Known for saucy lyrics and high caliber performances, Connie was an entertainer out of the gate. Serious sorties began in high school when her band Luke performed throughout the mid-Atlantic—from Philly to Virginia Beach, to the Princeton Club and William & Mary College. She trekked west in the late 70’s, crooning with the Bill Brown Band in Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Back in Utah, she formed another hot tamale group, Connie and the Rhythm Method with David Jette. In demand, they toured Boise, Moab, Missoula, and the Hollywood Palace in Los Angeles.

In 1986 Connie Brannock won the Stroh’s Superstar Talent Search and was signed by MCA Records. Caleb Ruffin, with Sounds of Success (S.O.S.), recruited her to move to Atlanta and work on a single.

Instead, she up and joined the service just before her 35th birthday.

Connie served admirably for 21 years and deployed twice in…