Phyllis McGuire – the last surviving member of the girl group The McGuire Sisters – died December 29, 2020 in her Las Vegas home at the age of 89. No official cause of death was given.
Phyllis was the youngest of the three singing sisters; along with Dorothy and Christine. She was also the lead singer in the group.
Popular before the creation of the Grammy Awards, The McGuire Sisters earned six gold records and were best known for the hits “Sugartime” and “Sincerely”. Their other accomplishments include command performances before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and five U.S. Presidents; as well as, induction into the National Broadcasting and Vocal Group Halls of Fame.
The girls got their start singing in church as small children and later performed at weddings.
Rising to fame during World War II, the trio performed together for many years before breaking up; but returned on a number of occasions to perform as a trio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRvEHn6fKWE
Phyllis and her sisters made their television debut in 1952 on “The Kate Smith Hour”. Their other television appearances include “Arthur Godfrey and His Friends”, “The Pat Boone-Chevy Showroom”, “The Steve Allen Plymouth Show”, “The Phil Silvers Show”, “What’s My Line?”, “The Hollywood Palace”, and “The New Hollywood Squares”.
As herself, Phyllis McGuire appeared on “The Jack Benny Hour”, “Password”, “Perry Cuomo’s Kraft Music Hall”, “The Mike Douglas Show”, “The Kraft Music Hall”, “The Joey Bishop Show”, “Della”, “The Bob Braun Show”, “The Dean Martin Show”, “The Merv Griffin Show”, “Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson”, “Vicki!”, and documentaries. She is also credited as being an actress in “The Ed Sullivan Show”, “Come Blow Your Horn”, “The Red Skelton Hour”, and “The White River Kid”.
She was born Phyllis Jean McGuire on February 14, 1931 in Middletown, Ohio.
Predeceased by sisters Dorothy and Christine, she was married briefly in the 50’s. The couple had no children.
The McGuire Sisters/Phyllis McGuire discography:
“By Request”
“S’Wonderful”
“He”
“Sincerely”
“Children’s Holiday”
“Teenage Party”
“When the Lights are Low”
“Musical Magic”
“Greetings from the McGuire Sisters”
“Sugartime”
“In Harmony with Him
“His and Hers”
“Just for Old Times Sake”
“Subways are for Sleeping”
“Songs Everybody Knows”
“Showcase”
“The McGuire Sisters Today”
feature photo credit: By CBS Television – eBayfrontback, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31687216