Kay Kyser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kay Kyser
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Kyser in 1944
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Kern Kyser |
| Born | June 18, 1905 Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | July 23, 1985 (aged 80) Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | Big band, swing, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, bandleader |
| Years active | 1926–1950 |
James Kern Kyser (born June 18, 1905 – died July 23, 1985) was an American bandleader and radio star. He was famous in the 1930s and 1940s. People knew him as Kay Kyser. He led a popular big band and hosted a fun radio show.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
James Kern Kyser was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. His parents were Emily Royster Kyser and Paul Bynum Kyser. His mother was one of the first female pharmacists in their state. Kay Kyser was one of six children in his family.
He went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated in 1928 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While there, he was very popular as a cheerleader. Another bandleader, Hal Kemp, asked him to take over his band. Kay Kyser started taking clarinet lessons. But he was better at talking and entertaining than playing music. He used the first letter of his middle name, K, to create his stage name, Kay Kyser.
Kay Kyser's Amazing Career
The Kollege of Musical Knowledge
Kay Kyser and his band started small. They played in restaurants and clubs. They slowly became more popular. Kyser came up with a new idea for his shows. He combined a quiz game with music. This became "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge."
This show became very famous. It was first on Mutual Broadcasting System radio in 1938. Then it moved to NBC Radio from 1939 to 1949. Kyser led the band as "The Ol' Perfessor." He had many famous sayings. Some were "That's right—you're wrong" and "C'mon, chillun! Le's dance!"
Big Band Success
Kay Kyser's band was very successful. They had 11 songs that reached number one on the music charts. These were some of the most popular songs of the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Unlike other bands, Kyser's band let individual members shine. Many of his band members became stars themselves. Some famous members included singer Harry Babbitt and cornet player Merwyn Bogue, also known as Ish Kabibble. Other stars were Ginny Simms and Mike Douglas. Mike Douglas later became a famous TV talk show host.
In 1943, a beautiful fashion model and actress named Georgia Carroll joined the band. She was called "Gorgeous Georgia Carroll." Within a year, she and Kay Kyser got married.
Kyser was also known for singing the song titles. This meant one of his singers would sing the title of the song. Then the band would play the first part of the song. After that, the main singing would begin. His band had a huge hit with "Three Little Fishes." It sold over one million copies!
Movies and More
Kay Kyser and his band also appeared in movies. Some films were about the band's adventures. For example, Around the World (1943) showed the band touring military camps.
In Carolina Blues (1944), Kyser's character had to find a new singer. His lead singer, played by his wife Georgia Carroll, left to get married. The band also appeared in two important wartime movies in 1943. These were Stage Door Canteen and Thousands Cheer.
Kyser even voiced a cartoon character! He played a version of himself called "Cake-Icer" in the Porky Pig cartoon Africa Squeaks (1940).
After World War II, Kyser's band kept making hit records. He had planned to retire after the war. But his contracts kept him performing and recording for five more years. During this time, Kyser helped introduce a new sound process called the 'sonovox'. This made electronic voices sing along with music.
Television Appearances
From 1949 to 1950, "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge" was on NBC-TV. The TV show featured many of the original band members. These included Ish Kabibble and singers Mike Douglas and Sue Bennett. Kay Kyser brought his band back together just for this TV series. He quickly disbanded it when the show ended.
Life After Music
After leaving the music business, Kay Kyser became very involved with his church. He supported many good causes. These included health care, educational television, and highway safety.
Kyser helped build a new part of St. John's hospital in Santa Monica. He also helped raise $62 million to build more hospitals and train nurses in North Carolina. He worked with famous friends like Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore to support health care.
Kyser also supported his old school, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He helped the arts there through the Kyser Foundation. This foundation gave scholarships to music and drama students. He also supported the university's theater and its Center for Public Television.
In 1962, some members of the Kay Kyser team reunited. They recorded new versions of Kyser's greatest hits. Kay Kyser himself was not part of this recording.
Family Life
Kay Kyser and Georgia Carroll stayed married for the rest of his life. They moved back to North Carolina. They lived in his uncle's old house, which was the oldest house in Chapel Hill. They raised their three daughters there: Amanda, Carroll, and Kimberly. All three daughters also graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Death and Legacy
Kay Kyser passed away from a heart attack in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on July 23, 1985. He was buried in the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery.
In 1999, Kay Kyser was honored. He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill keeps a large collection of his documents and materials. His wife donated these so the public could learn about his life.
Famous Band Members and Singers
- Harry Babbitt (1913–2004), tenor singer
- Georgia Carroll (1919–2011), vocalist who married Kyser
- Mike Douglas (1920–2006), vocalist and later TV host
- George Duning (1908–2000), musician and film composer
- Trudy Erwin (1918–2000), vocalist
- Ish Kabibble (1908–1994), comedian and cornet player
- Jack Martin vocalist and tenor sax player
- Sully Mason (1906–1970), vocalist and alto sax player
- Ginny Simms (1913–1994), vocalist and actress
- Gloria Wood (1923–1995), vocalist and voice-over actress
Selected Movies
- Carolina Blues (1944)
- Around the World (1943)
- Swing Fever (1943)
- Thousands Cheer (1943)
- Stage Door Canteen (1943)
- My Favorite Spy (1942)
- You'll Find Out (1940)
- That's Right - You're Wrong (1939)
See also
In Spanish: Kay Kyser para niños
