Tommy Conners was born and raised in Houston, Texas. His musical career pretty much started at age 19 when he quit college and played guitar in the local bars. It was also about this time that he started writing songs. In 1987, he made the next big step in his career and moved to Nashville. In 1999, he was signed by Peer Music. Tommy is a very successful song writer and has had cuts by, Patty Loveless, Willie Nelson, John Michael Montgomery, Travis Tritt, Trace Atkins, Danni Leigh, Billy Gilman, Clay Blaker, Chris LeDoux and Ty Herndon.

Essentially Patty: First of all, we would like to thank you for participating in our interview series.

Tommy Conners: The pleasure is all mine. I appreciate the opportunity.

EP:: Before we start the interview proper, we understand that there is a little bit of a story behind "Sorrowful Angels." We understand that Patty had it on hold for a while. Could you fill us in on that a little bit?

TC:: Well, it wasn’t actually on hold as such. Patty and Emory cut “Sorrowful Angels,” along with another song that Leslie Satcher and I wrote, called “The Voice” for another album and neither made the project. So I was pleasantly surprised when I heard that this was cut and on the album. It was really cool the way it happened. I was writing with Stuart Harris when I got a call from my wife telling me that it was on the album. I had no idea that an album was in the works, much less that Leslie and I had one on the album!

EP:: Tommy, are you a full time songwriter or is there a dreaded "Day Job" involved here?

TC:: No, I write full time. I treat it just like I would any other job. I get up every morning and I drop the kids off at school and go to work.

EP:: Many songwriters are accomplished musicians along with their song writing talent. Do you fall in this category?

TC:: I don’t know how accomplished I am but yeah, I play guitar. That’s how I made my living for many years before I moved to Nashville; playing and singing in bars and dance halls back home in Texas

EP:: What are the top two or three favorite songs that you grew up loving or enjoying?

TC::That’s tough to answer. I listened to a lot of different kinds of music when I was growing up. But if I had to pick one or two, I’d had have to say “San Francisco Mabel Joy” and Willie Nelson’s “I Never Cared For You.” I’ve listened to both of those songs since I was a teenager and they never fail to move me to this day.

EP:: In general, who has influenced your writing the most?

TC: Hands down, Mickey Newbury. I met Mickey at a cousins house one night in Houston when I was twelve years old. I listened to him sing for a couple hours. He had a hit record by Don Gibson at the time. A song called “Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings.” He sang “Poison Red Berries” and “Mabel Joy" that night also. It moved me to the point there was never any doubt in my mind as to what I wanted to do with my life after that.

EP: Was there any specific influence that can be identified for "Sorrowful Angels?" Ie: a music style, did the topic arise from real situation, passion for genre, or some other inspiration?

TC: Leslie had that first line going in and the story just evolved from there. The inspiration for the title came from a grave marker of a sad angel with its head bowed into folded wings.

EP: If you had the chance to write with one or two others that you haven't written with yet, who would you choose?

TC: Bill Anderson. I’ve been a fan of his writing for years.

EP: As sort of a follow-up on this area, if you had the chance to choose an artist to write a song for who would it be?

TC: Ray Charles or Ralph Stanley. They may be the two most soulful men on the planet.

EP: I imagine you have a catalog of songs, so if you could select a song from it and the artist to perform it, what song and who would you chose to perform it?

TC: I have a song that was written about fifteen years ago called “All Gods Children” that I’ve always dreamed of hearing Ray Charles performing. If your gonna dream, dream big.

EP: Is there a vocal style or instrument that you prefer to incorporate when you begin developing a song? Why?

TC: I play guitar so that’s really the only instrument that I work with. I just start playing and singing and go where ever it takes me. Sometimes I get lucky.

EP: What's your favorite song you've written so far and why?

TC: That's a tough question to answer because it changes so often. I have another song that Leslie and I wrote called "Out Of Tennessee" that I have always loved. It moves me on a very personal level. My current favorites are a song that I specifically wrote as a movie pitch called "A Brighter Day." It's a really twisted song about a serial killer who is hearing the voice of God. That was a fun departure from what I normally write. You won't be hearing that one on country radio any time soon. There's another thing called "Still Ain't Out Of Arkansas" that Rick Carnes and I just finished that I'm real proud of, and there is a song on Travis Tritt's latest album that I wrote with Monte Warden (from Austin) called "I Wish I Was Wrong."

EP: We have heard from other song writers that they have written complete songs in as little as 10 minutes or as long as a year or so. What's the shortest time it’s taken you to complete a song? Conversely, what’s the longest it's taken you to finish one?

TC: I think D. Vincent Williams and I wrote a song called “That’s Alright” in about twenty or thirty minutes one day. That kind of thing is extremely rare with me. I’ve had songs that I’ve nursed along for a couple years before I finished them. I have a series of songs that I’m going to eventually finish for a concept record that I want to do that I started twenty years ago. I’m writing bits and pieces as I go along. Mickey Newbury has always encouraged me to take my time with this particular project and so far, I’ve taken his advice to heart.

EP: What would your elementary, junior high or high school teachers say if they saw your name among the credits of a highly successful song?

TC: Probably, “Look!!! He never did get a job.”

EP: If you could gather a round table of song writers, living or dead to learn from and/or write with, who would they be and why?

TC: Steven Foster and Hogie Carmichael. Those melodies and lyrics are just timeless.

EP: The other side of that question is, if you were asked by an up and coming (or wishful) song writer, do you have a personal or a work philosophy that you'd share with him or her?

TC: I guess my advice would be to get up every morning, put one foot in front of the other, and go to work. Write as much as you can. Study and listen to those who have gone before you. You can learn a lot by keeping your mouth shut.

EP: Any advice for those who will follow their dreams into the writing business that will help them keep their feet planted while they dream big?

TC: Again, write as much as you can.

EP: Hypothetically speaking, who would be among those you would thank if (when) you walk onstage at an awards show after being recognized for your writing?

TC: Ha! I think probably my wife, my parents, and my publisher, not necessarily in that order.

EP: Naturally, being a site dedicated to Patty, this next question is sort of a natural. What is your favorite Patty Loveless song? We will understand if it is "Sorrowful Angels." :-)

TC: I have to admit that ”Sorrowful Angels” is a personal favorite for the obvious reasons, but I’d have to say “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye” is one of my all time favorite Patty songs. It’s one of those special songs that everyone can relate to on some level. The first time I ever heard that song was at a record label listening party. Half of the room was moved to tears and the other half was choking them back. Emory and Patty really nailed that one. Karen Taylor Good and Burton Collins the writers are both dear friends of mine. It’s really nice to see friends knock one out of the park.

EP: As a wrap up, we sort of open up the floor to folks who participate in our interviews as a forum for any subject or topic they would like to talk about. No limits, beyond the 50 megabyte size of our directory. The floor is yours!

TC: I’ll just say that it is a great honor to be on this record. I’m really thankful to Patty and Emory for including this song. I’m especially grateful to have this cut with Leslie Satcher. Leslie’s a great writer and artist and an old friend, which makes the experience all the sweeter.

EP: Once again, we would like to thank you for taking time from what is bound to be a very busy schedule and doing the interview. We at Essentially Patty Unlimited wish you all the success you could ask for.

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