Gisele MacKenzie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gisèle MacKenzie
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MacKenzie opens the National Cat Show, 1952
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gisèle Marie Louise Marguerite LaFlèche |
| Born | January 10, 1927 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | September 5, 2003 (aged 76) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, commercial spokesperson |
| Labels | Capitol, RCA, X, Everest, Mercury, Liberty Sunset, Cricket Playhour, Design. |
| Associated acts | Jack Benny, Sid Caesar, Dorothy Collins, Russell Arms, Snooky Lanson, Mario Lanza, Bob Crosby, Gordon MacRae, Helen O'Connell |
Gisèle MacKenzie was a talented Canadian-American singer, actress, and TV personality. She was born Gisèle Marie Louise Marguerite LaFlèche on January 10, 1927. She became famous for her amazing performances on the popular TV show Your Hit Parade.
Contents
About Gisèle MacKenzie
Early Life and Musical Talent
Gisèle Marie Louise Marguerite LaFlèche was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1927. Her father was a doctor. From a young age, Gisèle showed a lot of musical talent. She studied the violin and singing. As a teenager, she continued her music studies at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Ontario.
Before moving to the United States, Gisèle had her own radio shows in Canada. These shows were called Meet Gisèle and Gisele and Mr. Cable. On Meet Gisèle, she welcomed famous guests like Jack Benny, Clark Gable, and Fred Astaire.
Moving to the United States
In 1951, Gisèle changed her stage name to MacKenzie. She then moved to Los Angeles, California. She joined the CBS Radio program Club Fifteen, where she sang alongside Bob Crosby. In 1955, she became a citizen of the United States.
Gisèle recorded many songs and albums with different record companies. One of her early hits was "Seven Lonely Days" in 1953. Her most popular song was "Hard To Get" in 1955.
A Star on TV and Stage
Gisèle MacKenzie was also a very skilled classical violinist. She often performed funny musical duets with her friend and mentor, Jack Benny. In one famous performance, she and Benny played "Getting to Know You" on their violins. Gisèle would add extra fancy notes, which would playfully annoy Benny.
She was a guest on many popular TV shows, including The Jack Benny Program, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. She also performed in Las Vegas and went on a European tour with Jack Benny.
In 1952, Jack Benny suggested Gisèle for Your Hit Parade. She became a regular on the show for four years. After leaving Your Hit Parade in 1957, she starred in her own short-lived variety show, The Gisele MacKenzie Show. Later, in 1963, she joined The Sid Caesar Show, where she performed comedy and sang.
Gisèle also recorded albums for children, starting with "Gisele MacKenzie sings Lullaby and Goodnight" in 1959.
Acting and Later Career
During her summer breaks from Your Hit Parade, Gisèle performed in musical plays. She starred in famous shows like Annie Get Your Gun, The King and I, and South Pacific.
In the 1980s and 1990s, she took on more acting roles. She appeared in the soap opera The Young and the Restless and made guest appearances on TV series like Murder, She Wrote, Boy Meets World, and MacGyver.
Gisèle MacKenzie has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine, honoring her contributions to entertainment.
Personal Life
Gisèle MacKenzie was married twice. She had a son named MacKenzie Duffy and a daughter named Gigi MacKenzie, who is also a contemporary jazz artist.
Death
Gisèle MacKenzie passed away on September 5, 2003, in Burbank, California. She was 76 years old and died from colon cancer.
See also
In Spanish: Gisele Mackenzie para niños
