Post by petrolino on Jul 1, 2020 23:20:46 GMT
Connie Smith
Connie Smith was born Constance June Meador on August 14, 1941 in Elkhart, Indiana, in the United States of America. Her family moved from Indiana to Ohio to West Virginia. It's often said she suffered severe domestic abuse at the hands of her father during her formative years, which some believe led to the nervous breakdown she suffered during her teenage years. Music journalist Larry Price directly attributed a controlled tremor he detected in Smith's voice to these childhood experiences. I should stress that I've not heard Smith herself discussing these alleged aspects of her childhood (incidents of domestic abuse), but most biographies I've read do mention these same things.
Smith's parents divorced when she was 7 and her father, who was a farmhand, left the family home. As a child, she'd listen to her favourite singers on the radio and dream about going places. She wrapped herself around the Holy Bible and engaged in regular prayer. She was too nervous to sing at times, but this changed over time. When her mother remarried, she became one of 13 siblings, as she had 4 brothers and sisters, and her step-father entered the family with 8 children of his own.
'Domestic violence (DV) takes many forms, including chronic arguing and yelling, controlling behaviors, intimidation, threats of suicide or murder, threats involving weapons, and serious injuries. There is always, however, a destructive undercurrent of power and control, with offenders commonly and compulsively grasping for in a surrogate the control that is lacking within themselves. Any pattern of behaviors in intimate relationships marked by coercive control can be a signal or foreshadowing of abuses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that in homes where violence between partners occurs, there is a 45% to 60% chance of co-occurring child abuse, a rate 15 times higher than the average. Even when they are not physically attacked, children witness 68% to 80% of domestic assaults. These numbers are a sobering reminder of the toll a violent environment takes on kids.
The circumstances of DV leave caregivers—emotionally and otherwise—unavailable and unresponsive, and activate in kids a primal fear and a host of other raw, complex, and unresolved emotions. The pioneering psychiatrist and researcher Daniel Siegel (2004) instructed, “The mind develops as the brain responds to ongoing experience… The pattern of firing of neurons is what gives rise to attention, emotion, and memory.” And what fires together—in a combination of violent exposures and the child’s underlying neurobiological experience—wires together.
The psychological aftermath of exposure to DV can include fear of harm or abandonment, excessive worry or sadness, guilt, inability to experience empathy or guilt, habitual lying, low frustration tolerance, emotional distancing, poor judgment, shame, and fear about the future.
The attention given, emotions felt, and memories imprinted onto a child’s brain in moments of stress become inextricably linked together and forever taint—or else filter—feelings, beliefs, and choices in relationships and so many other facets of life. These children are not merely innocent bystanders. They are victims.
Although they may be unintended victims, living within a climate of chronic emotional volatility and near acute incidents of aggression has a way of searing a neurophysiological muddle—painful and isolating emotions existing alongside ongoing and frequently unmet needs for affection and attachment.
Parents who are themselves batterers are more irritable, less involved in child rearing, more likely to use severe and erratic physical punishment, and less able to distinguish their children’s needs from their own. Both parents, regardless of culpability, risk poor emotional attunement with their children and, consequently, a decreased capacity to recognize stress and danger—protective factors which might increase a child’s resiliency.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that in homes where violence between partners occurs, there is a 45% to 60% chance of co-occurring child abuse, a rate 15 times higher than the average. Even when they are not physically attacked, children witness 68% to 80% of domestic assaults. These numbers are a sobering reminder of the toll a violent environment takes on kids.
The circumstances of DV leave caregivers—emotionally and otherwise—unavailable and unresponsive, and activate in kids a primal fear and a host of other raw, complex, and unresolved emotions. The pioneering psychiatrist and researcher Daniel Siegel (2004) instructed, “The mind develops as the brain responds to ongoing experience… The pattern of firing of neurons is what gives rise to attention, emotion, and memory.” And what fires together—in a combination of violent exposures and the child’s underlying neurobiological experience—wires together.
The psychological aftermath of exposure to DV can include fear of harm or abandonment, excessive worry or sadness, guilt, inability to experience empathy or guilt, habitual lying, low frustration tolerance, emotional distancing, poor judgment, shame, and fear about the future.
The attention given, emotions felt, and memories imprinted onto a child’s brain in moments of stress become inextricably linked together and forever taint—or else filter—feelings, beliefs, and choices in relationships and so many other facets of life. These children are not merely innocent bystanders. They are victims.
Although they may be unintended victims, living within a climate of chronic emotional volatility and near acute incidents of aggression has a way of searing a neurophysiological muddle—painful and isolating emotions existing alongside ongoing and frequently unmet needs for affection and attachment.
Parents who are themselves batterers are more irritable, less involved in child rearing, more likely to use severe and erratic physical punishment, and less able to distinguish their children’s needs from their own. Both parents, regardless of culpability, risk poor emotional attunement with their children and, consequently, a decreased capacity to recognize stress and danger—protective factors which might increase a child’s resiliency.
Compared with other kids, those who have witnessed DV experience far greater incidence of insomnia, bed wetting, verbal, motor, and cognitive issues, learning difficulties, self-harm, aggressive and antisocial behaviors, depression and anxiety, as well as, most troubling, adult domestic violence, with boys often becoming offenders, victims, or both, and girls more likely to become victims (Brown and Bzostek, 2003).
A growing body of literature has revealed that children who have been exposed to DV are more likely than their peers to experience a wide range of difficulties, from anger and oppositional behavior, to fear, low self-worth and withdrawal, to poor sibling, peer, and social relationships. Studies have found evidence of much higher rates of pro-violence attitudes, rigid stereotypical gender beliefs involving male privilege, animal abuse, bullying, assault, property destruction, and substance abuse.'
A growing body of literature has revealed that children who have been exposed to DV are more likely than their peers to experience a wide range of difficulties, from anger and oppositional behavior, to fear, low self-worth and withdrawal, to poor sibling, peer, and social relationships. Studies have found evidence of much higher rates of pro-violence attitudes, rigid stereotypical gender beliefs involving male privilege, animal abuse, bullying, assault, property destruction, and substance abuse.'
- Blake Griffin Edwards, 'Alarming Effects Of Children's Exposure To Domestic Violence' (article published at Psychology Today on February 26, 2019)
As a child, Smith was almost killed during an incident with a lawnmower. In hospital, she was given a guitar and she taught herself how to play. She continued developing her guitar skills during an extended period of convalescence.
Smith first entered the country scene in 1964 with the Bill Anderson-penned song 'Once A Day' which became the first debut single by a female country artist to reach No. 1 on the country charts. Her debut album, 'Connie Smith' (1965), reached No. 1 in the Country Albums chart. Though primarily known as a singer and musician, Smith is also a songwriter. She occasionally performed her own compositions in the 1960s and 1970s. Since the 1990s, she's written a lot of songs with Marty Stuart.
"The more you know about how your brain works and what is happening physically inside your body, the more you can cope with stressful situations. I have learned this lesson countless times, especially during business trips and when meeting new people or interviewing sources. As a confirmed introvert, I have to manage the negative thoughts that come flooding in, because I'm always analyzing situations and parsing out what people say. It's a full-time job, and I'm not that gifted at it. Now, I have a better way to combat the problem.
I've been reading a lot about the chemicals in our brains that control behavior. I've written many times about dopamine and how positive experiences trigger warm feelings and thoughts. It's one reason we like to check email, hoping for an encouraging message. It's also why we check our phones so often for text messages.
Curiously, in studying this topic lately, it turns out there's a competing chemical called cortisol that is related to your hormones and stress levels. I find this so fascinating: Cortisol is a chemical in your brain that tends to flow more freely and spurs negative thoughts. Your brain loves cortisol. I've read dozens of books and articles about this, so I don't have one particular source for this information other than my own tacit knowledge and experiences, but there is a war between the wonderful pat-on-the-back of dopamine and the negative slap-on-the-wrist of cortisol.
Known as an alarm system, your brain releases the chemical cortisol as a way to warn you about an imminent danger, and, let's be honest, that's pretty helpful at times. The car in your rearview mirror is speeding up too fast; a toxic person in the office is spreading rumors about you. These experiences are common, and they trigger cortisol in your brain with a snap, which means negative thoughts come more easily than positive thoughts.
Think about how that works. When you see that car approaching too fast or you encounter that toxic person in the office, the default reaction--the one that is easier and more fluid, the one that seems oh-so-right to you--is to feel stress and anxiety, to assume the worst will happen, to unleash negativity. The problem for a lot of us is that we develop a pattern of negativity because our brains prefer that pattern. The pump is already primed.
The truth is a bit more complicated, however. That car will probably swerve away from you, and that toxic person will probably not last at your company. If the toxic person spreads rumors about you, it's easy to dwell on it because your brain is wired that way, but the reality is that most people know when someone is toxic and difficult in the office, so the rumors probably won't stick.
Years ago, a friend introduced me to the bounce principle. It's something I've been doing for many years now, and I won't get into the main reasons why it's so useful. (Let's just say it is highly personal and not related to the office environment.) Yet bouncing away negative thoughts is a brilliant strategy. It means when that easy-flowing cortisol makes you think negatively, you "bounce" the dark cloud away and think a positive thought instead.
In the office, it can happen dozens of times per day. An accusatory email? A confrontation about a sales call? An accusation about being late every day? Instead of spiraling into negativity, think of a positive angle instead. That person accusing you might be having a bad day and you could offer some encouragement instead. The sales call was a bummer for everyone involved, but you could think about what you learned and how you can do better next time. If you are always late to work, maybe you could refocus your thoughts on how it's not the end of the world, and that you have enjoyed visiting a coffee shop to help you deal with anxiety before you start the day."
- John Brandon, 'Science Says There's a Simple Reason You Keep Thinking Negative Thoughts All Day - You Can Blame It On The Cortisol' (article published at Inc. on September 16, 2019)
I've been reading a lot about the chemicals in our brains that control behavior. I've written many times about dopamine and how positive experiences trigger warm feelings and thoughts. It's one reason we like to check email, hoping for an encouraging message. It's also why we check our phones so often for text messages.
Curiously, in studying this topic lately, it turns out there's a competing chemical called cortisol that is related to your hormones and stress levels. I find this so fascinating: Cortisol is a chemical in your brain that tends to flow more freely and spurs negative thoughts. Your brain loves cortisol. I've read dozens of books and articles about this, so I don't have one particular source for this information other than my own tacit knowledge and experiences, but there is a war between the wonderful pat-on-the-back of dopamine and the negative slap-on-the-wrist of cortisol.
Known as an alarm system, your brain releases the chemical cortisol as a way to warn you about an imminent danger, and, let's be honest, that's pretty helpful at times. The car in your rearview mirror is speeding up too fast; a toxic person in the office is spreading rumors about you. These experiences are common, and they trigger cortisol in your brain with a snap, which means negative thoughts come more easily than positive thoughts.
Think about how that works. When you see that car approaching too fast or you encounter that toxic person in the office, the default reaction--the one that is easier and more fluid, the one that seems oh-so-right to you--is to feel stress and anxiety, to assume the worst will happen, to unleash negativity. The problem for a lot of us is that we develop a pattern of negativity because our brains prefer that pattern. The pump is already primed.
The truth is a bit more complicated, however. That car will probably swerve away from you, and that toxic person will probably not last at your company. If the toxic person spreads rumors about you, it's easy to dwell on it because your brain is wired that way, but the reality is that most people know when someone is toxic and difficult in the office, so the rumors probably won't stick.
Years ago, a friend introduced me to the bounce principle. It's something I've been doing for many years now, and I won't get into the main reasons why it's so useful. (Let's just say it is highly personal and not related to the office environment.) Yet bouncing away negative thoughts is a brilliant strategy. It means when that easy-flowing cortisol makes you think negatively, you "bounce" the dark cloud away and think a positive thought instead.
In the office, it can happen dozens of times per day. An accusatory email? A confrontation about a sales call? An accusation about being late every day? Instead of spiraling into negativity, think of a positive angle instead. That person accusing you might be having a bad day and you could offer some encouragement instead. The sales call was a bummer for everyone involved, but you could think about what you learned and how you can do better next time. If you are always late to work, maybe you could refocus your thoughts on how it's not the end of the world, and that you have enjoyed visiting a coffee shop to help you deal with anxiety before you start the day."
- John Brandon, 'Science Says There's a Simple Reason You Keep Thinking Negative Thoughts All Day - You Can Blame It On The Cortisol' (article published at Inc. on September 16, 2019)
'"Once a Day" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded as the debut single by American country artist Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson for her self-titled debut album. The song was released in August 1964, topping the Billboard country music chart for eight weeks between late 1964 and early 1965. It was the first debut single by a female artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. This song peaked at number one for the week of November 28, 1964, and it stayed at number one for eight consecutive weeks, a record for a female solo artist for nearly 50 years, until it was surpassed by Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" in December 2012.
In 2021, "Once a Day" was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry.'
- Wikipedia
Connie Smith performs 'Once A Day' on 'The Johnny Cash Show'
--
* Interview Excerpt : Connie Smith speaking with journalist Jeremy Roberts (article published at Medium on January 16, 2019)
J R : Do you have a special message for your fans?
C S : I just wanna extend an appreciation for them being my fans. A lot of the people that come see us have stood by me going back to my first record “Once a Day” b/w “The Threshold” [both written by “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson for RCA Victor] 55 years ago. I joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965 and was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
I love kids with all my heart. Not in comparison to my older fans, but there’s so many more young people coming to our shows that are interested in traditional country music. It’s always been that way in Europe. If they hear a record and like it, they research the artist. They know liner notes from a 50-year-old album, shows we did, marriages, just everything.
My kids every now and then will tell me, “Mama, you’ve got so many hits on YouTube.” I’m really too busy to get on social media much, and I’m not that technically minded. There’s so many more ways for folks to get to know us today, and that’s a great thing.
J R : Do you use a computer?
C S : Very little [laughs]. I know how to turn one on. When you’ve got five kids and eight grand-kids, you gotta learn a little bit. When you call, you can’t catch ’em. But if you text, they’re right there [laughs].
J R : Which country artists do you prefer?
C S : My two favorites have always been George Jones and Loretta Lynn. You can’t beat Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Kitty Wells, or Dottie West. I like anything that’s good. Of the newer artists, Lee Ann Womack is a wonderful, wonderful singer. One of the most amazing performers that we have is Keith Urban. He’s so talented on the guitar and isn’t strictly country. I discovered Chris Janson performing on the Grand Ole Opry in 2013. He knows what he’s doing, too.
J R : When was the first time that you sang in front of an audience?
C S : My very actual first memory of singing in front of somebody was when I was about five years old. We’d moved from one place to another, and my parents were moving stuff into our new home in Forest Hill, West Virginia. Some friends were giving them a hand.
I was sitting out in this big overstuffed chair in the yard that was waiting to be moved inside. I was singing away. I looked up and saw the couple standing on the steps grinning. Of course, I ran in the house and hid under the bed [laughs]. I was scared to death.
J R : Do butterflies still inhibit you?
C S : When I introduce a new song today, I can get pretty antsy sometimes as I’m still trying to learn how to do it. My biggest problem is I get to thinking and singing at the same time. If I hear a different lick that I’m not used to hearing or get to thinking about something that someone’s said, I’ll remind myself, ‘Uh-oh, I’ve gotta get back on track and be in the present.’ You can’t live in the future or past. There’s nothing like living in the moment. I really love to sing, and I love the people. Our greatest shows are when the people acknowledge that they’re enjoying it. I’m more of a fan than an entertainer.
C S : I just wanna extend an appreciation for them being my fans. A lot of the people that come see us have stood by me going back to my first record “Once a Day” b/w “The Threshold” [both written by “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson for RCA Victor] 55 years ago. I joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965 and was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
I love kids with all my heart. Not in comparison to my older fans, but there’s so many more young people coming to our shows that are interested in traditional country music. It’s always been that way in Europe. If they hear a record and like it, they research the artist. They know liner notes from a 50-year-old album, shows we did, marriages, just everything.
My kids every now and then will tell me, “Mama, you’ve got so many hits on YouTube.” I’m really too busy to get on social media much, and I’m not that technically minded. There’s so many more ways for folks to get to know us today, and that’s a great thing.
J R : Do you use a computer?
C S : Very little [laughs]. I know how to turn one on. When you’ve got five kids and eight grand-kids, you gotta learn a little bit. When you call, you can’t catch ’em. But if you text, they’re right there [laughs].
J R : Which country artists do you prefer?
C S : My two favorites have always been George Jones and Loretta Lynn. You can’t beat Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Kitty Wells, or Dottie West. I like anything that’s good. Of the newer artists, Lee Ann Womack is a wonderful, wonderful singer. One of the most amazing performers that we have is Keith Urban. He’s so talented on the guitar and isn’t strictly country. I discovered Chris Janson performing on the Grand Ole Opry in 2013. He knows what he’s doing, too.
J R : When was the first time that you sang in front of an audience?
C S : My very actual first memory of singing in front of somebody was when I was about five years old. We’d moved from one place to another, and my parents were moving stuff into our new home in Forest Hill, West Virginia. Some friends were giving them a hand.
I was sitting out in this big overstuffed chair in the yard that was waiting to be moved inside. I was singing away. I looked up and saw the couple standing on the steps grinning. Of course, I ran in the house and hid under the bed [laughs]. I was scared to death.
J R : Do butterflies still inhibit you?
C S : When I introduce a new song today, I can get pretty antsy sometimes as I’m still trying to learn how to do it. My biggest problem is I get to thinking and singing at the same time. If I hear a different lick that I’m not used to hearing or get to thinking about something that someone’s said, I’ll remind myself, ‘Uh-oh, I’ve gotta get back on track and be in the present.’ You can’t live in the future or past. There’s nothing like living in the moment. I really love to sing, and I love the people. Our greatest shows are when the people acknowledge that they’re enjoying it. I’m more of a fan than an entertainer.
Loretta Lynn & Connie Smith
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Sweetheart Of The Grand Ole Opry
'The Country Music Hall of Famer Connie Smith is also known for being Marty Stuart's wife, but long before that she was a powerhouse vocalist many felt was under-appreciated because she didn't chase fame and fortune with every fiber of her being when she could have. Roy Acuff called her the "Sweetheart of the Grand Ole Opry." Opry announcer and WSM radio host Eddie Stubbs would later call her the Rolls-Royce of country singers.'
- Taste Of Country
'Connie Smith is a singer’s singer — a veteran country music performer whose distinctive phrasing, wide range, and powerful delivery are widely admired by fellow performers ranging from Dolly Parton to Merle Haggard to Keith Richards. She has been influencing other artists since launching her own recording career in Nashville in the early 1960s. This influence, as well as her artistic accomplishments, were recognized with her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.'
- The Willie Nelson & Friends Museum
- The Willie Nelson & Friends Museum
'What's wonderful about the early stuff by Connie Smith is her unflaggingly rural voice -- she is a for-real country singer. Despite recording during the height of the Nashville Sound, and working in the midst of the most ornate countrypolitan studios, she hung onto the rough, twangy edges of her voice. Even more remarkable was the stylistic pairing of this country-girl voice with the girl-groupish perky pop arrangements from producer Bob Ferguson... the combination could have been disasterous, but instead it was heavenly.'
- Slipcue
Connie Smith playing a corpse in Stephen King's 'Maximum Overdrive' (1986) which features a killer lawnmower; actress and artist Yeardley Smith plays discombobulated country girl Connie in the movie
'The Hinges On The Door'
'House Divided'
'Holdin' On'
'Five Fingers To Spare'
'The Hurtin's All Over'
'I'm Little But I'm Loud'
'Walk Through This World With Me'
'Little Things'
Barbara Mandrell, Susan Raye, Jeanne Pruett, Dottie West, Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith, Loretta Lynn & Dolly Parton
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