Kay Kyser AKA James King Kern Kyser Born: 18-Jun-1897 Birthplace: Rocky Mount, NC Died: 23-Jul-1985 Location of death: Chapel Hill, NC Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Buried, Old Chapel Hill Cemetery, Chapel Hill, NC
Gender: Male Religion: Christian Science Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Musician Nationality: United States Executive summary: The Ol' Professor, eleven #1 records Perhaps the first famous Big Band leader, Kyser performed with Ish Kabibble and singer Harry Babbitt, scoring eleven #1 records in the 1930's and 40's. When singer Babbitt was called to service in WWII, replacing him was Don Leslie and future talk show host Mike Douglas.
In addition to the music, Kyser hosted the Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge radio program 1937-49, a show comparable to Name That Tune but with slightly more depth. The show was tried on television in the early 1950's with some success, but didn't work nearly as well as it did on the radio. It was tried briefly again several years later, with Tennessee Ernie Ford as replacement host.
After Kyser died in 1985, singer Harry Babbitt purchased the back catalogue from Georgia, and performed under the Kyser name until the mid-1990's, one of the last touring remnants of Big Band. Father: P. B. Kyser Mother: Emily Wife: Georgia Carroll (m. Jun-1944, until his death, three daughters) Daughter: Kimberly Kyser Daughter: Amanda Kyser
University: University of North Carolina (1928)
Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses 1942 Radio Hall of Fame 1990
FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR Carolina Blues (20-Dec-1944) · Himself Around the World (24-Nov-1943) · Himself Swing Fever (1-Nov-1943) Thousands Cheer (13-Sep-1943) · Himself Stage Door Canteen (24-Jun-1943) · Himself My Favorite Spy (28-May-1942) Playmates (26-Dec-1941) · Himself You'll Find Out (22-Nov-1940) · Kay That's Right -- You're Wrong (24-Nov-1939) · Himself
Official Website: http://www.kaykyser.net/
Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile
Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications
|