The Kim Sisters

The Kim Sisters () were a female vocal group from South Korea. The trio consisted of Sook-ja "Sue", Ai-ja "Aija", and Min-ja "Mia" Kim. They primarily made their career in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Formed in 1953, they are known for being the first Korean music group to achieve success in the U.S. market during the 1960s, and for performing more than 20 times on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Early lives Sue () and Aija () were born in Seoul. They were the daughters of Kim Hae-song, a popular conductor, and Lee Nan-young, one of Korea's most famous singers before the Korean War, best known for her song, "Tears of Mokpo." The elder Kim died in 1950 during the Korean War.

Mia () was Sue and Aija's biological cousin whose father was Lee Bong-ryong, a musician and Lee Nan-young's elder brother; she was later adopted by Lee Nan-young.

Career

Beginnings The Kim Sisters were formed in 1953. Following her husband's execution by North Korean forces during the Korean War, Lee Nan-young had her adopted niece Mia and her biological daughters Sue and Aija form a singing group to support the family. Lee bought American records on the black market so that the girls could learn songs like Hoagy Carmichael's "Ole Buttermilk Sky," which they performed in bars and nightclubs for American soldiers stationed in South Korea during the Korean War.

The Kim Sisters were popular among the American troops, who spread the word about the group to American entertainment producer Tom Ball, drafting a letter with 30 GI signatures. He flew to South Korea in 1958 to hear the group perform, and The Kim Sisters signed a contract with Ball soon after. However, it took them nearly a year to acquire visas to go to the United States.

Fame in the United States In 1959, The Kim Sisters arrived in Las Vegas to perform in Ball's "China Doll Revue" at the Thunderbird Hotel. After they fulfilled their contract at the Thunderbird, The Kim Sisters began performing at the Stardust Hotel. It was during this time that they were first invited to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, the GI's original goal. It was also at this first performance they met Louis Armstrong.Their First Album (1959) - MLP 8022 Monument They ultimately performed on the show an additional 21 times. They made a guest appearance on the Dean Jones Ensign O'Toole sitcom, "Operation Benefit" October 14, 1962. The Kim Sisters frequently performed wearing Korean hanbok and singing popular American songs.

In 1962, they covered The Coasters song "Charlie Brown". Their mother Nan-young then sent their three brothers to join their sisters and form the "Kim Brothers" group. They toured with their sisters but did not have their own breakout. Split Sue and Mia had a falling out around 1973, and Mia left the group, marking the end of the main Kim Sisters act. Sue and Aija continued performing together in Las Vegas until Aija died of lung cancer in 1987.

Mia moved to Hungary with her husband, musician Tommy Vig, with whom she performs and produces records. She has not maintained contact with her brothers and Sue. Sue stayed in Nevada where she married and raised two children. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she mentioned she had never seen footage of the Kim Sisters performing together prior to clips being uploaded to YouTube.

On March 27, 2014, Sue Kim became the first Korean American to be inducted into the Nevada Entertainer/Artist Hall of Fame.

Discography

Studio albums Title Album detailsTheir First AlbumReleased: 1959 Region: United States Label: Monument Records Format: LP record 푸레젠트Released: 1969 Region: South Korea Label: L.K.L. Records Format: LP record어머니를 추모한 김시스터즈 가요집Released: 1970 Region: South Korea Label: Shin Jin Format: LP recordThis Is My LifeReleased: 1975 Region: South Korea Label: Oasis Records Format: LP record

U.S. singles Title Single details Peakchartpositions US Singles "Harbor Lights""Ching Chang"Released: 1959 Label: Epic Records Format: 7-inch— "A Diamond Is Forever""Now Is the Hour"Released: 1961 Label: Mercury Records Format: 7-inch— "Love Star""You Can't Have Everything (They Say)"Released: 1963 Label: Monument Records Format: 7-inch— "Blueberry Pie""We're Going Back Together"Released: 1963 Label: Monument Records Format: 7-inch— "Mister Magic Moon""Roses in the Snow"Released: 1964 Label: Monument Records Format: 7-inch— "Charlie Brown""Korean Spring Song"Released: 1964 Label: Monument Records Format: 7-inch7 "Bittersweet""Tic-A-Tic-A-Toc-Toc"Released: 1965 Label: Monument Records Format: 7-inch— "No Sad Songs for Me""Just Like Taking Candy from a Baby"Released: 1966 Label: Monument Records Format: 7-inch—

The Kim Sisters

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