The Kaye Sisters
Encyclopedia
The Kaye Sisters were a trio of British
pop singers
, who scored several hits
on the UK Singles Chart
in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
, Carmen Kaye, who got them started in the music industry. They were also often billed as The Three Kayes or just The Kayes. The three members dressed in matching dress outfits and wore the same blond
e haircut
s, and became a popular vocal
group
on par with The Beverley Sisters. Two of their biggest hits were recorded with Frankie Vaughan
.
A television
appearance in 1956 rocketed them to stardom, and their first recording
, "Ivory Tower
", peaked at number 20 in the UK Singles Chart. Other singles
followed, including "Got-Ta Have Something in the Bank, Frank" (1957), "Are You Ready, Freddy?" (1958) and "Goodbye Jimmy Goodbye" (1959).
The trio were headliners in top London
cabaret clubs
such as Churchills and the Colony Club, and in variety supported such leading stars as Frankie Howerd
, Tommy Cooper
and Ken Dodd
. They were popular in Blackpool
summer seasons throughout the 1960s and 1970s, where they co-starred with Josef Locke
, Dick Emery
and, in two seasons, with Larry Grayson
. In 1992 they returned to the resort to top the bill of the South Pier's Golden Showstoppers.
They appeared with Judy Garland
in the 1957 Royal Variety Show, and in the United States
appeared as guests on The Ed Sullivan Show
. The Kaye Sisters were in demand in later years on nostalgia shows. In the 1970s they often appeared on Max Bygraves
’ variety bills, notably co-starring with him in SingalongaMax at the Victoria Palace Theatre
in 1972.
They recorded several album
s, including Presenting the Kaye Sisters (1958) and Kaye Sisters Favourites (1960). Sheila Jones left the act in the late 1960s, but they carried on with a replacement, Gilly. The original act reformed in 1992 for a Glenn Miller
tribute tour.
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...
pop singers
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, who scored several hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
on the 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 ...
in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Career
The Kaye Sisters were formed in 1954. They got their name from their managerManagement
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, Carmen Kaye, who got them started in the music industry. They were also often billed as The Three Kayes or just The Kayes. The three members dressed in matching dress outfits and wore the same blond
Blond
Blond or blonde or fair-hair is a hair color characterized by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin. The resultant visible hue depends on various factors, but always has some sort of yellowish color...
e haircut
Hairstyle
A hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human head. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.-History of...
s, and became a popular vocal
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
on par with The Beverley Sisters. Two of their biggest hits were recorded with Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...
.
A television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
appearance in 1956 rocketed them to stardom, and their first recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, "Ivory Tower
Ivory Tower (1956 song)
"Ivory Tower" is a popular song written by Jack Fulton and Lois Steele. Popular versions by Cathy Carr and Gale Storm, and a rhythm & blues version by Otis Williams and the Charms all received major popularity in 1956...
", peaked at number 20 in the UK Singles Chart. Other singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
followed, including "Got-Ta Have Something in the Bank, Frank" (1957), "Are You Ready, Freddy?" (1958) and "Goodbye Jimmy Goodbye" (1959).
The trio were headliners in top London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
cabaret clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
such as Churchills and the Colony Club, and in variety supported such leading stars as Frankie Howerd
Frankie Howerd
Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...
, Tommy Cooper
Tommy Cooper
Thomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper was a very popular British prop comedian and magician from Caerphilly, Wales.Cooper was a member of The Magic Circle, and respected by traditional magicians...
and Ken Dodd
Ken Dodd
Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his frizzy hair or “fluff dom” and buck teeth or “denchers”, his favourite cleaner, the feather duster and his greeting "How tickled I am!", as well as his send-off “Lots and Lots of Happiness!”...
. They were popular in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
summer seasons throughout the 1960s and 1970s, where they co-starred with Josef Locke
Josef Locke
Josef Locke was the stage name of Joseph McLaughlin , a tenor singer who was successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s....
, Dick Emery
Dick Emery
Richard Gilbert "Dick" Emery was an English comedian and actor. Beginning on radio in the 1950s, an eponymous television series ran from 1963 to 1981. He was the brother of Ann Emery.-Life and career:...
and, in two seasons, with Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson , born William Sulley White, was an English stand-up comedian and television presenter of the 1970s and early 80s...
. In 1992 they returned to the resort to top the bill of the South Pier's Golden Showstoppers.
They appeared with Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
in the 1957 Royal Variety Show, and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
appeared as guests on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. The Kaye Sisters were in demand in later years on nostalgia shows. In the 1970s they often appeared on Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
’ variety bills, notably co-starring with him in SingalongaMax at the Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre is a West End theatre in Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, opposite Victoria Station.-Origins:The theatre began life as a small concert room above the stables of the Royal Standard Hotel, a small hotel and tavern built in 1832 at what was then 522 Stockbridge...
in 1972.
They recorded several album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, including Presenting the Kaye Sisters (1958) and Kaye Sisters Favourites (1960). Sheila Jones left the act in the late 1960s, but they carried on with a replacement, Gilly. The original act reformed in 1992 for a Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
tribute tour.
Members
- Carol Lindsey Young (born 12 April 1930, Oldham, Lancashire — died 20 August 2006, BrightonBrightonBrighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, East SussexEast SussexEast Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
)
- Shirley 'Shan' Palmer (born 15 August 1938, HullKingston upon HullKingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, YorkshireYorkshireYorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
) - Sheila Jones (born 21 October 1936, LewishamLewishamLewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
)
Albums
- Presenting the Kaye Sisters (PhilipsPhilips RecordsPhilips 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...
, 1958) - The Kayes at The Colony (Philips, 1959)
- Kaye Sisters Favorites (Philips, 1960)
- Gilly, Carol and Shan (PyePye RecordsPye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
, 1973)
Singles
- All released on Philips
- 1956 "Ivory TowerIvory Tower (1956 song)"Ivory Tower" is a popular song written by Jack Fulton and Lois Steele. Popular versions by Cathy Carr and Gale Storm, and a rhythm & blues version by Otis Williams and the Charms all received major popularity in 1956...
" (UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
#20) - 1957 "Got-Ta Have Something In The Bank, Frank" (with Frankie VaughanFrankie VaughanFrankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...
) (UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
#8) - 1958 "Shake Me I Rattle" / "AloneAlone (Why Must I Be Alone)"Alone " is a popular song written by Morty Craft. Craft owned a record label, and produced the recording by the Shepherd Sisters on that label...
" (UK #27) - 1958 "Handed Down" / "Love Me Forever"
- 1958 "Are You Ready, Freddy?" / "The Pansy"
- 1958 "Stroll" / "Torero"
- 1958 "Calla, Calla, (The Bride, The Bride)" / "Oho-Aha"
- 1959 "Jerri-Lee (I Love Him So)" / "Deeply Devoted"
- 1959 "Come Softly to MeCome Softly to Me"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song written by Gretchen Christopher that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods, composed of Christopher, Gary Troxel, and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records label....
" / "Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart" (with Frankie Vaughan) (UK #9) - 1959 "Goodbye Jimmy Goodbye" / "Dancing With My Shadow"
- 1959 "Too Young To Marry" / "True Love, True Love"
- 1960 "Paper RosesPaper Roses"Paper Roses" is a popular song written by Fred Spielman and Janice Torre which was a hit in 1960 for Anita Bryant with Monty Kelly's Orchestra and Chorus and later for Marie Osmond in 1973....
" / "If Only You'd Be Mine" (UK #7) - 1960 "Come to Me" / "A Whole Lot Of Lovin'"
- 1961 "Palma De Majorca" / "I Just Wanna Be With You"
- 1961 "Little Soldier" / "Mistletoe Kisses"
- 1962 "If Only Tomorrow" / "Mistakes"
- 1962 "We Won't Say Goodbye" / "Seven Roses"
- 1963 "Big Wide World" / "I'm Forever Blowing BubblesI'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" is a popular song which debuted in 1918 and was first published in 1919.-Creation:The music was written by John Kellette. The lyrics are credited to "Jaan Kenbrovin", actually a collective pseudonym for the writers James Kendis, James Brockman and Nat Vincent...
" - 1963 "Nine Girls Out Of Ten Girls" / "I Forgot More Than You'll Never Know"
- 1964 "Keep On Loving Me" / "That Little Touch of Magic"
- 1966 "Life Goes On" / "I Should Never Know"
- 1956 "Ivory Tower