Ketty Lester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ketty Lester
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Lester in 1958
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Revoyda Frierson |
| Born | August 16, 1934 Hope, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Genres | Traditional pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Labels | Era, RCA, London |
Ketty Lester (born Revoyda Frierson on August 16, 1934) is a talented American singer and actress. She is best known for her super popular 1961 song "Love Letters," which became a top 5 hit in both the U.S. and the UK. Many people also recognize her from her role as Hester-Sue Terhune on the TV show Little House on the Prairie. In 2022, she was honored by being added to the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.
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Ketty Lester's Early Life and Music Career
Ketty Lester was born Revoyda Frierson on August 16, 1934, in Hope, Arkansas. Her parents were farmers, and she grew up in a big family with 14 brothers and sisters. From a young age, Ketty loved to sing. She first sang in her church and later joined school choirs.
She was so good that she won a scholarship to study music at San Francisco State College. In the early 1950s, she started performing in clubs in San Francisco, using the stage name "Ketty Lester." She even traveled around Europe and South America, singing with the famous Cab Calloway's orchestra.
Appearing on You Bet Your Life
Before she became widely known, Ketty Lester appeared on a TV game show called You Bet Your Life on December 26, 1957. The show was hosted by the funny Groucho Marx. Ketty sang a song called "You Do Something to Me." She and her partner won $1,000, which was a lot of money back then!
Becoming a Music Star
After returning to California, Ketty recorded her first song, "Queen for a Day." Soon after, she met record producers Ed Cobb and Lincoln Mayorga. They helped her get a contract with Era Records in Los Angeles.
In 1961, Era Records released her song "Love Letters." This song became a huge hit! It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It also sold over 1 million copies, earning a gold disc award. This means it was incredibly popular!
In 1962, Ketty toured the UK with the Everly Brothers. She released another song, "But Not for Me," which also did well on the charts. Her album, also called Love Letters, was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Ketty continued to record music for different labels like RCA. She released albums like The Soul of Me and Where Is Love?. Her singing style was compared to other great singers like Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson. In 1964, she also won an award for her acting in an off-Broadway show called Cabin in the Sky.
Ketty Lester's Acting Career
By the early 1970s, Ketty Lester decided to focus more on acting. She appeared in several movies, including Blacula (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), and The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975).
She became a well-known TV actress in the 1970s and 1980s. She played Helen Grant on the show Days of Our Lives from 1975 to 1977. Her most famous TV role was Hester-Sue Terhune on Little House on the Prairie, where she acted from 1977 to 1983. She also appeared in other TV shows and movies.
In 1984, Ketty Lester recorded a gospel music album called I Saw Him. She also returned to films, appearing in Street Knight (1993) and as Aunt Lucy in House Party 3 (1994).
Ketty Lester's Albums
- Love Letters – 1962
- Betty Everett & Ketty Lester – 1964
- The Soul of Me – 1964
- Where Is Love? – 1965
- When a Woman Loves a Man – 1966
- Ketty Lester – 1969
- Ketty Lester in Concert – 1977
- A Collection of Her Best – 1982
- I Saw Love – 1984
Ketty Lester's Hit Singles
- "Love Letters" (1962) – Reached No. 5 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the UK.
- "But Not for Me" (1962) – Reached No. 41 in the U.S.
- "You Can't Lie to a Liar" (1962) – Reached No. 90 in the U.S.
- "This Land Is Your Land" (1962) – Reached No. 97 in the U.S.
Images for kids
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Lester in 1958
See also
In Spanish: Ketty Lester para niños
