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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZDeZURIK SISTERSA yodeling act popular '30s-40s-50s, working as a duet comprising mainly Carolyn (b '19, Royalton MN) and sister Mary Jane DeZurik (b '17, d '81). Noted for sky-high yodels, they could also make their yodels sound like chickens and were later known also as the Cackle Sisters. Appeared as the DeZurik Sisters on the WLS Barn Dance '36-49 and as the Cackle Sisters on the Grand Ole Opry '44-8: during these years they appeared on each show every other Saturday, on WSM one week and WLS the next. Mary Jane retired '48 to raise a family, replaced by younger sister Lorraine; the new duo appeared on the Midwestern Hayride '49-50. They disbanded early '50s and Carolyn joined the Prairie Ramblers which included her husband Rusty Gill. The Ramblers and Carolyn went on to perform on ABC television in Chicago in the mid-'50s-60s on such shows as Chicago Parade (one of the first morning shows in Chicago), Crazy Acres, It's Polka Time and Polka Go Round. The DeZurik Sisters recorded only a handful of 78s, though some collectors own transcriptions from Checkerboard Squares radio show. One of these 78 sides is ‘Arizona Yodeler' which is still played to this day on radio stations across the country and has been issued on some German CDs. |