Christine McGuire of the McGuire Sisters, Dies at 92 (Video)

Christine McGuire, the eldest sister of the McGuire Sisters died in Las Vegas at the age of 92. The sisters had numerous television and radio appearances and a succession of top 20 songs in the 1950s. They were one of the most celebrated all-female bands of that era . The details and cause of her death were not released.

Phyllis, Dorothy, and Christine McGuire started singing at the First Church of God in Ohio. Their mother was the minister at their church and she encouraged them to sing. However, the sisters were not permitted to listen to mainstream music.

In the 1940s, when the McGuire Sisters were in the teens and 20s, they added pop songs to their song list and began singing as a trio at benefits, veterans’ hospitals and events who would hire them. Radio stations in Ohio loved them and their singing in harmony became legendary.

In 1952 the McGuire sisters went to New York to audition for “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts.” When they got there Godfrey was not there and by chance, they were hired to appear for two months on a national radio broadcast.

When the McGuire sisters got to sing “Mona Lisa” in a contest in front of Godfrey where they won and became regulars on his television and radio shows. They had a string of Top 10 hits. The first was in 1953 with their version of “Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight.” The year after, their follow up single was “Muskrat Ramble.”

“Sincerely” was the McGuire sisters biggest hit. Released in 1954, it stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard charts for 10 weeks. They hit No. 5 on Billboard with their 1954 recording of “Something’s Gotta Give” which was originally recorded by Johnny Mercer.

Rock-and-roll began to take over the airways, but the McGuire sisters kept their signature sound. They continued to tour and recorded a few songs that did not do much. In 1958 the sang “Sugartime”

The song went straight to No.1 and became the signature song of the McGuire Sisters. In the 1950s, when the McGuire Sisters were at their peak, each sister earned $1 million a year or more.

The sisters continued to perform, but soon their sound was not with the times. Their last performance was in 1968 on The Ed Sullivan Show.”

The McGuire Sisters had nine songs on the Top 20 of Billboard.

The sisters continued to sing together, primarily at family reunions for the next 20 years. In 1985 the sisters gathered in New York at Phillis’ apartment and started to map out a comeback.

After rehearsing for months in 1986, the McGuire Sisters launched a return concert in Las Vegas. They were also featured at the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989. The sisters continued to make appearances together retiring once again in 2004.

Christine McGuire’s first husband was Harold Ashcraft. They had two sons together. After the two were divorced, she married John Teeter, Guy Marks, and Robert Spain. Her last husband, who was her fifth, was David Mudd. He died in 2011.

Her sister Dorothy died in 2012. She is survived by her sister Phyllis and one son.

Survivors include a son, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her sister Phyllis, who lives in Las Vegas and New York. Dorothy McGuire died in 2012.

Written By Barbara Sobel

Sources:

The Washington Post: Christine McGuire, eldest sister in popular 1950s trio the McGuire Sisters, dies at 92
Extra: Christine McGuire of the McGuire Sister Dies
New York Times: Christine McGuire Eldest of the Singing Sisters, Is dead at 92

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Video courtesy of Ifasul’s YouTube