Cultural Arts Division of Parks and Recreation is pleased to present jazz singer Connye Florance in concert at the Kingsport Renaissance Center on Thursday, February 9 at 7:00 PM.

As the youngest of five in a family of musicians, Connye didn’t have to look far for encouragement when her love of singing took off. “There was just always music in the house …” she recalls of her childhood in North Carolina — either (my) daddy …playing the piano, stomping and grunting out the groove on some Ellington tune; (my) sisters and brother rehearsing their most recent favorite, or the whole family “choired up” and singing my mother’s favorite hymns whenever the crowd was gathered and the spirit struck…which was very often. We never wanted for a show.”

The scope of Connye’s career has included most every facet of the industry…studio, stage, television and film. She has sung jingles for Van Camps Food and Major League Baseball, hosted a PBS Literacy Link educational series produced by KET; been the voice of the “WB” on a number of Warner Brothers jingles across the country, and has even sung country…as a background vocalist on the Elton John/Tammy Wynette duet “What a Woman Needs”. Her film, theater and television credits include the feature film “The Client”, “Proud Heart”, starring Lorrie Morgan, and the role of Ramona in the 2000 independent film festival favorite, “Existo”. Connye has toured nationally with Columbia Artists and vocalist Jennifer Holliday, and as featured vocalist with Modern Jazz Tuba Project; The Nashville Jazz Orchestra and with her own award-winning trio of musicians. She has shared the stage with numerous notables, including Steinway artist
Beegie Adair, Grammy award-winner Randy Brecker and vocalist and grammy-award winning songwriter Benita Hill. Connye is a vocal performance instructor at Nashville Jazz Workshop and is enjoying the success of her one-woman show, “Jazz Rhapsody”

Ticket Information