The King Sisters
Photo: ABC Television
Source: Wikiwand
The six original King Sisters were Alyce, Donna, Luise, Marilyn, Maxine and Yvonne. Each are thought born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the oldest arriving shortly after the end of World War I (1918). Their father was a college music professor in Colorado and Utah who became the poorer with the birth of each girl. Thus his interest to have girls who liked to sing, taking them to Oakland, California, where they secured their first professional employment at KLX Radio in 1931. That was a trio of Alyce, Luise and Maxine (alphabetical order) when they were yet in junior high school. They then worked for a radio station in San Francisco, after which Donna and Yvonne became Sisters, making the group a quartet due to Maxine retiring before joining the Horace Heidt Orchestra in 1935, with whom the King Sisters began to emerge to national attention. The Sister's first determinable recordings were issued with Heidt in 1937: 'Hot Lips' / 'The Bells of St. Mary's' (Brunswick 7916).
'Hot Lips' King Sisters w the Horace Heidt Orchestra
16 June 1937 in NYC Matrix B21259 Brunswick 7916
Trumpet: Jerry Bowne / Norman Kingsley / Sidney Mears
Composition: Henry Busse / Henry Lange / Lou Davis
After Heidt, the Sisters sang for Artie Shaw, Charlie Barnet and Alvino Rey (husband to Luise King). Among their more popular songs was issued in the summer of 1941 as the Four King Sisters: 'The Hut-Hut Song' (Bluebird B-11154). This charted on Billboard at #7. Later on 7 December the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the U.S. entering World War II during which the King Sisters appeared on radio with Kay Kyser. The War was yet raging when they issued 'Love Love Love' (Bluebird 30-0822) in spring of 1944, that rising to #4 on the charts as their overall best-selling title. Following World War II the King Sisters issued 'Divorce Me C.O.D.' which charted at #5 in 1946.
'The Hut-Hut Song (A Swedish Serenade)' King Sisters w the Alvino Rey Orchestra
2 May 1941 in NYC Matrix BS-063843 Bluebird B-11154
Trumpet: Frank Strasek Sax: Charles Brosen / Skeets Herfurt
Piano: Edwin L. Cole Steel guitar: Alvino Rey Guitar: Dick Morgan
Bass: Sanford Block Drums: Eddie Julian
Composition: Leo V. Killion / Ted McMichael / Jack Owens
'It's Love, Love, Love' King Sisters w Ray Noble & His Orchestra Radio
28 May 1944 on the 'Charlie McCarthy Show'
(Charlie McCarthy is the dummy of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen)
Composition: Alex Kramer / Joan Whitney / Mack David
'Charlie McCarthy Show' (debut 17 Dec 1936):
Bogie Film Blog Laughterlog Old Time Radio Catalog Radio Hall of Fame
'Divorce me C.O.D.' King Sisters w the Buddy Cole Orchestra
12 Sep 1946 in Hollywood Matrix D6VB-2155 Victor 20-2018
Composition: Merle Travis / Cliffie Stone
Highlighting the fifties was the 1958 release of their album, 'Imagination':
'Imagination' King Sisters w the Alvino Rey Orchestra
From the album 'Imagination' issued Jan 1958
Composition: Johnny Burke / Jimmy van Heusen
In 1965 the sisters had their own ABC television program, 'The King Family Show', which ran for five seasons:
'It's Halloween' King Sisters Television
'The King Family Show' on ABC 30 Oct 1965
Blues medley King Sisters Television
'The King Family Show' on ABC 12 March 1969
'April Showers' King Sisters Television
'The King Family Show' on ABC 1969
Music: Louis Silvers Lyrics: B. G. De Sylva 1921
Christmas medley King Sisters w the Four King Cousins Television
1974 in New York
1: 'Do You Hear What I Hear'
Music: Gloria Shayne Lyrics: Noël Regney Oct 1962
2: 'Carol of the Bells'
Music: Mykola Leontovych sometime 1901-1916 Lyrics: Peter Wilhousky 1936
The last surviving Sister, Marilyn, also the youngest, died on 7 August 2013.
Sources & References for the King Sisters:
Jason Ankeny (All Music)
Dana Countryman: Part 1 Part 2
VF History (notes)
Audio of The King Sisters: Internet Archive
Popularity Charts: Music VF
Filmographies: Dana Countryman IMDb
Iconography: Wikimedia Commons
Interviews: 1989 (Luise King and husband, Alvino Rey, with Fred Cooper / television)
Recordings: Catalogs / Discographies:
45 Worlds Dana Countryman Discogs Music Brainz RYM
Recordings: Sessions: DAHR (1937-1946)
Repertoire:
Divorce Me C.O.D. (1946)
The Hut-Hut Song (1941)
It's Love, Love, Love (1944)
Further Reading:
The Four King Cousins: Sam Tweedle
The King Family Show (television / 1965-1969): Grokipedia IMDb Nostalgia Central
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