Beverley Sisters
Encyclopedia
The Beverley Sisters are a British
female vocal trio
, popular during the 1950s and 1960s. The trio consists of eldest sister Joy (born Joycelyn V. Chinery, Bethnal Green London, 1924) and the twins, Teddie (born Hazel P Chinery, 1927, Bethnal Green, London)
and Babs (born Babette P Chinery, 1927, Bethnal Green, London). Their style is loosely modelled on that of the Andrews Sisters.
", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
" and "Little Drummer Boy
". They are the daughters of George Arthur Chinery and Victoria Alice Miles (married 1916), who were known as the Music Hall
act 'Coram & Miles'.
They were the first UK female group to break into the US
Top 10. They are widely credited as having been the highest paid female entertainers in the UK
for more than 20 years. The Sisters entered the Guinness Book Of Records in 2002, as the world's longest surviving vocal group without a change in the line up. In the 2006 New Year Honours list
they were each awarded an MBE
.
Joy married Billy Wright on 28 July 1958 at Poole
Register Office; Wright was the first footballer to play for England
100 times.
As of 2009, the Beverley Sisters continue to appear in concerts and matinee shows in the United Kingdom
, and have forged strong links with the Burma Star association
, and McCarthy & Stone properties where the Sisters are invited to open each new housing development designed specifically for retired people.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
female vocal trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, popular during the 1950s and 1960s. The trio consists of eldest sister Joy (born Joycelyn V. Chinery, Bethnal Green London, 1924) and the twins, Teddie (born Hazel P Chinery, 1927, Bethnal Green, London)
and Babs (born Babette P Chinery, 1927, Bethnal Green, London). Their style is loosely modelled on that of the Andrews Sisters.
Career
Their notable successes have included "SistersSisters (song)
"Sisters" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1954.The song appeared in the movie White Christmas where it was sung by Rosemary Clooney and Trudy Stevens ....
", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is an American Christmas song with music and lyrics by Tommie Connor.The original recording by Jimmy Boyd on 15 July 1952 when he was 13 reached #1 on the Billboard charts in December 1952, and on the Cash Box chart at the beginning of the following year...
" and "Little Drummer Boy
Little Drummer Boy
"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry...
". They are the daughters of George Arthur Chinery and Victoria Alice Miles (married 1916), who were known as the Music Hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
act 'Coram & Miles'.
They were the first UK female group to break into the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Top 10. They are widely credited as having been the highest paid female entertainers in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for more than 20 years. The Sisters entered the Guinness Book Of Records in 2002, as the world's longest surviving vocal group without a change in the line up. In the 2006 New Year Honours list
New Year Honours 2006
The New Year Honours 2006 for the Commonwealth realms were announced on 31 December 2005, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2006....
they were each awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Joy married Billy Wright on 28 July 1958 at Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
Register Office; Wright was the first footballer to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
100 times.
As of 2009, the Beverley Sisters continue to appear in concerts and matinee shows in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and have forged strong links with the Burma Star association
Burma Star
The Burma Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945...
, and McCarthy & Stone properties where the Sisters are invited to open each new housing development designed specifically for retired people.
Singles
| Year | Title | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is an American Christmas song with music and lyrics by Tommie Connor.The original recording by Jimmy Boyd on 15 July 1952 when he was 13 reached #1 on the Billboard charts in December 1952, and on the Cash Box chart at the beginning of the following year... " |
#6 | Philips Philips Records Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also... |
| 1956 | "Willie Can" | #23 | Decca Decca Records Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades.... |
| 1957 | "I Dreamed" | #24 | Decca |
| 1959 | "Little Drummer Boy Little Drummer Boy "The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry... " |
#6 | Decca |
| 1959 | "Little Donkey Little Donkey Little Donkey is a popular Christmas carol, written by English hymnwriter Eric Boswell which describes the journey by Mary the mother of Jesus to Bethlehem on the donkey of the title. It was first recorded by Gracie Fields, whose single reached Number 21 in the UK Singles Chart in 1959.-External... " |
#14 | Decca |
| 1960 | "Green Fields" | #29 | Decca |
External links
- Beverley Sisters' years in limelight BBC report 31 December 2005
- Biography from The StageThe StageThe Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...