|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZKYSER, Kay(b James King Kern Kyser, 18 June 1905, Rocky Mount NC; d 23 July 1985, Chapel Hill NC) One of the most successful bandleaders of the Swing Era, who couldn't play or read a note of music. He fronted his first band at the U. of North Carolina in the mid-'20s; led jazzish bands '20s, early '30s; then switched to a sweet style. He landed a good summer spot at a Santa Monica hotel '34 and was recommended by Hal Kemp for a residency at Chicago's Black Hawk restaurant '34-5, and became popular through broadcasts. He started a popular audience participation music quiz for slow Monday nights, at first Kay Kyser's Kampus Klass, eventually popular on radio as Kollege Of Musical Knowledge. The comic singer Ish Kabibble also played section trumpet, had novelty hits ('Three Little Fishies') and a funny haircut like a Beatle 20 years early (his real name was Merwyn Bogue; he went solo late '40s, led big band in L.A. '49, combo the Shy Guys '50s; sold real estate; d 5 June '94 aged 86). There was a singing song title gimmick: the vocalist sang one line and the band vamped while Kyser introduced the number. Arranger George Duning (b 25 February 1908, Richmond VA; d 27 February 2000) later became a film music composer (70 films, Oscar nominations included Picnic '56; also Star Trek TV episodes). Van Alexander (b 2 May 1915, NYC; d 19 July 2015, Los Angeles) joined Duning on staff c'42; he had arranged the Chick Webb/Ella Fitzgerald hit 'A-Tisket, A-Tasket' '39, later led his own band (also wrote a book First Chart for young arrangers, became a film and TV composer, was music director on Dean Martin's TV show). Kyser's band was featured in films That's Right, You're Wrong '39, several more including Swing Fever, Thousands Cheer and Stage Door Canteen, all '43. Kyser volunteered for the military but was rejected; he played many hospitals, camps, defence plants, etc. The sax section improved with the addition of Herbie Haymer (b 24 July 1915, Jersey City; d 11 April 1949, Santa Monica in a car crash) and others; the band's music was sometimes said to swing, and some say it had as much right to be called a jazz band in this period as other white bands. From the beginning of the Billboard chart the band had 20 top ten hits '40-48, including 'Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition!', no. 2 '42; 'Jingle, Jangle, Jingle', no. 1 '42; also 'There Goes That Song Again', '45; Hoagy Carmichael songs 'Ole Buttermilk Sky', 'The Old Lamplighter', both '46; 'Managua, Nicaragua', '47; 'Woody Woodpecker' (no. 1) and Frank Loesser's 'On A Slow Boat To China', both '48. Vocalists passing through included Jane Russell, later a film star; Mike Douglas, later a TV talk show host; Ginny Simms, others. Kyser was a personable and popular front man; he and the band wore academic robes while asking quaint questions in the Kollege caper: if a contestant didn't know the answer (especially a serviceman in uniform) Kyser would provide it. He allegedly once out-grossed Glenn Miller, made $1 million in 1940 (and some said Miller was jealous). The band and the quiz were on TV '49-50; he then retired to his home state and worked for the Christian Science church. |