Introduction

Biography

McConnell at­tend­ed the Webb Prep­ar­a­to­ry School, Bell Buc­kle, Ten­nes­see, and Will­iam Jew­ell Col­lege, 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.