Canary Conn (born 1949) is an American entertainer and author. Her memoir, ''Canary: The Story of a Transsexual'', was one of the early notable memoirs of a self-described

Transsexual Transsexual people experience a gender identity that is inconsistent with their assigned sex, and desire to permanently transition to the sex or gender with which they identify, usually seeking medical assistance (including sex reassignmen ...

,Hausman, Bernice L. (1995). ''Changing Sex: Transsexualism, Technology, and the Idea of Gender.''

Duke University Press Duke University Press is an academic publisher and university press affiliated with Duke University. It was founded in 1921 by William T. Laprade as The Trinity College Press. (Duke University was initially called Trinity College). In 1926 D ...

, and she made numerous talk show appearances to discuss her transition in the 1970s.

Life and career

Conn grew up in

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

, Texas and was married with a baby by 18.

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...

(July 17, 1977)
Sex change called 'social suicide.'
''

Tri City Herald The ''Tri-City Herald'' is a daily newspaper based in Kennewick, Washington, United States. Owned by The McClatchy Company, the newspaper serves southeastern Washington state, including the three cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland (which ...

'' In 1968, Conn was the entrant sponsored by

KONO-FM KONO-FM (101.1 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Helotes, Texas and it serves Greater San Antonio. It is owned by Cox Radio and airs a classic hits radio format. Its studios are located in Northwest San Antonio near the South Texas ...

in a national talent show hosted by

Ed Ames Ed Ames (born Edmund Dantes Urick; July 9, 1927), who also recorded as Eddie Ames, is an American singer and actor. He is known for playing Mingo in the television series ''Daniel Boone'', and for his pop hits of the mid-to-late 1960s including " ...

and Aretha Franklin titled ''Super Teen: The Sounds of '68''. After winning best male vocalist, Conn was given a recording contract with Capitol Records as the prize.Staff report (August 20, 1968)
Aretha To Help Launch Stars.
'' Hartford Courant'' In 1969, under the name Danny O'Connor, Conn recorded four songs for Capitol, including "Imaginary Worlds" and "Ridin' Red Hood." In March of that year, Capitol released a 45 with the

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

"Can You Imagine" and "If I Am Not Free." Following a suicide attempt, Conn made her transition at age 23. She found it difficult to get subsequent work, and she only had one contact with her son in 1972 following the breakup of her marriage.Liddick, Betty (September 30, 1976)
Transsexuals: Fitting Physique to Psyche.
''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...

'' In 1974, she published ''Canary: The Story of a Transsexual''.Prosser, Jay (1998). ''Second Skins: The Body Narratives of Transsexuality.''

Columbia University Press Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. It is currently directed by Jennifer Crewe (2014–present) and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fiel ...

, Shevy, Sandra (October 13, 1974)
'Story of a Transsexual'--The Feminine Mistake.
''

'' A paperback version of her memoir was released following an appearance on ''

The Merv Griffin Show ''The Merv Griffin Show'' is an American television talk show starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 10, 1965 to July 4, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 ...

''.Liddick, Betty (July 2, 1978)
Transsexuals and a New Life.
''

''Liddick, Betty (July 2, 1978)
Transsexual's Texas Homecoming.
''

'' Conn also appeared on '' Tomorrow'' and ''

The Phil Donahue Show ''The Phil Donahue Show'', also known as ''Donahue'', is an American television talk show hosted by Phil Donahue that ran for 26 years on national television. Its run was preceded by three years of local broadcast on WLWD in Dayton, Ohio, and i ...

''. She later discontinued her media appearances and founded a small business.

Publications

*O'Connor, Danny (1969). If I Am Not Free / Can You Imagine. 7-inch 45, Capitol 2441 *Conn, Canary (1974). ''Canary: The Story of a Transsexual''. Nash,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conn, Canary Living people 1949 births Transgender musicians Transgender writers Transgender women American non-fiction writers LGBT people from Texas American LGBT writers LGBT memoirists American women memoirists American memoirists Writers from San Antonio 21st-century LGBT people