Downtown

Essie Country Reflections
February 3, 2026

Downtown 
by Connie Smith

Released 01/01/1967

Intro by Gene Johns


In 1964, British singer Petula Clark released “Downtown,” which became an international hit and landed at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1965. She became the first UK female artist to have a number one hit on the US Billboard charts. 

 

“Downtown” earned a Grammy Award for Best Rock & Roll Recording of 1965. I personally don’t classify “Downtown” as Rock & Roll; it was Pop for that time, not Rock & Roll. 

 

That isn’t the only time the Grammy Awards has gotten something wrong. Should I mention that the Grammys awarded Beyoncé Best Country Album of 2025? That was outrageous! Well, that story is for another time.

 

Wikipedia reported, “Clark’s original version has been covered by numerous artists, including Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra, The B-52s, and Emma Bunton.” It failed to mention one other artist, country music Hall of Fame member, and one of my all-time favorite country artists, Connie Smith.

 

Who is Connie Smith? Connie Smith made history in country music as the first female country artist to have a debut single reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Her 1964 debut single, “Once a Day,” spent eight consecutive weeks at number one, a record at the time for a female country artist. That record stood for nearly 50 years.


Why am I mentioning Connie Smith? As a young teenager, it wasn’t so much her songs that captured my attention; it was her voice. Okay, if I’m being honest, it didn’t hurt that she was an attractive blonde. But her voice truly hooked me, and she became my favorite country artist. Her voice is what I want to share and feature with Essie Country Reflections subscribers.

 

In March 2009, I had the awesome experience of meeting my “American Idol,” Connie Smith, at the annual Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida. After watching her perform onstage, I met her and shook her hand. When I spoke with her briefly, I told her I had 28 of her albums (I really did). She then gave me a kiss on the cheek. A moment I will never forget.

 

I chose to share with you Connie’s version of “Downtown” because I thought it would be a great song to showcase her voice. It’s a song that will have wider appeal among Essie Country Reflections’ audience than her traditional country songs. 

 

I’m not embarrassed to share her classic country songs from the 60s, and I will in the future, but I know a good part of our audience would be less open to hearing those songs and more receptive to Connie’s entertaining cover of “Downtown.” 


What better way to share with you the unmistakable and remarkable voice of a Country Music Hall of Fame member and a favorite of mine, performing a history-making pop and Grammy Hall of Fame song (inducted in 2003), “Downtown.” It is my honor, privilege, and delight to present to you Connie Smith’s impeccable cover of:


                        Downtown

                   https://youtu.be/FmOYSm7xXBk?si=tg_La3azmiRXO3rD






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