Kay Kyser

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 arranger George Duning, toured Midwest restaurants and night clubs and gradually built a following. They were particularly popular at Chicago's Blackhawk 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 the Mutual Radio in 1938 and then moved to NBC Radio from 1939 to 1949. The show rose in the ratings and spawned many imitators. Kyser led the band as “The Ol’ Perfessor,” spouting catchphrases: “That’s right—you’re wrong”, “Evenin’ folks, how y’all?” and “C'mon, chillun! Le's dance!”

Although Kyser and his orchestra gained fame through the "Kollege of Musical Knowledge," they were an excellent 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. Read Less

In the early 1960s, several members of the Kay Kyser team (including Kabibble and Simms but not Kyser) reunited to record an album of new versions of Kyser’s greatest hits.

In the 1970s, Kay ran the film and television department of the Christian Science Church in Boston. He was a Christian Science practitioner, teacher, and lecturer. Read Less