Kay Kyser

Kay Kyser
Kyser in 1944
Background information
Birth name	James Kern Kyser
Born	(1905-06-18)June 18, 1905 Rocky Mount, North Carolina,U.S.
Died	July 23, 1985(1985-07-23)(aged 80) Chapel Hill, North Carolina,U.S.
Genres	Big band,swing,jazz
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, bandleader
Years active	1926–1950
Spouse(s)	Georgia Carroll

James Kern Kyser(June 18, 1905 – July 23, 1985), known asKay Kyser,was an Americanbandleaderand radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s.

Early years

Kyser was born inRocky Mount, North Carolina,the son of pharmacists Emily Royster Kyser (née Howell) and Paul Bynum Kyser.He was one of six children, and his mother was the first registered female pharmacist in the state.Journalist and newspaper editorVermont C. Roysterwas his cousin.Kyser graduated from theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hillwith a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1928, where he was senior class president and was a member ofSigma Nufraternity.

Owing to his popularity and enthusiasm as a cheerleader, he was invited byHal Kempto take over as bandleader when Kemp ventured north to further his career. He began takingclarinetlessons but was better as an entertaining announcer than a musician. He adopted the initial of his middle name as part of his stage name, for its alliterative effect.

Career

Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge

See main article,Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge.

Kyser as the "Ol' Perfessor" in 1942

Long before his national success, Kyser recorded two sessions forVictorin the late 1920s (Camden, New Jerseyin November 1928 andChicagoin early 1929). These were issued on Victor's V-40000 series devoted to country music and regional dance bands. Following graduation, Kyser and his band, which included Sully Mason on saxophone and arrangerGeorge Duning,toured Midwest restaurants and night clubs and gradually built a following.

They were popular at Chicago'sBlackhawk restaurant,where Kyser came up with an act combining a quiz with music which became "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge."The act was broadcast on theMutual Broadcasting Systemin 1938 and then moved toNBCRadio from 1939 to 1949. The show rose in the ratings and spawned many imitators. Kyser led the band as "The Ol' Perfessor", spoutingcatchphrases,some with a degree ofSouthern American English:"That's right—you're wrong", "Evenin' folks, how y'all?" and "C'mon, chillun! Le's dance!"

Big band era

Although Kyser and his orchestra gained fame through the "Kollege of Musical Knowledge,"they were a successful band in their own right. They had 11 number one records, including some of the most popular songs of the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Unlike most other big bands of the era, which centered on only the bandleader, individual members of Kyser's band became stars in their own right and would often receive the spotlight. Some of the more popular members included vocalistHarry Babbitt,cornetist Merwyn Bogue (a.k.a.Ish Kabibble), trombonist Bruce King, saxophonist Jack Martin (who sang lead vocal on the number one hit, "Strip Polka"),Ginny Simms(who had her own successful acting and singing career after leaving Kyser's band), Sully Mason,Mike Douglas(years before he became a popular TV talk show host) andGeorgia Carroll.

Carroll, a blonde fashion model and actress whose best-known role wasBetsy RossinYankee Doodle Dandy,was dubbed "Gorgeous Georgia Carroll" when she joined the group in 1943. Within a year, she and Kyser married.

Kyser was also known for singing song titles, a device copied bySammy KayeandBlue Barron.When the song began, one of the band's lead singers (usually Babbitt) sang the title phrase, and then the first verse or two of the song was performed instrumentally before the lyrics resumed. Several of his recordings spawned catch phrases, such as "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition".

His group had a major hit with the novelty tune, "Three Little Fishes".It sold over one million copies, and was awarded agold discby theRIAA.

During the Swing Era, Kyser,Hal KempandTal Henryoften performed in or near New York City, making possible a reunion of North Carolina musicians. Later, after retirement, Kyser and Henry got together to share music world memories.

Inspired byRosalind P. Walter,Kyser helped popularize the song "Rosie the Riveter".

Movies

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Kyser's band appeared in several motion pictures, usually as themselves, beginning with the successfulThat's Right – You're Wrong(1939),You'll Find Out(1940),PlaymatesandMy Favorite Spy.Some of the films built a plot around the band.Around the World(1943) fictionalized the band's international tours of military camps.

Kyser inStage Door Canteen(1943)

InCarolina Blues(1944), Kyser has to replace his lead singer (Carroll) who has run off to get married. Caught in a jam, he reluctantly hires the daughter of a powerful defense plant owner, played byAnn Miller.Two of the band's best-known performance appearances were in 1943 when they appeared in the wartime filmsStage Door CanteenandThousands Cheer.Kyser appeared as a light comedian; he acted with (and was billed above)John Barrymorein Barrymore's final filmPlaymates(1941). Kyser is the dupe in a scam where Barrymore pretends to teach him how to act in Shakespearean drama.

Kyser also appeared in aPorky Pigcartoon,Africa Squeaks(1940). In the cartoon, he voiced a caricature of himself called "Cake-Icer," at the request of directorBob Clampett.A caricature (unnamed) of Kyser as the "Lil Perfessor" was seen in the Warner Brothers cartoonMalibu Beach Party.

After the war, Kyser's band continued to record hit records, including two featuringJane Russellas vocalist.It's All Up to Youfeatures vocals byFrank SinatraandDinah Shore,although Kyser's participation in this recording is disputed, record label showingAxel Stordahlas conductor. Kyser had intended to retire following the end of the war, but performance and recording contracts kept him in show business for another half decade.

During this time, Kyser made acameoappearance in aBatmancomic book. Kyser was first to introduce the new sonic audio process called the 'sonovox', a singing electronic voice triggered by music. The Sonovox would be used by Jingle Companies such asPAMSandJAM Creative Productions,and said jingles would be used in heavy rotation by rock radio stations such as WABC, WMEX, WXYZ, KONO, WKDA, and WHTZ.

Television

In 1949 and 1950, "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge" aired on NBC-TV. In addition to Kyser, the TV show featuredIsh Kabibbleand vocalistsMike Douglas,Sue Bennettand Liza Palmer, plus The Honeydreamers vocal group and the dance team of Diane Sinclair and Ken Spaulding.Ben Grauerwas the announcer during the first season. Always the businessman, Kyser reunited his band especially for this series and just as quickly disbanded it when the show ended. After a four-year hiatus, the "Kollege of Musical Knowledge" was revived byTennessee Ernie Ford,prior to the launching of his own NBC program,The Ford Show,which ran from 1956 to 1961.

Radio (non-musical)

Kyser andGinny Simmsco-starred in "Niagara to Reno" (described as "an original comedy" ) onCBSradio'sSilver TheaterApril 6, 1941.

Post musical career

After retiring from music, Kyser became involved with his church,The First Church of Christ, Scientist.When he was a child, his mother turned to aChristian Science practitionerfor healing while apparently on her deathbed.In 1932, Kay recalled her recovery and turned to a practitioner himself while feeling the need for spiritual guidance; the practitioner encouraged him to continue with music, so he could use his talents to help people relieve tension in their lives. Kyser recalled: "I felt so healed that I quit worrying about it and for the next 18 years I couldn’t think of anything except how to make better records and how to make the music more danceable.... Underlying that was the unquenchable desire to serve mankind’s needs."In the 1940s, he began to experience his own health problems, which at times confined him to a wheelchair, and he turned to the religion in earnest; becoming a practitioner himself in 1961, a teacher of Christian Science a few years afterwards, and in 1974 working at the church's headquarters in Boston directing its radio and television broadcasting.In the late 70s and early 80s he traveled around as a Christian Science lecturer, and in 1983, he became the church's president, a one-year position which he referred to as "honorary", joking that he hadn't "been elected Pope or anything".

Kyser supported various philanthropic causes after his retirement from music including health care, educational television, and highway safety.Kyser supported the construction of a wing inSt. John's hospitalin Santa Monica, and there is a portrait of him at the entrance of its medical library.He also helped raise $62 million to build more hospitals and train nurses in his home state of North Carolina, lobbied the state legislature, and had his entertainment friends includingFrank SinatraandDinah Shoredo a commercial in support of expanding healthcare in the state.Kyser also supported his old school,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,especially the arts, through the Kyser Foundation which gave scholarships to UNC music and drama students; and supported the university's theatre, pharmacy school, and its Center for Public Television. He also gave to the North Carolina Symphony Society, the first state symphony orchestra in the country.

In 1962, several members of the Kay Kyser team (including Babbit, Kabibble, and Simms but not Kyser himself) reunited atCapitol Recordsto recordan album of new versions of Kyser's greatest hits.ComedianStan Freberg,one of Capitol's regular artists, did an impression of Kay's original song introductions.

Family

Kyser andGeorgia Carrollremained married until his death. They moved back to Kyser's home state of North Carolina where they lived in his uncle's old house, the oldest house in Chapel Hill, and raised their three daughters – Amanda, Carroll, and Kimberly, who all graduated from his alma mater, theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Death

Kyser's gravestone

Kyser died of aheart attackinChapel Hill, North Carolinaon July 23, 1985. He was buried atOld Chapel Hill Cemeteryin Chapel Hill.

Legacy

Kyser was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990.

Kyser was inducted into theNorth Carolina Music Hall of Famein 1999.

TheUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hillis custodian of a large archive of documents and material about Kyser which was donated by his widow and made available to the public on April 8, 2008.

Noted sidemen and vocalists

• Source:"Kay Kyser the Ol' Professor of Swing".Yess Dance Productions.Retrieved25 January2023.

• Harry Babbitt(1913–2004), baritone singer
• Jack Barrow,trombone player
• Noni Bernardi(1911–2006), aka Ernani Bernardi, alto sax. Member of the Los Angeles City Council
• Georgia Carroll(1919–2011), vocalist who married Kyser
• Mike Douglas(1920–2006), vocalist, host of the 1961-1982The Mike Douglas Show
• George Duning(1908–2000), musician and film composer
• Trudy Erwin(1918–2000), vocalist
• Lyman Gandee,pianist
• Herman "Heinie" Gunkler,jazz clarinetist, aka Hymie Gunkler
• Bobby Guy,trumpet player
• Roc Hillman,guitarist and composer
• Ish Kabibble(1908–1994), comedian and cornet player
• Jack Martin,vocalist and tenor sax player
• Sully Mason(1906–1970), vocalist and alto sax player
• Rosy McHargue(1902–1999), clarinetist
• Ginny Simms(1913–1994), vocalist, actress
• Bill "Smilin'" Stoker,clarinet, tenor sax, vocalist
• Gloria Wood(1923–1995), vocalist and voice-over actress
• Art Wilson,vocalist
• Arthur Wright,vocalist

Selected filmography

• Source:"Kay Kyser".IMDb.

• Carolina Blues(1944)
• Around the World(1943)
• Swing Fever(1943)
• Thousands Cheer(1943)
• Stage Door Canteen(1943)
• My Favorite Spy(1942)
• Playmates(1941)
• You'll Find Out(1940)
• That's Right - You're Wrong(1939)

External links

• Kay Kyser: A Life in Motion
• WFMU: Kay Kyser inYou’ll Find Out
• Kay Kyser Timeline
• Kay Kyser biography
• Command Performance:Kay Kyser (April 1, 1942)
• "The Glowing Dial (0:48 to 1:20):Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge(October 11, 1944) ".Archived fromthe originalon April 6, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 9,2007.
• Kay KyseratIMDb
• Inventory of the Kay Kyser and Georgia Carroll Kyser Papers, 1906-2004,in theSouthern Historical Collection,UNC-Chapel Hill
• Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs:Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge