The Kim Sisters
Encyclopedia
The Kim Sisters were Sue (Sook-ja), Aija (Ai-ja) and their cousin Mia Kim, a trio that began singing to US troops in 1954 . Sue and Aija were two of seven children of Kim Hae-song, a classical music conductor, and Lee Nan-young, one of Korea's most famous singers before the Korean War, perhaps best known for "the Tears of Mokpo." Mia's father was Lee Bong-ryong, a musician as well.
The Kim Sisters was formed in 1953 when the musician families lost everything during a bombing in the Korean War
. Lee Nan-young asked Kim to be a part of the trio. They arrived in Las Vegas
in 1959 and first performed at the Thunderbird Hotel, where producer Tom Ball did a show with Asian artists. Their successful performances at the Thunderbird led them to the Stardust where Ed Sullivan
saw the trio and invited the sisters to perform on his show. The sisters performed on the Ed Sullivan show more than 20 times.
's Country-Western
tune "Ole Buttermilk Sky" and "Candy and Coke" to the troops who would donate Rock n Roll records for the sisters to memorize. The sisters received chocolate bars and beer which were then exchanged for food. The GIs that returned to the States spread word about the talented trio. In Los Angeles, Tom Ball (who became the Kim Sisters' manager) heard about the sisters from one of the returning GIs. Ball went to Korea to see the sisters and secured a contract through the Kim's mother. Before departing Korea, their mother advised them to learn playing instruments. They arrived in Los Angeles and drove to Las Vegas and lived in a one bedroom apartment across from the Sahara Hotel. At the Thunderbird Hotel, the sisters were given thirty minutes for their act as part of the "China Doll Revue" which included performers from China, Japan, and Korea. After fulfilling their contract at the Thunderbird, the entertainment director for the Stardust Hotel picked up their option. In the eighth month at the Stardust, Ed Sullivan watched the sisters performance and requested them to appear on his show.
Years from them arriving in America had passed and the sisters had tried and failed to obtain a visa
for their mother to travel to America. With the help of Ed Sullivan, who knew of their mother's fame in Korea, Lee Nan-young arrived in the fourth year. One condition of Sullivan's assistance in obtaining the visa for the sister's mother was that she appear too in the Ed Sullivan Show. In 1967 all three girls were married, Mia to Tommy Vig
, a Hungarian-born music prodigy and jazz percussionist. He played in the same hotel as the girls. The trio broke up when Mia moved to Los Angeles with her husband and became a full-time mother. Ai-ja and Sook-ja continued performing with their brothers in the group The Kim Brothers. Ai-ja died in 1987 from lung cancer; Mia moved to Budapest
in 2006 with her husband
where they continue to perform and record together .
The Kim Sisters was formed in 1953 when the musician families lost everything during a bombing in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Lee Nan-young asked Kim to be a part of the trio. They arrived in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in 1959 and first performed at the Thunderbird Hotel, where producer Tom Ball did a show with Asian artists. Their successful performances at the Thunderbird led them to the Stardust where Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
saw the trio and invited the sisters to perform on his show. The sisters performed on the Ed Sullivan show more than 20 times.
History
Starting in 1953, with their mother's/aunt's encouragement and to support their family, the Sisters sang Hoagy CarmichaelHoagy Carmichael
Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the...
's Country-Western
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
tune "Ole Buttermilk Sky" and "Candy and Coke" to the troops who would donate Rock n Roll records for the sisters to memorize. The sisters received chocolate bars and beer which were then exchanged for food. The GIs that returned to the States spread word about the talented trio. In Los Angeles, Tom Ball (who became the Kim Sisters' manager) heard about the sisters from one of the returning GIs. Ball went to Korea to see the sisters and secured a contract through the Kim's mother. Before departing Korea, their mother advised them to learn playing instruments. They arrived in Los Angeles and drove to Las Vegas and lived in a one bedroom apartment across from the Sahara Hotel. At the Thunderbird Hotel, the sisters were given thirty minutes for their act as part of the "China Doll Revue" which included performers from China, Japan, and Korea. After fulfilling their contract at the Thunderbird, the entertainment director for the Stardust Hotel picked up their option. In the eighth month at the Stardust, Ed Sullivan watched the sisters performance and requested them to appear on his show.
Years from them arriving in America had passed and the sisters had tried and failed to obtain a visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
for their mother to travel to America. With the help of Ed Sullivan, who knew of their mother's fame in Korea, Lee Nan-young arrived in the fourth year. One condition of Sullivan's assistance in obtaining the visa for the sister's mother was that she appear too in the Ed Sullivan Show. In 1967 all three girls were married, Mia to Tommy Vig
Tommy Vig
Tommy Vig is an award-winning jazz vibraharpist, drummer, percussionist, arranger, big band leader, film, television, and classical concert composer, inventor, author, and educator.- Life and Work :...
, a Hungarian-born music prodigy and jazz percussionist. He played in the same hotel as the girls. The trio broke up when Mia moved to Los Angeles with her husband and became a full-time mother. Ai-ja and Sook-ja continued performing with their brothers in the group The Kim Brothers. Ai-ja died in 1987 from lung cancer; Mia moved to Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in 2006 with her husband
Tommy Vig
Tommy Vig is an award-winning jazz vibraharpist, drummer, percussionist, arranger, big band leader, film, television, and classical concert composer, inventor, author, and educator.- Life and Work :...
where they continue to perform and record together .