ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of Connie Smith

(born Aug 14, 1941)

Career Highlights

Barn Dance Affiliate: WWVA Wheeling Jamboree

Grand Ole Opry Member  -1965

Awards 

Country Music Association 

• Country Music Hall of Fame (2012)

Academy of Country Music

• Top Female Vocalist (1969) 

Film, Night Club, Radio & TV 

• Austin City Limits, 4
• Billy Bob's Texas, 2
• Gilley’s Club, 2
• Hee Haw, 4
• Hell On Wheels, 1
• Nashville Now, 4
• Pop Goes the Country, 4
• The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, 4
• The Jimmy Dean Show, 4
• The Johnny cash Show, 4
• The Porter Wagoner Show, 4
• The Statler Brothers Show, 4
• The Wilburn Brothers Show, 4  

1-Film, 2-Night Club, 3-Radio, 4-TV

Billboard Chart Data 

• No. 1 Singles: 1
• Top-20 Singles: 30
• Crossover Singles:
• Charted Singles:
• Chart Years Active:

Career Labels:

• RCA
• Columbia
• Monument

Billboard Top-20 Singles

1. Once a Day*# -1964
2. Then and Only Then
3. "I Can't Remember -1965
4. If I Talk to Him
5. Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You) -1966
6. Ain't Had No Lovin
7. The Hurtin's All Over
8. I'll Come Runnin'
9. Cincinnati, Ohio
10. Burning a Hole in My Mind -1967
11. Baby's Back Again
12. "Run Away Little Tears -1968
13. Cry, Cry, Cry
14. Ribbon of Darkness -1969
15. You and Your Sweet Love
16. I Never Once Stopped Loving You -1970
17. Louisiana Man
18. Where Is My Castle
19. Just One Time -1971
20. I'm Sorry If My Love Got in Your Way
21. Just for What I Am
22. If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone) 1972
23. Love Is the Look You're Looking For
24. Ain't Love a Good Thing -1973
25. I Never Knew (What That Song...-1974
26. I've Got My Baby on My Mind
27. Why Don't You Love Me -1975
28. (Till) I Kissed You -1976
29. I Don't Wanna Talk It Over Anymore
30. "I Just Want to Be Your Everything -1977

*No. 1 Chart Single

#Biggest Chart Single

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Once a Day: The Connie Smith Story

Connie Smith is a country music artist who had a string of top-10 hits mid-60s to the mid-70s. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson. After recording several demos for Anderson to pitch to other artists, Smith was offered a contract by RCA Victor Records in 1964.

Working with producer Bob Ferguson, her debut single entitled Once a Day was released in September 1964. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart, spending eight weeks at the top. It still holds the record for the most weeks spent at No. 1 by a female country artist. In addition, the single also became the first debut single by a female country artist to reach No. 1, a record that was held for over 25 years. The single brought Smith breakthrough success in the country music industry.

Subsequently, she recorded 19 more singles that reached the Top-10, including Then and Only Then (No. 4, 1965), Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You) (No. 4, 1966) and Cincinnati, Ohio (No. 4, 1967). Riding a crest of success, Smith was one of country music's most popular female artists during the 1960s.

In 1973, Connie left RCA, ending a ten year stint with the label. Their association culminated with the release of her 26th LP for the label. Connie then switched to Columbia Records (1973 ~ 1977) and during the next four years, she recorded nine LPs for the label, but only the singles, Ain't Love a Good Thing (No. 10, 1973) and (Till I Kissed You (No. 10, 1976) broke into the Top-10.

In 1977 Smith moved to Monument Records. With her new recording contract, she was marketed as a country pop artist and was pressured into recording softer material. That was the demise of Connie's recording career, because her sound was more traditional with its use of steel guitar and her hard country vocals. After unproductive associations with Monument (1977 ~ 1979) and Epic (1985), she dropped from the charts.

After marrying country artist Marty Stuart in 1997, Smith staged an unsuccessful comeback, with Warner Brothers, releasing her first studio LP in 20 years. However, the LP didn't generate much interest and she failed to get her material back onto the chart.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, written and compiled by Richard Bell. Roots of Country Music. Jul., 15, 2011.