Connie Converse - A Life More Remarkable Than Her Disappearance

In the 1950's, an extraordinary young woman lived, worked and performed her original music in New York City. Frustrated by a lack of commercial success, she left Manhattan, and in 1974, disappeared entirely, never to be heard from again. In the 2000's, her astounding music was re-discovered and her legacy re-written.
The story of Elizabeth Eaton Converse, known professionally as Connie Converse, is so bewitchingly intriguing that musician and writer Howard Fishman devoted 13 years of his life researching and chronicling it. The product of this nearly decade-and-a-half labor of love is his new book: To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse.
Howard joins us to highlight the deep genius of Connie Converse… possibly our first recorded singer/songwriter and additionally, an artist, writer, classical composer, scholar and activist.
What were the factors that inspired her brilliance and muffled her notoriety within her own time? Howard poured through Connie’s creations, files, journals, and letters. He spoke to those who knew her best and he carefully studied, analyzed and theorized about Connie’s work, her vision and her trajectory.
Upon first hearing Connie’s voice, Howard found her to be both unique and familiar. He needed to learn more.
Howard’s research brought him to small New England towns, suburban Michigan, Greenwich Village, Prague and beyond to better understand Connie’s path and to piece together the enigmatic life and ultimate mysterious fate of a woman who was so far ahead of her time, we are only now coming to hear and understand her.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Air on Prime and Comedy Central's Drunk History on Hulu, Prime and many streaming platforms.
Path Points of Interest:
Howard Fishman
www.howardfish...
Howard Fishman on Facebook
/ howardfishmanmusic
Howard Fishman on Twitter
/ howardfishman
To Anyone Who Ever Asks by Howard Fishman
www.amazon.com...
Connie Converse on Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.o...
Connie Converse Spotify Playlist
open.spotify.c...
Connie Converse Article in Rolling Stone by Howard Fishman
www.rollingsto...
Connie Converse article in New York Times by Howard Fishman
www.nytimes.co...
Drunk History
www.cc.com/sho...
www.hulu.com/s...
Air - Prime
www.amazon.com...
www.imdb.com/t...

[@martlet530]

Howard's book is terrific. I agree with the advice given here - listen to it as an audio book to hear the music sung in her voice. Great interview. Many thanks!

[@mediapathpodcast]

Thank you so very much.

[@tonys9102]

Great interview. I look forward to the book. One slight correction to something Mr. Fishman said: Some folkies of the '50s did, in fact, compose their own songs, notably Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Lead Belly. Odetta also wrote lyrics. Where Connie Converse differed is that her songs were about personal subjects, not political ones. This puts her over a decade ahead of such artists as Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro. That said, Converse's chord progressions and lyrics are more sophisticated than most of what you find in folk and musically also may have also been influenced by legendary songwriters like Porter and Gershwin. In all, a unique talent and hopefully more people will discover her music.

[@mediapathpodcast]

Absolutely. You make some great points.