The King Sisters
One of the big band era's most popular and enduring vocal groups, the King Sisters -- Donna, Yvonne, Luise and Alyce -- were born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT. Taking their stage name from their father, vocal trainer Daddy King Driggs, the siblings initially teamed with their mother and a family friend as the Six King Sisters, first attracting attention while appearing with the Horace Heidt Band in 1935 and enjoying a three-year tenure on Heidt's radio series. The group's lineup shrank to a quartet as the decade wore on, and in 1939 -- following a stint with Al Pearce -- the King Sisters joined a new band formed by Luise's husband, the legendary guitarist Alvino Rey. In addition to appearing on Rey's hits "Nighty Night" and "I Said No," the sisters also scored a series of smashes issued under their own name, among them "The Hut Sut Song," "I Understand," "I'll Get By" and "In the Mood."
At the peak of their success, the King Sisters also appeared in a number of Hollywood features, including 1942's Sing Your Worries Away, 1944's Meet the People and 1945's Cuban Pete. By this time they were no longer working with Rey, who had dissolved his band upon entering the armed forces; throughout 1944 the siblings were regulars on Kay Kyser's radio series, but during the postwar years their popularity declined, and throughout the 1950s they were well outside the public eye. In 1965, however, the King Sisters -- as well as members of their extended family, including Rey -- were tapped by the ABC television network to host their own weekly variety show; it was an immediate hit, although the death of featured performer Daddy King Driggs just a few weeks into the program's run made their success bittersweet. The King Family Show continued its run until 1969, with the sisters easing into retirement during the decade to follow.
 |
In The Mood Irish Washerwoman Sometimes I'm Happy The Hot Gavotte Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga Miss Otis Regrets Whatcha Know, Joe? I Understand The Hut-Sut Song The Music Makers Rose O'Day Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry 'Tis Autumn Music 'Til Dawn Jersey Bounce My Devotion I Came Here To Talk For Joe It's Love, Love, Love! Milkman, Keep Those Bottle Quiet The Trolley Song Candy Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week Stone Cold Dead In The Market The Coffee Song Some Days There Just Ain't No Fish Happy Feet Walk It On Down I'll Get By |
One of the most overlooked of the many sister acts of the Swing Era, The King Sisters, were born and raised in Salt Lake City with the last name Driggs. They took their stage name from that of their father and vocal coach, Daddy King Driggs. Though they started recording in the 30s and continued until the late 50s, these 28 songs are from their golden decade, the 1940s, particularly the war years, 1941-45. All songs are orchestrally accompanied, with the focus, of course on the bright, sweet vocals. We have the well-known hits, "In The Mood," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "Jersey Bounce," "The Trolley Song," "The Coffee Song" and "I'll Get By;" and then we have lesser-known, somewhat silly but nonetheless wonderful tunes like "The Hot Gavotte," "Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga," "The Hut -Sut Song," "Rose O'Day" (The Filla-Da-Gusha Song), "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry" and "Some Days There Just Ain't No Fish." "It's Love" is a generous, clean-sounding "best-of" collection from one of our favorite Swing Era sister quartets!
Listen to "Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week" in Real Audio.
| 4637 CD $14.98 |
 |
Button Up Your Overcoat Moonglow Kalamazoo Oh How I Miss You Tonight Strip Poker Heavenly Hideaway Music 'til Dawn Irish Washerwoman Zing Went The Strings of My Heart Take Me In Your Arms Slap Slap Sweetheart Of All My Dreams In The Mood Cielito Lindo Back In Your Own Back Yard The Air Army Corps 'Tis Autumn Arthur Murry Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry Ac-centuate The Positive Happy Feet I Came Here To Talk For Joe Jersey Bounce Some Days There Just Ain't No Fish Music Makers When My Dreamboat Comes Home |
Alyce, Donna, Luise and Yvonne Driggs began their career as the
King Sisters in 1935, became one of the most popular vocal groups in the big
band era, and didn't retire until the end of "The King Family Show" in 1969.
The cool thing about "In the Mood" is that out of 25 (big band accompanied)
songs, almost none are on other King Sisters CDs we carry. There's a number
of classics, including "Button Up Your Overcoat," "Moonglow," "Zing! Went the
Strings of My Heart," "In the Mood," "Kalama-zoo," "Jersey Bounce," "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate
the Positive" and "Cielito Lindo," which was a hit for them. We loved the less
well-known numbers: "I Came Here to Talk for Joe," "Happy Feet," the witty "Strip
Polka," "Some Days There Just Ain't No Fish," "Slap-Slap," "Music 'Til Dawn,"
and "Irish Washerwoman." What timing, what harmonyevery cut is an imaginative,
rhythmic little gem!
| 4478 CD $15.98 |
 |
Memories of You It's Easy to Remember When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano I May Be Wrong Pagan Love Song Miss Otis Regrets I Don't Know Why Cielito Linda Basin Street Blues The Day You Came Along An Old Guitar and an Old Refrain Nice Work If You Can Get It Why Should I Cry Over You You Made Me Love You St. Louis Blues I've Had My Moments Stars Fell On Alabama East of the Sun By the River Sainte Marie All Of Me Love is the Thing Don't Worry 'Bout Me Stomping at The Savoy |
The lovely King Sisters, hailing from Utah, were six in number, though the group usually featured four at a time, allowing for flexibility as family commitments encroached. Having been influenced by the Boswell Sisters, they sought fame and fortune in the early thirties, and began singing with bandleader Horace Heidt. Their success continued into the forties and fifties, as contemporaries of the Andrews and McGuire Sisters, and even into the 1960's, when they had their own television program, "The King Family Show." With their orchestra, conducted by Frank DeVol, the girls produced a slew of close harmony classics, from the wistful ballad, as in "The Day You Came Along" and "I Don't Know Why," to the cheerful "Cielito Linda," "You Made Me Love You" and "Pagan Love Song"; and who could forget "When The Swallows Came Back To Capistrano"? What a trip down memory lane!
Listen to " You Made Me Love You" in Real Audio.
| 5521 CD $14.98 |
 |
For You Just Squeeze Me When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano What's The Use? (Instrumental) Sophisticated Lady Everybody Loves My Baby Star Dust Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea At Sundown When My Dreamboat Comes Home Crazy Rhythm (Instrumental) Miss Otis Regrets Red Sails In The Sunset The Man I Love |
A budget priced collection of some of their hits.
| 5524 CD $9.95 |
 |
This Girl's In Love It's All In The Game Walk On By California Nights Let's Get Away From It All I Wanna Be Free Good Day Sunshine God Only Knows Love So Fine Here, There and Everywhere I Fell |
From the original 1969 Capitol Records bio, we learn that The Four King Cousins are daughters of the famous King Sisters and members of the equally famous King Family. The four young women, all pretty blondes in their early 20s, first appeared on TV on John Davidson's "Kraft Summer Music Hall." Then they were signed to a Capitol recording contract, appeared on top shows like Jonathan Winters and Johnny Carson, and in concert with Buddy Rich, Buddy Greco and Stan Getz. "Introducing" is their debut album, 11 heavily-accompanied pop covers, including a pair by Bert Bacharach, "This Girl's In Love With You" and "Walk On By," a pair by Lennon/McCartney, "Good Day Sunshine" and "Here, There and Everywhere;" Brian Wilson's "God Only Knows," pop hits "Califonia Nights," "It's All In The Game," "I Wanna Be Free" "Love So Fine and others. Innocent, schmaltzy, nostalgic, top-40 fun from the late 60s!
| 7492 CD $14.98 |
 |
Hey Look Me Over Red River Valley/You Are My Sunshine The Men in My Little Girl's Life Guadalajara Baby Sitter's Blues Bill Bailey The Telephone Hour Yesterday Lassus Trombone I Said No! Why Did I Choose You Everything's Coming Up Roses On A Clear Day What the World Needs Now Girl Talk The Shadow of Your Smile Goin' Out of My Head Nature Boy Call Me I'm Old Fashioned Bluesette Sweet Georgia Brown I Get the Blues When It Rains Who Would Remember Somewhere Don't Go Strangers |
The King Family had already completed a smash nationwide tour and was about to embark on a second when they recorded The King Family Live! to capture the King Family Show experience. It includes snippets of onstage banter amidst some first- rate musical moments featuring the King Sisters, Alvino Rey, the King Cousins and film favorite Robert Clarke. The song-fest includes the Sisters' first rate take on Lennon/McCartney's Yesterday.
| 5420 CD $15.95 |
 |
Pass Me By Climb Ev'ry Mountain Line the Track My Favourite Things Stardust Irving Berlin Medley Make Someone Happy Sunrise, Sunset I Used to Love You I Don't Know Why When Are You Going To Learn The Square Amen (When There's) Love At Home Today I'm In Love Just One Smile He's Got the Whole World In His Hands Shenandoah You'll Never Walk Alone Every Man Has A Castle Open Up Your Heart Battle Hymn of the Republic America the Beautiful Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Bluebird of Happiness Very Last Day God Bless the Child When the Saints Go Marching In |
The first two of a staggering six albums that the King Family recorded for Warner Brothers in the space of two years, these came out in early 1965, the same year their weekly ABC TV series The King Family Show was becoming a fan favorite. Their debut The King Family Show! contains many of the favorites performed by the Family on TV and plays like an episode of their series—there’s even a commercial break at the mid-point by King Kids Cam & Laurette, a popular, and humorous, feature of their weekly show. And we round out this release with two more CD debuts - the Warner Brothers singles by The King Cousins originally released in 1965, the Phil Spectorish Just One Smile and girl group homage Today I’m in Love! Deluxe liner notes with a treasure trove of rarely seen photos make this a true King Family fan’s delight.
| 5415 CD $15.95 |
 |
Caroling Caroling/Come Dear Children White Christmas Hark the Herald Angels Sing O Come All Ye Faithful It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Joy to the World The Holiday of Love Silent Night Hear the Sledges with the Bells The Little Drummer Boy The Star Carol/O Little Town of Bethlehem What Child is This? Some Children See Him Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Jingle Bells The First Noel Auld Lang Syne We Wish You A Merry Christmas Sleigh Ride The Holiday of Love 'Twas the Night Before Christmas/Santa Clause is Comin' to Town The Christmas Song/The Christmas Waltz Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Do You Hear What I Hear? Carol of the Bells We'll Dress the House Some Children See Him A Soalin'/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Sleigh Ride Children Go Where I Send Thee |
The King Family’s Christmas specials were an annual family television event, and their Christmas album was repackaged a staggering 8 times—nevertheless, Christmas with the King Family has been out of print since 1977! It’s simply a classic of the genre, and we’ve added 11 mostly unreleased tracks pulled from various specials and TV appearances to the original album’s 12 tracks to form a holiday album that we suspect will be a Christmas evergreen.
| 5410 CD $15.95 |
 |
Caroling Caroling/Come Dear Children White Christmas Hark the Herald Angels Sing O Come All Ye Faithful It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Joy to the World The Holiday of Love Silent Night Hear the Sledges with the Bells The Little Drummer Boy The Star Carol/O Little Town of Bethlehem What Child is This? Some Children See Him Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Jingle Bells The First Noel Auld Lang Syne We Wish You A Merry Christmas Sleigh Ride The Holiday of Love 'Twas the Night Before Christmas/Santa Clause is Comin' to Town The Christmas Song/The Christmas Waltz Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Do You Hear What I Hear? Carol of the Bells We'll Dress the House Some Children See Him A Soalin'/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Sleigh Ride Children Go Where I Send Thee Do You Hear What I Hear Carol of the Bells We'll Dress the House |
Throughout the '60s and '70s, Christmas just wasn't Christmas without the King Family's classic holiday TV specials. In celebration of the 45th anniversary of their television debut, join the Kings as they take a heartwarming and song-filled look back at their classic Christmas specials in this all-new holiday TV event. In clips unseen for nearly three decades (now digitally remastered), The Kings perform a cavalcade of classic showstoppers, while sharing personal, behind-the- scenes memories in contemporary interviews featuring King Sisters Yvonne King and Marilyn King, Tina Cole and King Cousins Cathy, Candy, Ric, Jamie & Xan along with Cam Clarke (anime star and voice of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' "Leonardo") and King Kids Laurette and Susannah. And as a special bonus, this DVD features the King Family’s classic 1967 special in its entirety, which includes one of their best remembered TV moments-the surprise Vietnam- era, on- camera reunion of King Sister Alyce with her son Ric, who’d been away on military service. This holiday season make Christmas a family affair with this retro TV holiday delight-as seen on public television!
| 5410 DVD $15.95 |
VOCAL JAZZ - Home | Vocal Jazz Groups | Recordings | Arrangements | DVDs | Christmas | Vocal Jazz Instructional
VINTAGE VOCAL JAZZ - Vintage Groups | Vintage CDs | Black Vocal Groups | Black Vocal Groups CDs | Christmas | Womens Vintage
Vocal Jazz | Doo Wop | Contemporary | Barbershop | Christian | Collegiate | World | Choral
Patriotic | The Groups | The Directors | The Vocal Coaches | Choral Development
Arrangements | Vintage Harmony | Christmas | DVDs | Instructional for Singers
The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival
RSS - New Releases
Site Map | A Cappella News | Regional Newsgroups | RSS a cappella feeds
To find a specific song on any recording (or to find recordings by group name or CD title),
pick the search method and type the item you are searching for here:
All Rights Reserved All Content, page design, CGI Copyright © United Singers International
 |
|
