It took her some time before she settled on singing, and especially jazz. Conklin played the piano and clarinet in grade school, and in college she was a disc jockey at WRVR. After graduating from Connecticut College in 1979 with a degree in theater, she moved to New York City to attend a theater school. She was primarily an actress while in her twenties, running a nonprofit theater company for six years. Although she sang now and then, especially in musical theater, it was not until 1988, when she left the theater company, that she became serious about singing. Conklin developed her skills, started singing regularly with Art Lillard's 15-piece Heavenly Band in 1994, worked in New York clubs, and has thus far recorded three CDs for Mock Turtle and Rhombus. She has made her greatest stir to date with her 2007 recording of Matt Dennis songs, Blues for Breakfast. ~ Scott Yanow