Song:You Are My Starship
Album:The Best Of Norman Connors: Melancholy Fire
Drummer Norman Connors was one of several musicians who started out in jazz but really made his mark producing R & B bedroom classics in the 70s. George Benson & Patrice Rushen are others who went this route. You Are My Starship was his biggest hit. He was born Mar. 1, 1947 in Philadelphia and was a jazz fan at an early age. At age 13, he sneaked into a club and filled in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane gig. Connors studied music at Temple University and Julliard and started playing with Jackie McLean, Jack McDuff & Sam Rivers. His first recording was on Archie Shepp's 1967 album The Magic of Ju-Ju. He toured and recorded with Pharoah Sanders for several years until he signed with Buddah's Cobblestone label in 1972. After a couple of jazz albums, Connors switched to a more R & B groove in 1975 featuring singers like Jean Carn, Michael Henderson and Phyllis Hyman. He first cracked the R & B charts with the 1975 top ten R & B hit Valentine Love featuring Carn & Henderson. But he had his biggest hit with You Are My Starship in 1976. It reached #4 on the R & B singles chart and #27 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written and sung by jazz bassist turned crooner Michael Henderson. He went on to a significant solo career. Connors moved to Arista in 1980 and then Capitol but couldn't match his success on Buddah. This comp from Razor & Tie covers his 70s recordings. Of course hip hop guys know all about Norman Connors and sample his music regularly. He recorded a new CD Star Power on Shanachie in 2009 and re-recorded You Are My Starship with Peabo Bryson. Here's Norman Connors featuring Danny Boy performing You Are My Starship at J & R Music in New York City Mar. 17, 2009.
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