Music always a part of their connection and lives
Eleyet Mcconnell releases first album.
Music has been a part of Angie Mcconnell’s and her husband Chris’ lives for as far back as they can remember. Angie grew up in South Charleston with a father who played the guitar and sang and a mother who sang and played the piano. Chris was athletic in school, but he got into music at age 10 through his church.
“I started singing in church when I was 4 years old,” Angie said. “I had a great childhood, and my family was close.”
After graduating from Southeastern High School in 1989, Angie went to college at Eastern Kentucky University and started off majoring in finance. But she moved back home after her first year away.
“I went to Clark State University for nursing,” Angie said. “I now have my master’s degree and have been working in nursing for 30 years.”
Meanwhile Chris went to high school in Mechanicsburg where he said, “everyone knows each other.”
“At my Pentecostal church,
the preacher’s son was a drummer; and I found myself in a band after they asked me if I knew how to play bass guitar,” Chris said. “After you’re in a band, it gets into your blood.”
In 1979, Chris joined Red Hash, a band that was featured on WTUE radio’s Homegrown album in 1982. In 1986, he joined another band that ended up on a regional star search and cut a record.
“I got my license in broadcasting and did some radio,” Chris said.
But music wasn’t entirely paying the bills. He went to Sinclair Community College, Wright State University, Urbana and Wittenberg, earning a degree and several certifications. Chris decided to get a full-time job working in engineering at a test laboratory.
“I found myself with $7,000
of band equipment and a loan,” Chris said.
Chris and Angie met in 2013 after ending up in the same cover band. They recognized their musical chemistry almost immediately. Before long, they began writing songs together.
“I never really thought much about writing before I met Chris,” Angie said. “He tapped into something I didn’t even know existed and now it just flows.”
Mcconnell C8