Their first hit, "Tonight, You Belong to Me", reached No. The sisters made no secret that they were huge fans of the innovative, intricate musical stylings of both The Andrews Sisters and The Mills Brothers. Kathy was especially fond of Connie Francis, evident in her solo recording of "Malaguena", which showcased her impressive vocal range. The girls idolized Patti Page's multi-track vocal sound, feeling they achieved something close to her smooth blend in their Dot recording of "Stars Fell on Alabama". Peggy also specialized in barbershop, or counter-harmony, singing, taught to her by her father (who performed during the Big Band Era in a quartet with his own three brothers). Peggy sang the high harmony, Kathy the low harmony, and Janet and DeeDee sang the middle and lead harmonies. The quartet was a trio from 1960 to 1964 after DeeDee married and left the group she rejoined in 1964. Welk was so impressed that he immediately booked them for that week's show, where they were a mainstay until they left to start a career of their own in 1968. Welk was at home, sick in bed, when his son brought the sisters in to sing for him. A high school classmate, Larry Welk, son of Lawrence Welk, brought them to the attention of his father.
The quartet made its television debut on The Lawrence Welk Show on Christmas Eve 1955. Many of their songs are either hymns or of a religious or spiritual nature. Throughout the Lennon Sisters' career, their faith has had a major influence in both their lives and their careers. Most or all of the children attended Catholic school. Mark, which is part of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. They were and are devout Roman Catholics and attended the Church of St. ĭuring their formative years, the family, which included two parents, 11 children, and one grandmother, lived in Venice, California, in a modest two-bedroom home. Pablo's great-great-great-grandfather, Bernardo Salgado De Oliberos, was born in San Andrés, Spain. Isabelle's maternal grandfather, Pablo Alvarez (1857–1905), was born in Santa Ana, California, and her maternal grandmother, Margarita Camacho (1864–1938), was from Wilmington, California. Their ancestry was a mixture of Mexican, Spanish, German, and Irish. Sis was the daughter of Reina Ysabella Alvarez Denning and Danforth Denning.
Their mother, Isabelle Emily "Sis" (1919–2005), remained at home to care for the needs of her very large family. Their father, William Herbert Lennon (1915–1969), worked as a milkman for many years before getting a job at a local golf course. The Lennon Sisters were 2001 inductees into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They continue to tour around the country and appear annually with their Christmas show at The Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri. The current line-up of the Lennon Sisters is a trio consisting of Kathy, Janet, and Mimi. In 1999, younger sister Mimi (born Miriam Theresa, October 16, 1955) replaced Peggy upon the latter's retirement. After their show was cancelled, they partnered with Andy Williams to create a successful Las Vegas residency, which lasted a decade. All 12 Lennon children were born in Los Angeles, California.įor thirteen years, from 1955 to 1968, the group appeared regularly on The Lawrence Welk Show (receiving union scale wages) before having their own television variety show, called Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters with Jimmy Durante. The Lennon Sisters are an American vocal group initially made up of four sisters from a family that had seven sisters in all (including infant Mary Frances, Ma– June 20, 1954) and five brothers.ĭianne (born Dianne Barbara aka DeeDee December 1, 1939), Peggy (born Margaret Anne, April 8, 1941), Kathy (born Kathleen Mary, August 2, 1943), and Janet (born Janet Elizabeth, June 15, 1946). Lennon Sisters in 1971 (top) and in 1955.ġ971, from left: Kathy, Janet, Peggy and Dianne ġ955, from left: Janet, Kathy, Peggy, and Dianneīrunswick, Coral, Dot, Mercury, Atlantic, Ranwood, Heartland, Maryco
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