Norman Connors

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" 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. featuring Henderson in 1976, while "Valentine Love", his first chart success, made No. 10 R&B in 1975,

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", 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 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.

Discography Studio albums Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications Record label US USR&B 1972 Dance of Magic — — — — — Cobblestone 1973 Dark of Light — — — — — 1974 Love from the Sun — — — — — Buddah Slewfoot — 51 — — — 1975 Saturday Night Special 150 35 — — — 1976 You Are My Starship 39 5 — — — RIAA: Gold 1977 Romantic Journey 94 24 — — — 1978 This Is Your Life 68 20 — — 92 Arista 1979 Invitation 137 34 — — — 1980 Take It to the Limit 145 30 — — — 1981 Mr. C 197 51 — — — 1988 Passion — 39 — — — Capitol 1993 Remember Who You Are — 70 — 19 — MoJazz 1996 Easy Living — — 47 — — 2000 Eternity — — 18 13 — The Right Stuff 2009 Star Power — — 13 6 — Shanachie "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums Year Album Peak chart positions Record label US USR&B 1978 The Best of Norman Connors & Friends 175 44 Buddah 1997 The Encore Collection — — BMG 1998 The Very Best of Norman Connors — — Camden 1999 Melancholy Fire - The Best of Norman Connors — — Razor & Tie 2001 The Best of Norman Connors — — Buddha 2017 Valentine Love - The Buddah/Arista Anthology — — SoulMusic "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album US USR&B USDan CAN 1975 "Valentine Love" (featuring Michael Henderson & Jean Carn) 97 10 — — Saturday Night Special 1976 "We Both Need Each Other" (featuring Michael Henderson & Phyllis Hyman) 101 23 — — You Are My Starship "You Are My Starship" (featuring Michael Henderson) 27 4 — 70 1977 "Betcha by Golly, Wow" (featuring Phyllis Hyman) 102 29 — — "Once I've Been There" (featuring Phillip Mitchell) — 16 30 — Romantic Journey "For You Everything" (featuring Phillip Mitchell & Eleanore Mills) — — — — 1978 "This Is Your Life" (featuring Eleanore Mills) — 31 — — This Is Your Life "Wouldn't You Like to See" (featuring Eleanore Mills) — — — — 1979 "Your Love" (featuring Al Johnson) — — — — Invitation "Handle Me Gently" (featuring Miss Adaritha) — — — — 1980 "Take It to the Limit" (featuring Miss Adaritha) — 28 — — Take It to the Limit "Melancholy Fire" (featuring Glenn Jones) — 20 — — 1981 "She's Gone" (featuring Beau Williams) — 86 — — Mr. C 1988 "I Am Your Melody" (featuring Spencer Harrison) — 26 — — Passion "You're My One and Only Love" (featuring Gabrielle Goodman) — — — — "Lovin' You" (featuring Gabrielle Goodman) — — — — 1993 "Remember Who You Are" (featuring Phyllis Hyman) — 86 — — Remember Who You Are 2000 "Cobra" (featuring Norman Brown) — — — — Eternity "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" (featuring Lisa Fischer) — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

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)