McConnell at­tend­ed the Webb Prep­ar­a­to­ry School in Bell Buc­kle, Ten­nes­see, and Wil­liam Jew­ell Coll­ege in Lib­er­ty, Mis­souri. He worked with his fa­ther (for­mer pas­tor of the First Bap­tist Church in Ok­la­ho­ma Ci­ty, Ok­la­ho­ma) in evan­gel­ism meet­ings for some time, play­ing the pi­a­no, sing­ing, and di­rect­ing the choir. In 1922 he be­gan broad­cast­ing his Hymn Time prog­ram on the ra­dio, and was known as Smil­in’ Ed Mc­Con­nell.

• Reynolds, p. 372

1. Cross of My Heart © 1940
2. Hallelujah! Praise His Name
3. Whosoever Mean­eth Me

1. Jesus Is a Friend of Mine
2. Leaving Smiles