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The McGuire Sisters

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The McGuire Sisters
The McGuire Sisters in 1964
The McGuire Sisters in 1964
Background information
BornChristine: (1926-07-30)July 30, 1926
Dorothy: (1928-02-13)February 13, 1928
Phyllis: (1931-02-14)February 14, 1931
Middletown, Ohio, U.S.
OriginMiddletown, Ohio, U.S.
DiedChristine: December 28, 2018(2018-12-28) (aged 92), Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Dorothy: September 7, 2012(2012-09-07) (aged 84), Paradise Valley, Arizona, U.S.
Phyllis: December 29, 2020(2020-12-29) (aged 89), Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
GenresTraditional pop
Years active1952–1968; 1986–2004
Past membersChristine McGuire
Dorothy "Dottie" McGuire
Phyllis Jean McGuire

The McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music. The group was composed of three sisters:

  • Ruby[1] Christine McGuire (July 30, 1926 – December 28, 2018)
  • Dorothy "Dottie" McGuire (February 13, 1928 – September 7, 2012)
  • Phyllis Jean McGuire (February 14, 1931 – December 29, 2020)

Among their most popular songs are "Sincerely" and "Sugartime", both number-one hits.[2]

Early years

[edit]

The McGuire sisters were born to Asa and Lillie (Fultz) McGuire[3][4] in Middletown, Ohio, and grew up in Miamisburg near Dayton. Their mother, Lillie, was a minister of the Miamisburg First Church of God, where, as children, they sang in church at weddings, funerals, and revivals. When they started singing in 1935, the youngest sister, Phyllis, was four years old. Eventually, they sang at occasions outside church, and by 1949 were singing at military bases and veterans' hospitals, performing a more diverse repertoire than they had in church.[5]

Career in show business

[edit]

The McGuire Sisters signed with Coral Records in 1952. In the same year, they appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, and Godfrey hired them for his other shows, where they remained for seven years. The November 1953 issue of Cosmopolitan called them "Godfrey's Merry McGuires". The sisters often were compared to the Andrews Sisters. Maxene Andrews said in an interview with Joe Franklin on WOR (AM) radio in 1979, "The McGuire Sisters were fine once they stopped imitating the Andrews Sisters." While working on the Godfrey show, the McGuires befriended singer Lu Ann Simms and attended her wedding to music publisher Loring Buzzell in July 1956.[6] Buzzell's music publishing firm, Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music (co-owned by Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster) provided two songs for the McGuire Sisters, "May You Always", which became the best-selling 45 and sheet music of 1959, and "Theme from The Unforgiven (The Need for Love)", which became another big hit in 1960.[7][8]

The McGuire Sisters were the Mystery Guests on the May 29, 1955 airing of What's My Line? Fred Allen guessed who they were. In 1958, their mother appeared as a guest challenger on the television game show To Tell the Truth. In December 1958 they appeared and performed as themselves in Season 4, Episode 11 of The Phil Silvers Show, "Bilko Presents the McGuire Sisters".

The McGuire Sisters and the Andrews Sisters met several times during their careers. Phyllis credited Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne Andrews during a television interview with Maxene in the 1990s, hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael, saying that her sisters and she met the Andrews Sisters in New York in the early 1950s and received important advice. The McGuires moved when they sang, often executing dance routines in lavish production numbers on countless television specials. The Andrews Sisters performed similarly in films in the 1940s, and were the first female vocal group to move when they sang, rather than just standing at a microphone. The sisters had mimicked that style, as well as those of the Mills Brothers and the Dinning Sisters ever since they were young, when they would perform short shows for family and friends in their parents' living room. Phyllis McGuire recounted that she and her sisters did not know any popular songs when they became famous, only the hymns taught to them by their mother. The trio imitated other singing groups long before their success.[9]

They performed for five Presidents of the United States: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, and for Queen Elizabeth II. In London they performed a set for the Royal Variety Performance of 1961.

During the 1960s, the sisters maintained a busy television schedule, making frequent appearances on popular variety programs hosted by Ed Sullivan, Dean Martin, Danny Kaye, Milton Berle, Andy Williams, Perry Como, and Red Skelton. The trio was dressed and coiffed identically, and performed synchronized body movements and hand gestures with military precision. Their recordings of "Sincerely", "Picnic", and "Sugartime" all sold more than one million copies.[5]

End to the group's public appearances

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They retired from public appearances in 1968, giving their last performance that year on The Ed Sullivan Show. Phyllis McGuire continued to perform solo for a time. The demise of the group is often attributed to Phyllis' long-standing personal relationship with mobster Sam Giancana (although for years she claimed that their friendship was strictly platonic), which reportedly led to the group's blacklisting.

During one of his 1960s court appearances for which Phyllis was subpoenaed, Giancana told reporters outside the courthouse, "Phyllis knows everything" about the rumored unethical behaviors of John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert. Giancana was shot in 1975 by an unknown gunman thought to be Dominic "Butch" Blasi, his closest confidante and right hand man of sorts.

Phyllis resided for decades in a famously showcased mansion in Las Vegas, boasting its own beauty parlor, a swan moat, and a replica of the Eiffel Tower which actually rose through the home's roof. When asked by Barbara Walters during a 1980s ABC-TV 20/20 interview from within the mansion if any of the money to build the lavish home came from Giancana, Phyllis denied the suggestion, claiming that she invested heavily in oil when the sisters were at the height of their popularity. In the same interview, she acknowledged that her relationship with Giancana was in fact a love affair, saying, "When I met him, I did not know who he was, and he was not married, and I was an unmarried woman. And according to the way I was brought up, there was nothing wrong with that. And I didn't find out until sometime later really who he was, and I was already in love."[9]

The sisters reunited in 1986, performing at Toronto's Royal York Hotel for the first time since their retirement.[10] Numerous nightclub engagements followed in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and New York City's Rainbow & Stars, showcasing the group and Phyllis' impersonations of Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Pearl Bailey, Ethel Merman, and even Louis Armstrong.

Singing their greatest hits as part of their act, they were also featured performing specialty numbers such as the frantic "I Love a Violin", the a cappella "Danny Boy", and a segment during which Phyllis retired backstage as Christine and Dorothy shared the spotlight playing a concert arrangement of "The Way We Were" on twin pianos. Other highlights in the act were a comical Trinidad-flavored tune, a soft rendering of "Memory" from Broadway's Cats, and a "Money Medley", which they also performed live on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in 1994. Since then, the sisters had made occasional public appearances together, including in 2004, when they reunited to perform in a PBS special Magic Moments: Best of '50s Pop.[11][12] The sisters' command of their vocal cords and harmonious blend, perhaps the most impressive of any trio before or since, had not significantly diminished.[9]

After their careers wound down, they opened a restaurant in Bradenton, Florida, calling it McGuire's Pub.[13]

Legacy

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They were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994, and in 2001, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They also have been inducted into the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame and the Headliners' Hall of Fame.[14] They were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2009.

Family

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Christine was married six times. Her first marriage to Harold Ashcraft (1942 until August 16, 1950) she had two children, Herold and Asa. Christine later married John Henry Teeter (December 30, 1952 until December, 18, 1962), Robert Hugh Spain (December 12, 1967 until 1970), Guy Marks (from 1975 until unknown), George Rosenfeld (from ?? until his death on August 23, 1996),[15] and David Mudd (2002 until his death on August 19, 2011). All the latter marriages remained childless.

Christine's grandson, Army Cpl. Evan Asa Ashcraft, aged 24, was killed in Iraq in 2003, when the convoy he was traveling in came under fire.[16][17]

On July 30, 1951, Dorothy married Sgt. John Henry Brown, whom she divorced on January 9, 1956. During their childless marriage, Dorothy was romantically linked with singer Julius La Rosa. On December 6, 1958, she married Lowell James Williamson, with whom she had two sons, Rex and David.

In November 1952, Phyllis married Cornelius (Neal) Anthony Burke Van Ells. They divorced in 1956. She had no children.[citation needed]

Deaths

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On September 7, 2012, Dorothy McGuire died at her son's home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, after suffering from Parkinson's disease and age-related dementia; she was 84.[18] Dorothy's husband of 54 years, Lowell Williamson, died six months later on February 25, 2013, after sustaining a fractured back from a fall; he was 89.

Christine McGuire died in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 28, 2018, at the age of 92. No cause of death was given.[19]

Phyllis McGuire, the last surviving member of the trio, died peacefully at her estate in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 29, 2020, of natural causes; she was 89.[20][21]

Discography

[edit]
Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart positions Album
US CB US
AC 		UK
[22]
1953 "Picking Sweethearts"
b/w "One, Two, Three, Four" 		— — — — Non-album tracks
"Toodle-Ooh Siana"
b/w "Miss You" 		— — — —
"Where Good Times Are"
b/w "Hey, Mister Cotton Picker" 		— — — —
"Are You Looking for a Sweetheart"
b/w "You'll Never Know Till Monday" 		— — — —
1954 "Uno, Due, Tre (The Italian Square Dance)"
b/w "Lonesome Polecat" (from Musical Magic) 		— — — —
"Pine Tree, Pine over Me" 26 27 — —
"Cling to Me" — 49 — —
"Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight"
b/w "Heavenly Feeling" (Non-album track) 		7 8 — — By Request
"Muskrat Ramble" (see below)
b/w "Not As a Stranger" (Non-album track) 		— — — —
"Muskrat Ramble" 10 9 — —
"Lonesome Polecat" 28 33 — — Musical Magic
"Christmas Alphabet"
b/w "Give Me Your Heart for Christmas" 		25 34 — — Greetings from the McGuire Sisters
1955 "Sincerely" 1 2 — 14 By Request
"No More" 17 — — 20
"Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sun Shine In)"
b/w "Melody of Love" 		— — — —
"The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane"
b/w "Hearts of Stone" (non-album track) 		— — — —
"It May Sound Silly" 11 14 — — Chris, Phyllis, Dottie
"Doesn't Anybody Love Me?" flip — — — Musical Magic
"Something's Gotta Give" 5 4 — — Chris, Phyllis, Dottie
"Rhythm 'n Blues" flip 32 — — Teenage Party
"Kiss Me and Kill Me with Love"
b/w "If It's a Dream" 		— — — — Non-album tracks
"He"
b/w "If You Believe" 		10 4 — — Greetings from the McGuire Sisters
"Give Me Love" 95 30 — — Non-album track
"Sweet Song of India" — 34 — — Chris, Phyllis, Dottie
"Be Good to Me" — 46 — — Teenage Party
"My Baby's Got Such Lovin' Ways" — 40 — —
"I'd Like to Trim a Tree with You"
b/w "The Littlest Angel" 		— — — — Greetings from the McGuire Sisters
1956 "Missing"
b/w "Tell Me Now" (non-album track) 		44 36 — — Musical Magic
"Picnic" 13 20 — — Chris, Phyllis, Dottie
"Delilah Jones" 37 36 — 24
"Weary Blues" 32 42 — — Sugartime
"In the Alps" 63 — — —
"Ev'ry Day of My Life" 37 33 — — Chris, Phyllis, Dottie
"Endless" 52 36 — —
"Goodnight, My Love, Pleasant Dreams"
b/w "Mommy" (from Children's Holiday) 		32 23 — — Musical Magic
1957 "Kid Stuff"
b/w "Without Him" 		— 36 — — Musical Magic
"Blue Skies"
b/w "He's Got Time" (from Greetings from the McGuire Sisters) 		— — — — Do You Remember When
"Please, Don't Do That to Me"
b/w"Drownin' in Memories" 		— — — — Teenage Party
"Beginning to Miss You"
b/w "Rock Bottom" 		— — — —
"Around the World In 80 Days"
b/w "Interlude" 		73 — — — Sugartime
"Kiss Them for Me"
b/w "Forgive Me" 		— — — —
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
b/w "Honorable Congratulations" 		— — — — Greetings from the McGuire Sisters
"Sugartime"
b/w "Banana Split" 		1 7 — 14 Sugartime
1958 "Ding Dong"
b/w "Since You Went Away to School" 		25 43 — —
"Volare"
b/w "Do You Love Me Like You Kiss Me" 		80 — — — May You Always
"Sweetie Pie"
b/w "I'll Think of You" 		— — — —
1959 "May You Always"
b/w "Achoo-Cha-Cha" 		11 21 — 15
"Summer Dreams" 55 64 — — Sugartime
"Peace" 85 97 — — May You Always
"Red River Valley"
b/w "Compromise" (Non-album track) 		— — — — Showcase
"Some of These Days"
b/w "Have a Nice Weekend" (Non-album track) 		— — — —
1960 "Livin' Dangerously"
b/w "Lovers Lullaby" 		97 — — — Non-album tracks
"Theme from The Unforgiven (The Need for Love)"
b/w "I Give Thanks" (Non-album track) 		— — — — Showcase
"The Last Dance"
b/w "Nine o'Clock" (Non-album track) 		99 — — —
"To Be Loved"
b/w "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" 		— — — —
1961 "Just for Old Time's Sake"
b/w "Really Neat" (Non-album track) 		20 17 — — Just for Old Time's Sake
"Tears on My Pillow"
b/w "Will There Be Space in a Space Ship" (Non-album track) 		59 55 12 — Showcase
"Just Because" 99 96 — —
"I Do, I Do, I Do" — tag — —
"I'm Just Taking My Time"
b/w "I Can Dream, Can't I?" (Non-album track) 		— — — — Subways Are for Sleeping
1962 "Sugartime Twist"
b/w "More Hearts Are Broken That Way" 		107 130 — — Showcase
"Mama's Gone, Goodbye"
b/w "I Really Don't Want to Know" 		— — — — Songs Everybody Knows
1963 "Summertime (Is the Time for Love)"
b/w "Cordially Invited" 		— — — — Non-album tracks
1964 "Now and Forever"
b/w "Never" 		— — — —
"Candy Heart"
b/w "Dear Heart" 		— — — —
"Ticket to Anywhere"
b/w "I'll Walk Alone" 		— — — —
1966 "Truer Than You Were"
b/w "Grazia" 		— — 30 — Right Now!

Phyllis McGuire solo singles

[edit]
Year Single (A-side, B-side) Chart positions Album
US CB US
AC
1964 "I Don't Want to Walk Without You"
b/w "That's Life" 		79 85 13 Non-album tracks
"Just a Little Lovin'"
b/w "You Don't Have the Heart to Tell Me" 		— — —
1965 "Run to My Arms"
b/w "Someone Else Is Taking My Place" 		— — —
1966 "My Happiness"
b/w "Vaya con Dios" 		— — — Phyllis McGuire Sings
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The McGuire Sisters, and most especially Phyllis McGuire, who lived in Las Vegas, were the subjects of the 1995 HBO movie Sugartime, which depicted a romantic relationship between Phyllis and mobster Sam Giancana. Giancana was played by actor John Turturro, and Phyllis was played by actress Mary-Louise Parker.

The Robert Altman film Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean (1982) prominently features the music of The McGuire Sisters. Their number one single, "Sincerely", is lip-synced by the film's stars Cher, Karen Black and Sandy Dennis as "The Disciples of James Dean."

"Join the Club", the second episode of the sixth season of The Sopranos, references both The McGuire Sisters and Sam Giancana.

References

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  1. ^ "The McGuire Sisters". Daytonhistorybooks.com.
  2. ^ The McGuire Sisters official website; Mcguiresisters.com, accessed January 29, 2018.
  3. ^ Pitman, Michael D. (2019-01-07). "'A high standard, for music and the good life': Local native of hit '50s group the McGuire Sisters remembered". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  4. ^ McFadden, Robert D. (4 January 2019). "Christine McGuire, Eldest of the Singing Sisters, Is Dead at 92 (Published 2019)". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  5. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London, UK: Barrie and Jenkins. p. 75. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. ^ "New York Church Crowded for Lu Ann Simms Wedding". Reading Eagle, July 25, 1954. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. November 24, 1958. p. 42.
  8. ^ "Review of This Weeks Singles". Billboard, April 11, 1960. p. 44.
  9. ^ a b c Sforza, John (2000). Swing It! The Andrews Sisters Story, University Press of Kentucky.[ISBN missing]
  10. ^ People magazine, "The Mcguire Sisters, Those Sugartime Princesses of Pop, Have Reunited After a 17-Year Split", March 3, 1986
  11. ^ ""Magic Moments: Best of '50s Pop" PBS special". Archived from the original on December 10, 2010.
  12. ^ "The McGuire Sisters Biography". Musicianguide.com.
  13. ^ "The McGuire Sisters". answers.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  14. ^ Kathy Shayna Shocket, "50th anniversary party reunites legendary trio", AZCentral.com, December 10, 2008.
  15. ^ "Restaurateur Rosenfeld dies at 71 - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". Lasvegassun.com. 16 September 1996. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Army Cpl. Evan Asa Ashcraft". MilitaryTimes.com. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  17. ^ McFadden, Robert D. (January 4, 2019). "Christine McGuire, Eldest of the Singing Sisters, Is Dead at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  18. ^ "Dorothy McGuire". Telegraph. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  19. ^ "Ruby McGuire Obituary – Las Vegas, Nevada". Legacy.com. 28 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Phyllis McGuire Obituary – Las Vegas, Nevada". Lasvegassun.com. 30 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Phyllis McGuire Obituary - Las Vegas, NV". Dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  22. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. p. 339. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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