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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 ZKENDALLS, TheCountry music vocal duo, one of the most successful of recent decades, unusually a father and daughter: Royce (b 25 Sep. '34) and Jeannie (b 30 Nov. '54), both from St Louis. Royce performed on Arkansas radio stations with his brother Floyce early '50s. Following army service he had a barber shop in St Louis, sang with Jeannie and they decided to try their luck in Nashville. They made demos '69, signed to Pete Drake's Stop Records; first hit with 'Leavin' On A Jet Plane' '70; less luck on Dot '72 and UA '76; signed to new Ovation label their second release 'Heaven's Just A Sin Away' was no. 1 country, crossed over to pop '77, won a Grammy and CMA Record of the Year. Their unique harmony gives them a contemporary sound with enough trad. flavour to keep them in country charts, hits incl. 'Pittsburgh Stealers' '78, 'You'd Make An Angel Wanna Cheat' '79, 'I'm Already Blue' '80, 'Teach Me To Cheat' '81. Switched to Mercury and carried on with 'Cheater's Prayer', 'Thank God For The Radio' etc. They label- hopped late '80s with minor hits. Albums incl. Two Divided By Love '72 on Dot, Old Fashioned Love and Just Like Real People '78--9 on Ovation; Stickin' Together, Movin' Train, Two Heart Harmony and Thank God For The Radio '82--5, all on Mercury; Fire At First Sight '86 on MCA, Break The Routine '87 on Step One, Make A Dance '95 on Branson Gold. |