The McGuire Sisters
| Company type | Vocal trio |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, entertainment |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
The McGuire Sisters were a vocal trio from the United States, consisting of siblings Christine, Dottie, and Phyllis McGuire. Among their most acclaimed tracks are the chart-topping singles "Sincerely" and "Sugartime".
Early years
Daughters of Asa and Lillie McGuire, the sisters were raised in Miamisburg, Ohio, close to Dayton, having been born in Middletown, Ohio. Their mother, who served as a minister at the Miamisburg First Church of God, introduced them to singing within church environments such as weddings and revival meetings. Starting in 1935 when Phyllis was just four years old, their performances gradually extended beyond religious venues; by 1949, they were entertaining audiences at military installations and veterans’ hospitals, expanding their musical selections.
Career in show business
In 1952, the McGuire Sisters secured a contract with Coral Records and quickly gained nationwide recognition through appearances on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. They became fixtures on Godfrey’s programs for seven consecutive years. In 1953, Cosmopolitan referred to them as "Godfrey's Merry McGuires". Although frequently likened to the Andrews Sisters, they eventually established a distinct musical identity.
Their collaboration with music publisher Loring Buzzell resulted in popular songs such as "May You Always" (1959), which topped sales for both 45 rpm records and sheet music that year, as well as "Theme from The Unforgiven (The Need for Love)" released in 1960. The trio appeared on numerous television programs including serving as Mystery Guests on What's My Line? and performing on The Phil Silvers Show.
Acknowledging the Andrews Sisters for their early influence, the McGuires adopted elements of their energetic stagecraft and incorporated synchronized choreography into their acts. Over their career, they performed before five U.S. Presidents—Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush—and were featured at the 1961 Royal Variety Performance before Queen Elizabeth II.
Throughout the 1960s, the group maintained a prominent presence on television variety shows hosted by personalities like Ed Sullivan, Dean Martin, and Danny Kaye. Recognized for their matching outfits and flawless dance routines, their recordings including "Sincerely," "Picnic," and "Sugartime" each achieved sales exceeding one million copies.
End to the group's public appearances
The trio withdrew from public performances in 1968, making their final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Shortly after, Phyllis McGuire embarked on a solo career. The decline of the group is frequently attributed to Phyllis' controversial association with mob figure Sam Giancana, which allegedly led to them being blacklisted despite her persistent assertions that their relationship was purely platonic.
During Giancana’s legal proceedings in the 1960s—where Phyllis was subpoenaed—he told reporters that "Phyllis knows everything" regarding purported illicit activities involving John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Giancana was murdered in 1975 by an unidentified shooter believed to be Dominic "Butch" Blasi, a close confidant.
Phyllis resided for many years in an opulent Las Vegas estate featuring amenities such as a beauty salon, a swan-filled moat, and an Eiffel Tower replica extending through the roof. In a 1980s ABC-TV 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters, she denied that Giancana financed the residence, attributing her fortune instead to oil investments made during the sisters’ peak fame. She admitted to their romantic involvement but claimed ignorance of his criminal background initially and considered the affair appropriate given her unmarried status at that time.
In 1986, the sisters reunited for a performance at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel, marking their first show since retiring. This reunion sparked numerous nightclub engagements across Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and New York City's Rainbow & Stars venue, where they performed both classic hits and specialty numbers. Phyllis also displayed impersonations of artists such as Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, and Louis Armstrong.
Their repertoire included songs like "I Love a Violin," an a cappella rendition of "Danny Boy," and a piano duet of "The Way We Were" performed by Christine and Dorothy following Phyllis’ retirement from the stage. Additional highlights featured a Trinidad-inspired number, a version of "Memory" from Broadway’s Cats, and a live "Money Medley" performed during the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in 1994. The sisters continued occasional appearances afterward, including a 2004 reunion on the PBS special Magic Moments: Best of '50s Pop. Their vocal harmonies remained remarkably tight even in later years.
Following their musical careers, they established McGuire's Pub, a dining establishment located in Bradenton, Florida.
Legacy
The group was honored with induction into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994, followed by their inclusion in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. Further recognitions were received in 2009 when they were inducted into the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame, the Headliners' Hall of Fame, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Family
Christine McGuire entered into six marriages throughout her life, having two children from her initial marriage to Harold Ashcraft (1942–1950). Her subsequent unions with John Henry Teeter, Robert Hugh Spain, Guy Marks, George Rosenfeld, and David Mudd did not produce offspring. Her grandson, Army Corporal Evan Asa Ashcraft, lost his life during military service in Iraq in 2003.
Dorothy McGuire was married first to Sgt. John Henry Brown (1951–1956), then later to Lowell James Williamson, with whom she had two sons. Phyllis McGuire wed Cornelius Anthony Burke Van Ells in 1952; they separated in 1956 and had no children.
Deaths
After a prolonged struggle with Parkinson's disease and dementia, Dorothy McGuire passed away on September 7, 2012, in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Her husband Lowell Williamson died six months thereafter. Christine McGuire died at the age of 92 on December 28, 2018, in Las Vegas. The last surviving sister, Phyllis McGuire, died on December 29, 2020, at her estate in Las Vegas at age 89.
Discography
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CB | US AC |
UK | |||
| 1953 | "Picking Sweethearts" b/w "One, Two, Three, Four" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| "Toodle-Ooh Siana" b/w "Miss You" |
— | — | — | — | ||
| "Where Good Times Are" b/w "Hey, Mister Cotton Picker" |
— | — | — | — | ||
| "Are You Looking for a Sweetheart" b/w "You'll Never Know Till Monday" |
— | — | — | — | ||
| 1954 | "Uno, Due, Tre (The Italian Square Dance)" b/w "Lonesome Polecat" (from Musical Magic) |
— | — | — | — | |
| "Pine Tree, Pine over Me" | 26 | 27 | — | — | ||
| "Cling to Me" | — | 49 | — | — | ||
| "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight" b/w "Heavenly Feeling" (Non-album track) |
7 | 8 | — | — | By Request | |
| "Muskrat Ramble" (see below) b/w "Not As a Stranger" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | ||
| "Muskrat Ramble" | 10 | 9 | — | — | ||
| "Lonesome Polecat" | 28 | 33 | — | — | Musical Magic | |
b/w "Give Me Your Heart for Christmas" | 25 | 34 | — | — | Greetings from the McGuire Sisters 1955 | "Sincerely" | 1 | 2 | — | 14 | By Request 1955 | "No More" | 17 | — | — | 20 | By Request 1955 | "It May Sound Silly" | 11 | 14 | — | — | Chris, Phyllis, Dottie 1955 | "Something's Gotta Give" | 5 | 4 | — | — | Chris, Phyllis, Dottie 1955 | "He"
b/w "If You Believe" | 10 | 4 | — | — | Greetings from the McGuire Sisters 1956 | "Picnic" | 13 | 20 | — | — | Chris, Phyllis, Dottie 1956 | "Delilah Jones" | 37 | 36 | — | 24 | Chris, Phyllis, Dottie 1956 | "Weary Blues" | 32 | 42 | — | — | Sugartime 1956 | "Ev'ry Day of My Life" | 37 | 33 | — | — | Chris, Phyllis, Dottie 1956 | "Goodnight, My Love, Pleasant Dreams"
b/w "Mommy" (from Children's Holiday) | 32 | 23 | — | — | Musical Magic 1957 | "Sugartime"
b/w "Banana Split" — #1 US; #7 CB; #14 UK — Sugartime 1958-59 | "[[]]Volare", "May You Always", and others with moderate chart success | — | — | — | — | May You Always, Sugartime, and others 1960-61 | Singles such as "Just for Old Time's Sake" reached top 20 US charts | — | — | — | — | Showcase, Just for Old Time's Sake, and non-album tracks
| Year | Single | US | CB | US AC | UK | Album |
|---|
| Year | Single | US | CB | US AC | UK | Album |
|---|
Phyllis McGuire Solo Releases
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) | Chart Rankings | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CB | US AC | |||
| 1964 | "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" b/w "That's Life" |
79 | 85 | 13 | Non-album singles |
| "Just a Little Lovin'" b/w "You Don't Have the Heart to Tell Me" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1965 | "Run to My Arms" b/w "Someone Else Is Taking My Place" |
— | — | — | |
| 1966 | "My Happiness" b/w "Vaya con Dios" |
— | — | — | Phyllis McGuire Sings |
Appearances in Popular Media
The McGuire Sisters, with particular focus on Phyllis McGuire who lived in Las Vegas, were portrayed in the 1995 HBO production Sugartime. This film explored her connection with notorious mob figure Sam Giancana, who was played by John Turturro, while Phyllis was depicted by Mary-Louise Parker.
The soundtrack of Robert Altman’s 1982 movie Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean prominently features music by the McGuire Sisters. Their chart-topping track "Sincerely" is performed via lip-sync by actresses Cher, Karen Black, and Sandy Dennis, portraying a group called "The Disciples of James Dean."
In the second episode of season six of The Sopranos, titled "Join the Club," references are made to both the McGuire Sisters and Sam Giancana.
External Resources
- McGuire Sisters entry at the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame
- Profile available on Primarily A Cappella
- Induction details at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
- Article from the Cincinnati Enquirer covering the sisters' residence
- McGuire Sisters discography listed in the Discography of American Historical Recordings