Connie Haines: A Remembrance

Frank Sinatra and Connie Haines on The Boardwalk, Circa early-1940s

Today, Gregg Dispenza has contributed a wonderful remembrance of Connie Haines, one of Sinatra’s early duet partners and a very classy lady. I had the privilege of meeting Connie in-person and had many extended telephone conversations with her over the years. She was an utter delight and a fountain of stories from ‘the old days.’ A few years back she penned her autobiography, Snootie Little Cutie: The Connie Haines Story. – Rick

The first great Sinatra Duet Partner was the snootie little cutie herself, Connie Haines. The Songstress from Savannah was also part of what Frank Sinatra referred to as “the General Motors of the band business”. With an aggregation that included the likes of Buddy Rich, Ziggy Elman, Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers, Sinatra and Haines, all led by the Sentimental Gentleman, Tommy Dorsey, with arrangements by Sy Oliver, who could argue ?

Frank Sinatra and Connie Haines both had come from Harry James’ band and later went on to have successful solo careers. Connie’s included being the featured singing relief on radio’s “The Abbott & Costello Show” in the 40′s, as well as having successful recordings of Gospel songs in the 50′s, as part of a quartet featuring Rhonda Fleming, Beryl Davis and Jane Russell. They all sang what became their biggest hit, “Do Lord”, on Abbott & Costello’s first television appearance as hosts of “The Colgate Comedy Hour”.

Because of how much acclaim the Dorsey Band received in its heyday, it’s interesting to note that the soon-to-be “Voice” and Connie only recorded four duets together: “Oh, Look At Me Now”, “Let’s Get Away From It All”, “You Might Have Belonged To Another” (all in 1941), and of course, “Snootie Little Cutie” in 1942.

Fast forward fifty-plus years and I found myself sitting at a table with a group of fellow fans and Connie Haines herself. The discussion ended up becoming more of a collective impromptu interview and audience with Miss Haines, full of humor, story and even a few bars of song. Throughout the evening, she was absolutely nothing but gracious, charming and adorable but always with a slight dash of stature if necessary.

When it became my turn to speak, I immediately flashed back to something that had not yet been brought up: the “Sinatra 75″ television retrospective. This CBS special had included some clips of performances from the Society Of Singers ‘Ella Award’ lifetime achievement dinner that Sinatra was honored at in 1990.

Realizing this was my big scene, it went as follows…

Gregg: “Connie, I just have to tell you how much I loved your singing ‘Snootie Little Cutie’ with The Manhattan Transfer at the Sinatra tribute.”

Connie (in her most polished Southern charm): “Gregg, I didn’t sing with The Manhattan Transfer. THEY sang with me!”