings for various artists, including collaborators like Jean Carn, Phyllis Hyman, Al Johnson, Norman Brown, and saxophonist Marion Meadows.
Connors switched to the Arista label when Buddah was bought out in 1978 and achieved a crossover to the disco scene in 1980 when he had the hit "Take it to the Limit×Take It to the Limit1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Take It to the Limit3:55A2Melancholy Fire3:59A3You’ve Been on My Mind4:23A4I Don’t Need Nobody Else3:53B1Justify3:50B2Black Cow4:57B3You Bring Me Joy3:38B4Everywhere Inside of Me4:50", which was released on 12" single. The B side, "Black Cow" (an instrumental) was written by Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
In 1988 he had a hit on Capitol Records with "I Am Your Melody" (with B-side "Samba for Maria") from his LP Passion×Passion1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1I Am Your Melody6:072You're My One And Only Love4:383Heaven In Your Eyes4:324Private Stock4:445Passion5:136Lovin' You5:047Shabba3:518That's The Way Of The World5:099Welcome To My Life6:1110Samba For Maria4:49 which he produced featuring singer Spencer Harrison (1962–1994). Connors also introduced another up and coming singer on the Passion LP, Gabrielle Goodman who sang Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You", "My One And Only Love", "Private Stock" and duets with Harrison on the LP.
His later work, Star Power, features smooth jazz and urban crossover music.
On October 30, 2022, Connors life was featured on a TV One episode of Unsung.

As sideman

With Carlos Garnett

Black Love (Muse, 1974)
With Sam Rivers

Streams (Impulse!, 1973)
Hues (Impulse!, 1973)
Emanation (NoBusiness, 2019) - Volume 1 of the Sam Rivers Archive Series; recorded in 1971
With Pharoah Sanders

Live at the East (Impulse!, 1972)
Village of the Pharoahs (Impulse!, 1973)
Love in Us All (Impulse!, 1972–73)
Wisdom Through Music (Impulse!, 1973)
Love Will Find a Way (Arista, 1978)
Beyond a Dream (Arista Novus, 1981)