Rutgers University. Photo: Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Queens,_New_Brunswick,_NJ_-_looking_north,_2014.jpg)
Rutgers University. Photo: Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Queens,_New_Brunswick,_NJ_-_looking_north,_2014.jpg)
Maureen O'Connor was born on September 24, 1948, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to John Vincent O'C. and Etta Mary O'C. Her early life was rooted in New Jersey before her professional career connected her with the American recording and entertainment industries.
She married Stephen Priest on May 28, 1981. They have two daughters, Danielle C. Priest and Margaret E. Priest.
O'Connor received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Rider College in 1971 and pursued postgraduate study at Rutgers University from 1971 to 1973. Rider, founded in 1865 as a business-oriented institution in New Jersey, developed a long-standing emphasis on professional and practical education. Rutgers University, the public research university of New Jersey, provided the setting for her subsequent postgraduate education.
Her education in business was followed by a career in publicity and artist relations, fields that connect organizational management, communications, and the promotion of creative work.
O'Connor began her career in the recording industry at Capitol Records, working in the label's East Coast press and artist-relations operation in New York. Capitol Records, founded in 1942, became one of the major American record labels and was known for its work with prominent recording artists. By 1977 she was identified as the label's East Coast press coordinator, and in 1981 she was promoted to senior manager of East Coast press and artist relations. She later served as East Coast director of media and artist relations before relocating to Capitol's Hollywood headquarters as West Coast director of media and artist relations.
In 1987 O'Connor joined Solters/Roskin/Friedman, a Los Angeles entertainment public-relations firm, initially as an account executive. Her work involved publicity for motion-picture, television, music, personality, and corporate clients. She was subsequently promoted to senior vice president of the firm's music division, a position reported in 1990.
O'Connor joined Rogers & Cowan in 1992 as senior vice president of entertainment and later served as executive vice president. Rogers & Cowan was an established entertainment-public-relations agency whose services included publicity and marketing for music, film, television, personalities, and corporate clients. In the agency's later entertainment structure, O'Connor led its music department and continued to work with artists and music-industry clients. She was also associated with Maureen O'Connor PR LLC in Los Angeles.
O'Connor developed a long career in music and entertainment publicity, advancing from Capitol Records' East Coast press and artist-relations operation to senior executive positions at Solters/Roskin/Friedman and Rogers & Cowan.
As an entertainment public-relations executive, O'Connor worked across music, motion-picture, television, personality, and corporate publicity and later led the music department at Rogers & Cowan.
O'Connor's professional affiliations included the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Publicists Guild, and the Country Music Association. These organizations connect recording professionals, publicity specialists, and participants in the country-music industry. She was also associated with the La Cañada High School Parent-Teachers Association and activities connected with Hollywood's RockWalk.
O'Connor is the daughter of John Vincent O'C. and Etta Mary O'C. She married Stephen Priest in 1981 and has two daughters, Danielle C. Priest and Margaret E. Priest. Priest was a musician who performed with the Sweet and pursued a later solo career.
