# Conrad Reeder
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{{Short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Conrad Reeder
| image = ConGoldMic.jpg
| caption = Reeder in 1988
| image_size =
| birth_name = Connie S. Reeder
| alias = Fugitive Blonde
| birth_date = 1954
| birth_place = [Columbus, Ohio](/source/Columbus%2C_Ohio), US
| spouse = [Roger Nichols](/source/Roger_Nichols_(sound_engineer))
| genre = [Rock](/source/Rock_music), [folk](/source/Folk_music), [pop](/source/Pop_music), others
| occupation = Recording artist, singer, songwriter, playwright, professor
| years_active = 1974–present
| past_member_of = Big Blonde, Fugitive Blonde, [John Denver](/source/John_Denver)'s band
}}
'''Conrad Reeder''' (born 1954),[{{Cite web| url= https://conradreeder.com/bio/|title=Bio|website= conradreeder.com| date=October 12, 2018 | publisher= Conrad Reeder |access-date=October 8, 2021}}]
Reeder graduated in 2008 from the [University of New Orleans](/source/University_of_New_Orleans) with a [Master of Fine Arts](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) degree[{{Cite web| url= http://lowres.uno.edu/alumni.cfm|title=The Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing Alumni Page |website= lowres.uno.edu |publisher= [University of New Orleans](/source/University_of_New_Orleans) |access-date=January 31, 2012}}] in Creative Writing/[Playwrighting](/source/Playwrighting). Her thesis, ''Jack is Dead'', was inspired by her friend and fellow musician [John Denver](/source/John_Denver)'s death by plane crash.{{cn|date= May 2026}} Reeder was a doctoral candidate at [Pacifica Graduate Institute](/source/Pacifica_Graduate_Institute) in [Santa Barbara, California](/source/Santa_Barbara%2C_California).{{cn|date= May 2026}}
==Career==
===Music===
thumb|right|With husband Roger Nichols in the studio in 1988
[[Image:Conrad Reeder & Paul Rothchild.jpg|thumb|right|With [Paul A. Rothchild](/source/Paul_A._Rothchild) in 1994]]
[[Image:Cimcie, Connie & Ashlee Nichols Grammys 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Reeder with daughters Cimcie and Ashlee Nichols at the [54th Grammy Awards](/source/54th_Grammy_Awards) in 2012 to accept her husband's Special Merit/[Technical Grammy Award](/source/Technical_Grammy_Award).]]
Reeder sang for fifteen years with [John Denver](/source/John_Denver) in live concerts, on television and recordings including ''[Dreamland Express](/source/Dreamland_Express)'' and ''[It's About Time](/source/It's_About_Time_(John_Denver_album))''. She sang live duets with Denver as well as performing as a [background singer](/source/background_singer). She co-wrote the Denver song "Thanks to You."[{{Cite web |url= https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/18420449|title= Thanks to You Lyrics |website=Lyrics.com|access-date=September 24, 2021}}] She remained in contact with Denver's mother after he died in a plane crash.[{{Cite web| url= http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/article_f7865bd5-1825-52e1-957e-2e629f392761.html|title=Services set for Erma Deutschendorf, 87, mother of John Denver| website= aurorasentinel.com|access-date=January 31, 2012}}]
Reeder is credited as a writer or co-writer on all tracks of her husband's release, ''The Roger Nichols Project''.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/harmonic-ocean-r205516|title=The Roger Nichols Project|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|access-date=January 31, 2012}}] She was signed to [Motown](/source/Motown)'s Morocco Records in the early 1980s, but the label folded before her first album was released. Reeder led her own band Fugitive Blonde in [Nashville, Tennessee](/source/Nashville%2C_Tennessee) during the 1980s and 1990s; an earlier Los Angeles version was Big Blonde.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=digital-music&field-keywords=wildlife+Fugitive+Blonde&rh=n:163856011,k:wildlife+Fugitive+Blonde&ajr=0|title= wildlife Fugitive Blonde| website=Amazon.com|access-date=October 8, 2021}}]
=== Writing ===
Reeder was a featured columnist and article writer at ''EQ'' magazine[{{Cite web| url= https://conradreeder.com/2010/02/06/tony_brown_eq_cover/|title=Nashville State of Mind: The Demo Queen takes on the King of the Nashville Music Scene straight from Music Row| website= conradreeder.com | publisher= Conrad Reeder |date=February 6, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2021}}] in the 1990s, writing as C. Reeder. The column, ''The Demo Queen'', often lampooned the trials involved in the process of recording [demo tape](/source/demo_tape)s in quest of a [record deal](/source/record_deal).[{{Cite web| url= https://conradreeder.com/2000/09/23/madame-meets-midem/|title=Madam Meets Midem| website= conradreeder.com | publisher= Conrad Reeder |date=September 24, 2000 |access-date=September 24, 2021}}] Her writing has sometimes taken a serious view of life and love,[{{Cite web |url= http://www.conradreeder.com/cpage4.htm |title= Sunshine on My Shoulder | publisher= Conrad Reeder | website= conradreeder.com |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120729150750/http://www.conradreeder.com/cpage4.htm|archive-date=July 29, 2012| url-status= dead |access-date=January 31, 2012}}] including in her book, ''Memory Clouds: Good Grief Bad Grief''.[{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Memory-Clouds-Good-Grief-Bad-ebook/dp/B017YB4L34|title = Memory Clouds: Good Grief Bad Grief|via=Amazon.com|date = November 12, 2015| publisher= Gopita Press}}] An e-book she wrote is ''On the Beach: Poems and Vignettes''.[{{cite web| url= https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Poems-Vignettes-ebook/dp/B00DE8NVW4/ | title= On the Beach: Poems and Vignettes (Kindle edition) |website= Amazon.com| date= | access-date= 2026-05-31}}]
Her plays include ''Graffiti'' and the co-written ''Venus The Love Show''. Her plays have been staged in Florida and California.[{{cite web |url= http://www.conradreeder.com/?p=1084 |title=DG presents 'Graffiti' in North Hollywood | Connie Reeder Nichols | publisher= Conrad Reeder | website= conradreeder.com | access-date=2013-11-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20131110080858/http://www.conradreeder.com/?p=1084 |archive-date=November 10, 2013}}]
===Instructor===
She has taught as an [adjunct professor](/source/adjunct_professor) at [Palm Beach State College](/source/Palm_Beach_State_College) in [Florida](/source/Florida).[{{cite news| url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/26/the-most-important-cassette-on-the-planet-how-steely-dan-fans-uncovered-their-holy-grail| work= The Guardian| title= ‘The most important cassette on the planet’: how Steely Dan fans uncovered their holy grail | first= Joe |last= Koning| date= 2023-06-25| access-date= 2026-05-31}}] Their daughters are Cimcie and Ashlee Nichols.