DeZurik Sisters online
Thursday August 29, 2002 – 11:28 amWOW. I just found a whole buttload of tracks online by one of my most favorite obscure groups of all time, the DeZurik Sisters aka the Cackle Sisters. This stuff is really really really really cool, so please check it out if you can. I kid you not… these two girls made some of the most amazing, crazy-ass vocal music ever created. Okay, I’m begging you… you gotta hear this!! I am beside myself with glee here. ::pant pant:: Go giddum, right now!! This page will NOT be opening in a new window because I really want you to leave right now and not come back ’til you’ve heard at least one track. (Hint: the first one is soooo great, and it only gets better!)
Update: Sorry, it’s gone now. :-(
August 29th, 2002 at 1:00 pm
Hey Edith, I was just going to inform you about the DeZurik Sisters download, but of course you already knew about it. Pretty cool stuff huh?
I posted a link on my site. I even stole some of your comments. Hope you don’t mind…
Check it out at http://www.weirdomusic.com/downloads.htm
best wishes,
Marco
August 29th, 2002 at 1:21 pm
HEY Marco!!! Very cool to see you here. It’s funny, I never thought of this stuff as being Weird Music until I sent it out on the ISM group. But now it seems so obviously oddball. I still think of it as being traditional though, but in a very unique way.
Marco is/was one of my adminstrators for the Incredibly Strange Music group on Audiogalaxy. Go visit his site.
September 3rd, 2002 at 2:11 am
Edith, I can’t thank you enough for the link to the Cackle Sisters (De Zurik) archive.
Wow, lower voice in the "Birmingham Jail" song sounds so much like your voice! It’s like having you right in the room, well, kind of! I’m also hooked on "Guitar Blues." I’m definitely learning those two songs. Do you have any favorites?
I don’t really hear the similarity to your voice except Birmingham Jail in particular, so maybe it was the way she was closer to the mike during that recording… I don’t know.
I’ve only checked out about 15 of the songs yet, since I’m stuck in a 56K world.
But wow, Edith, these gals were so great. They’re so creative! I’m not into the cackling sound per se, but I love the variations on yodeling and the jazz-line instrument sounds, layered behind a solo vocal, and also when one sound becomes duplicate in duet and they they rise into a yodel. Wow-ee!
I do wish that during the radio interview that the girls spoke instead of cackled. It was a cute setup, but I would love to hear their speaking voices too.
I’ve been telling all my music collector and musician friends about the site.
If only we could get together for some Holler Sisters time again what cacklin’ fun we would have! I get so excited when I listen to this music, and then I get sad because my Holler Sister is so dog-gone far away, and I know we’d sound so fucking great singing some of these songs!!!
And hey, the best part about The De Zurik materials is, there’s pretty much NO GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS!!!! Yeah! Good choice!
I’m hoping that maybe I could get Roger interested in it. But I just know he’d make me do the upper part, and my tonsils would be hanging on for dear life!
I’m so into my art right now, with a dealer coming for a visit to my studio in a week or two, that I really can’t commit to music right now. Eventually, as always, I’ll return to it.
I sure miss you, gal!!! O da-lee-da-lay-eee-whoo!
Thanks again, Edith!
Deb
September 3rd, 2002 at 8:23 pm
I’m psyched, I knew you would dig it. Birmingham Jail is the only one I actually have on vinyl, it’s on the Classic Country Duets album on Old Timey Records, released in the Eighties.
It would be hilarious to cover some of these tunes. But there’s only one problem Deborah. Neither one of us can really yodel!!! LOL
January 23rd, 2003 at 6:55 am
Jan 23, 2003
Just want to let you know there are tapes of the DeZurik Sisters on the internet that have both the DeZurik and Cackle Sister tunes, you just have to look. Just a little info on the act, the girls initially performed as the DeZurik Sisters on the WLS National Barndance for several years. Then Purina Mills wanted them to come to Nashville to perform on the Eddie Arnold segment of the Grand Ole Opry and be an act identified will the Purina Mills Products. That is the reason behind all the cackle sounds. I have found some tapes with them as the DeZuriks and they do talk on them. When they performed on the Opry they also performed on the Barndance. They accomplished this by an every other week arrangement. One week on the Barndance and the next on the Opry. Likewise, one week they were the DeZuriks and the next they were the Cackle Sisters. They were and I believe still are the only singing duo to perform concurrently on two network shows under two different names.
Did you see the CD from Trikont in Germany on American Yodeling? Its an assortment of yodelers and the DeZuriks Arizona Yodeler is on it, but, what makes it special is the cover has their photo on it. If you ever have any questions on them I’ll be happy to try an answer them.
I have a little bit of an inside track. My mother is Carolyn DeZurik, one of the two original Dezurik and Cackle Sisters. Mary Jane, my aunt passed away several years ago but Carolyn is still alive and kicking at 84 years old.
As a sidenote, Mary Jane and Carolyn performed together until about 1948, when Mary Jane retired from the business to raise a family. Another sister Lorraine joined the act and Carolyn and Lorraine performed together for about 4 more years. Then Carolyn went on as a solo for a while until joining the Prairie Ramblers(which included my father Rusty Gill), taking over the spot vacated by Patsy Montana. They performed for 10 years on ABC Chicago on various show (Country and Pop)and two polka shows, "It’s Polka Time" and "Polka Go Round". They recorded several albums for these shows and Carolyn does several yodel tunes. But, even I have to say the best tunes are the ones from the Opry and Barndance with the synchronized yodels. No one was ever able to duplicate their sound.
My mother retired in 1965 and my dad in 1973, amassing, together, a total of 70 years in show business. I think what is amazing is that they still get fan letters.
Well, that is just a little of the story.
Enjoy the music.
Don Gill
January 23rd, 2003 at 12:31 pm
WOW Don, it’s a real honor to hear from you. Thanks so much for the info, and if you can, please tell your mom that there’s one more gal out there who loves her music very very much! I sure hope it’ll all be rereleased one day, it’d be a crime not to.
March 8th, 2003 at 5:46 am
Actually there were four of the Dezurik sisters although thay often did not perform all together at the same time. Caroline, Jane, Lorraine and Eva the youngest who died at (37). Lorraine and Caroline are the only two left with Lorraine resideing in Renton, Washington. I speak with her on the phone as she is my aunt. Still retains the history.
May 5th, 2003 at 1:50 pm
Hello Ms. Edith Frost,
I wonder if you have already visited the website of http://www.hillbilly-music.com/groups and found the detailed six-page biography of the DeZurik Sisters along with beautiful six pictures of the sisters edited by Wayne W. Daniel of Chamblee, Georgia. If you have not visited the website yet, I will highly recommend you to log in the website immediately.
May 5th, 2003 at 8:17 pm
Omigod, that is amazing!!
June 10th, 2003 at 8:09 pm
Can anyone help me? I heard the track ‘I left her standing there’ on the radio the other day and I don’t know where I can get hold of it in England. Does anyone know where it can be downloaded or bought?
I want to put it on a compilation for my Dad’s 65th Birthday, so any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
J
June 10th, 2003 at 9:07 pm
Well ‘J’, your anonymity is not a huge help in this case. ;-) I can e-mail it to you if you like — why don’t you drop me a line and leave your e-mail. I think the MP3 I have is taken off a cassette. It sounds pretty squawky, but at least you can hear it.
I see the original URL I posted no longer works, so you can’t get the whole batch in one place like I did. Oh well.
June 15th, 2003 at 3:23 am
hi,i bin looking for dezurik stuff for a while which led me to you,you mentioned downloads,are they still available,sorry but i cant do this on my own,point me in the right direction,thanx,paddy in belfast,n.ireland.
June 15th, 2003 at 4:37 am
The tracks were online for awhile but they’re gone now, sorry…
November 23rd, 2003 at 5:56 am
Hi Edith,
I wrote you back in January about the DeZurik sisters, Carolyn DeZurik is my mother. Just wanted to let you know there is another CD out with two of the DeZurik Sister songs. The title of the CD is "Flowers in the Wildwood" Women in early country. The two cuts are: "I left her standing there" and "Go to sleep my darling". Also, in the booklet accompanying the cd is a interview article by Christoph Wagner, a music researcher from Great Britain who came to Chicago in June 2000 to interview my mother.
Also, the article from Joe Jabas on March 8, 2003 is incorrect. Eva was never a performing DeZurik Sister. Sometimes some of the other sisters would dress up like Mary Jane, Carolyn or Lorraine and go to the local fairs in Minnesota, but, not as performers. Joe’s mother, Ethel, was the oldest sister in the DeZurik family.
Hope some of this helps.
Thanks,
Don Gill
January 14th, 2004 at 2:43 pm
Hello again, Ms. Edith Frost,
Have you ever visited American Gramophone & Wireless Company’s homepage? Their URL is: http://members.aol.com/AGW1886/cpioneers.htm
They deal in DeZurik Sisters’ cassette "Original Songs (1930s up) Vol. 1" (38 Songs) at such low price as $7.00 Ppd. Have you ever seen the video of the Old American Barn Dance featuring Carolyn & Lorraine, the DeZurik Sisters singing "The First Whipporwill Call"?? If not yet, you will be able to order it from Joe Bussard, the famous collector of Vintage 78s recordings. His URL is http://www.vintage78.com/siteCF/html/shop_vintage78/index.htm. I’m now looking for a video of the movie "Barnyard Follies" (Republic, 1940) featuring Mary Jane & Carolyn DeZurik. If you know who deals in the video, please let me know.Recently Kenny Roberts, the King of Yodelers said to me, "I Know the DeZurik sisters. We worked together each day at WLW in Cinn., Ohio and then later again on WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio and again later on in Chicago at the WBBM Chicago Barn Dance. Carolyn has been married to Rusty Gill for years. They are both such nice people and I get a Xmas card and note from them each year as they do me. Lorraine moved to Washington state someplace a long time ago and I know nothing of her, as Carolyn & Rusty don’t mention her. Rusty was also a big star. We did those shows (Old American Barn Dance) in Chicago. They would fly me up and I would do a few shows and they would then splice them all together. The DeZurik sisters were not there the day I was." I hope this information would be useful to your study.
January 20th, 2004 at 12:27 am
Hi Edith,
I haven’t really worked out what your site is about but i’ve been reading all the stuff about the DeZurik Sisters, i heard them on the radio here in britian last year on a great radio show you should check out for eclectic music, the dj is John Peel, you’ll find him on the BBC Radio 1 web page.
I was wiriting though to see if there was any chanc eof getting Don Gill’s email address so i can write to tell him how great his mum is. They have inspired me to perform old country songs arounf London, i’ve been playing at a few of the burlesque/ live nmusic nights here and been getting a great reception. However, i haven’t attempted any of their songs as it’s cleraly impossible to do them justice, besides i don’t think i can even yodel!
Thanks
Miss Anna
January 20th, 2004 at 12:43 am
Best I can do is forward your comment to him with your address and hope he writes you back… hope his address still works too!
February 14th, 2004 at 6:11 pm
Hi Edith,
I was wondering if you could somehow forward this message and my email address to Don Gill, who has created a couple of the posts above. I have been searching for my father, who is supposedly the son of Augie Klein from the WLS Grand Ole Opry show (according to the information my grandfather supplied to me years ago). In my research, I see that Augie married Mary Jane DeZurik. If the couple lived around Elmwood Park, and had a son that was from that area, Don may be able to provide some information to help me in my search.
Any help you could provide to me is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Sheryl
February 10th, 2005 at 8:47 am
Hi Edith,
I am delighted to find your site!!!
I have been trying to find The DeZurik Sisters music ever since I heard the ‘First Whipoorwill Call’, & the ‘Checkerboard Man’ jingle on Prairie Home Comopanion, more than 10 years ago.
I do a ‘Traditional’ American music show on KBOO 90.7fm in Portland Oregon. We live stream on the internet…go to http://www.kboo.fm (for instructions).
Ever since I started doing the show, I’ve wanted to play their music…I just love them!!!
I do have a little bit of them…Birmingham jail is on a ‘duets’ album, & there are a couple on a trikont cd called ‘Flowers in the Wildwood".
We also have a CD from a fellow in Maryland…Joe Bussard, called ‘Down in the Basement’, & although he has no DeZurik sisters on that cd, he has a list of recordings that he sells on cassette, & I found a HUGE collection of them that he has incorrectly listed as the Zurik sisters.
He is a totally fanatical 78RPM collector. There is a cool movie made about him, too. I saw it last week, & I wish he lived closer so I could meet him! Joe Bussard .com is his website.
Flower Elliott
KBOO 90.7fm
http://www.kboo.fm
Portland Oregon
February 13th, 2005 at 11:38 am
Are you familiar with Shelby Jean Davis, also called "The Little Mountain Sweetheart" who was on these early Purina shows? She later married Bill Russo, an orchestra leader who worked with Stan Getz. She recorded with him from about 1947 and 1951 and then mysteriously disappeared. I’ve scoured the internet for some of her recordings, but to no avail.
February 13th, 2005 at 1:47 pm
Nope, never heard of her…
February 17th, 2005 at 9:49 am
Well, I have come back to check to see if any of you know anything about another group I am interested in…
Does anyone know anything about
‘THE AARON SISTERS’?
I have a copy of ‘Flowers in the Wildwood’ on Trikont label. They are on it, as are the Dezurik sisters. Aaron sisters are on 2 cuts…She came rolling down the mtn., & another I enjoy but can’t recall the name. (It’s down at the radio station, & I’m at home 20 miles away.)
I have been searching for info or other recordings, (as I have for the DeZurik Sisters,till now.) but have not had anything turn up on their name, even.
I have ordered the big DeZurik collection from Joe Bussard, also a VHS tape of an old ‘Barndance’
show with them on it.
My show on KBOO falls on International Women’s Day, March 9th. If the recording gets here in time, I will be do a feature on the Dezurik Sisters, as well as other of my favorite women singsers/musicians.
February 19th, 2005 at 12:46 pm
I haven’t heard of her, & when tried typing her name in google, & elsewhere, found nothing.
flower
February 22nd, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Hi All,
I ordered the Joe Bussard about a year ago… it has a lot of the checkerboard purina shows, and maybe 30 minutes of songs. If anyone interested in hearing it, email me at karl at puppyflowers.com
there’s a clip from a purina show here:
http://www.ubu.com/outsiders/365/02-2.html
"Flowers in the wildwood" has two of these songs; nothing else on the cd is quite the same (how could it be?!)
February 24th, 2005 at 12:50 am
Karl, I want to thank you for the info…that little bit of the checkerboard show is ‘exactly’ the clip that I heard on ‘Prairie Home Companion’ that piqued my interest in The Dezurik Sisters, & I have been trying to find out more about them, ever since…at least 10 years! I even wrote to Garrison Keillor, (he always sez’ he will answer emails, but he never did!).
March 29th, 2005 at 3:38 am
Hi Edith, Flower Elliott here again…
Is there any way to hook me up with Don Gill?
I am doing an hour show focusing on the Dezurik Sisters on Monday, May 16th, at 11:00 am (Pacific time).
Wanted to see if there is anyone in the family who would like to either talk live on the radio (via phone or in person, or be recorded via phone) to update what they have been doing all these years, etc.
March 29th, 2005 at 9:35 am
(I just e-mailed her privately…)
March 30th, 2005 at 9:32 am
Hi Edith,
Thank you for your reply. I sent Don Gill an e-mail last night, & am anxiously awaiting his reply.
Flower
May 15th, 2005 at 10:38 pm
HI Edith & all,
I did get 2 replies from Don. He sounds very nice & likes to talk about his mom & aunties.
I just wanted to let you all know that I did get a spot to do a show on The Dezurik Sisters…
It is tomorrow morning, Monday, May 16, 2005 at 11:00am Pacific time on KBOO 90.7fm in Portland, Oregon. YOu can listen online at : http://www.kboo.fm
Flower Elliott
KBOO
Portland, Oregon
June 10th, 2005 at 9:09 am
Hello Edith,
I’m working for a magazine that is about to run a short piece on the DeZuriks and am desparate for some great photos of the sisters. Is there any way to get the contact info for Don? Yikes, I know it’s a lot to ask, but the article is, to my eye, a glowing tribute. Many thanks.
June 10th, 2005 at 9:11 am
I’ll e-mail you his e-mail…
June 10th, 2005 at 2:43 pm
Lawrence,
It is posted earlier in the posts, but go to:
http://www.hillbilly-music.com
There is a good bio, & a 1/2 dozen photos of the girls.
And besides, it’s a very cool website to know about.
Flower
July 30th, 2005 at 6:41 pm
Hi, I just learned of the Cackle/DeZurik sisters today on NPR. I came in on the middle of the interview with someone who did some research on them and maybe wrote a book? I immediately did an online search to see if I could purchase their recordings and was lucky enough to find Edith Frost’s site which led me to two CDs (Flowers in the Wildwood and American Yodeling) put out by a German label and available at othermusic.com (much cheaper than Amazon).
Anyway, I also wanted to mention that NPR currently has clips of 3 Cackle Sisters songs (Go To Sleep My Darling, I Left Her Standing There, and Arizona Yodeler). There is also a clip from Purina’s Checkerboard Time Radio Show in which they do some barnyard animal imitations and sing Old Man Tucker.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4775844
July 30th, 2005 at 7:06 pm
That is awesome. Thanks so much Mimi! (Everyone: there’s a link on that NPR page to listen online if you missed the show like I did.)
July 31st, 2005 at 11:25 pm
Hello Edith & all,
A friend of mine at kboo called me yesterday morning while the npr piece was still going, so I got to hear it, too. He had most of the facts correct. good interview!
Flower Elliott
kboo 90.7fm
http://www.kboo.fm
August 8th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
“The Arizona Yodeler" is available on a cd just out in connection with the Oxford American Magazine.
August 8th, 2005 at 4:16 pm
Yup, that’s what Lawrence was commenting on a couple of months ago. He’s sending me a copy, it’ll be cool to see that.
August 15th, 2005 at 10:48 am
Can you possibly help me locate any CDs of the DeZurik (AKA The Cackle Sisters) Sisters? I have located only 1 CD, FLOWERS IN THE WILDWOOD but alas, they are represented with only 2 songs. Would love to hear more from them.
Many thanks for any items you can list.
Sincerely yours,
Kenneth May
August 15th, 2005 at 10:55 am
Why don’t you go back and read the older comments… there is at least one cassette out there that somebody mentioned.
September 14th, 2005 at 6:13 pm
Hello…
My 17 year old son, (obsessed with vintage guitars) purchased a ‘vintage guitar’ magazine last week, & they had an ad for ‘Elderly Instruments’, showing a picture of, & saying that they have Carolyn DeZurik’s guitar for sale! Maybe Don Gill is selling it for her???
Flower Elliott
KBOO 90.7fm
Portland, Oregon
September 28th, 2005 at 9:51 am
Hello Edith,
Great website. My mothers cousins were Augie and Ray Klein and they married Mary Jane and Ava DeZurik. My grandfather was Lou Klatt, a fine musician in his own right, and he always talked so highly of Augie and Ray. He very well might have been their music teachers and I’ve found some pictures of Ray playing a Klatt Accordian, manufactured by my grandfather, and I’d sure be interested in getting in contact with Don Gill.
James Scherer
Glenview, IL
November 20th, 2005 at 12:26 pm
Hi-
My husband found a picture of the de Zurik sisters a long time ago, signed by Lorraine and who is Povaly or Pooly I can’t make out the signature but they were together with a guitar dressed like twins. I found it very interesting to look up their biography, I beleive that Lorraine is in Renton Washington which is our vicinity. This picture is an original.
Interesting,
Dorothy Bunch
November 27th, 2005 at 7:21 am
Hello again, Ms. Edith Frost,
As you might have known already, seven episodes of "Checkerboard Fun Fest" Radio Show transcription are now available at several Old Time Raio (OTR) sites. You will be able to see one of them on Dad’s Old Time Radio (http://www.dadsotr.com/html/western.html). Although they indicate the title of their MP3 CD item as "Eddie Arnold Checkboard Show, it is unmistakably "Checkerboard Fun Fest" featured the DeZurik Sisters (aka Cackle Sisters). You can enjoy the following yodel songs of them on the MP3 CD:
1. By the Beautiful Sea
2. Hillbilly Bill
3. Roll Along Jordan
4. Honey Baby Mine
5. Silver Bell
6. Big Ball In Texas/Nobody’s Business
7. My Honeymoon Bridge Broke Down
They sell it only at $2.00 (shipping charge is free). I also recommend you to see the following website regarding the program database of the Checkerboard Fun Fest: http://www.radiogoldindex.com/cgi-local/p2.cgi?ProgramName=The+Checkerboard+Fun+Fest
January 27th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer "covered" 2 tunes by the DeZurick sisters. "The Crawdad Song" on the CD "Fink & Marxer" on sugar Hill Records and "Arizona Yodeler" on Cathy’s solo lp/cassette, "The Leading Role" on Rounder Records. We also toured and performed with Patsy Montana and produced her last recording”the Cowboy’s Sweetheart" for Flying Fish, now Rounder. We also dedicated a song to them on our new FRAMMY nominated children’s CD, "Scat Like That" (rounder). The song is about 2 sisters who complete each other’s yodels and are joined by their cow, Bessie.
Did anyone ever find a way to purchase copies of the DeZurik films? We’ve had the Bussard tapes for over 20 years. they are excellent. Would love to find more.
Cathy Fink
March 25th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
DEAR EDITH
I’M LOOKING FOR RECORDINGS OF THE CACKLE SISTERS FOR
MY MOTHER WHO IS 90 AND SPENT MOST OF HER ADULT LIFE
IN THE ST. CLOUD AREA. SHE REMEMBERS YOUR MOTHER &
AUNT VERY WELL FROM RADIO.
IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND
CDs, OR CASSETTES. THANKS SO MUCH. JEAN
YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT MY HUSBAND’S SITE
March 25th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Jean I’m not related to the Cackle Sisters, just a fan! I’m not updated on what’s in print so you might want to look through the comments, a few people have mentioned some different ways to find that music.
March 26th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Good news: Some Dezurik Sisters material online at the moment:
http://easydreamer.blogspot.com/2006/03/week-54-oddities-dezurik-sisters.html
April 11th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Dear Edith: I love the Cackle Sisters music and would like to access or acquire all of it I can. However, I’m a computer rookie and can’t figure out how to do it. I looked at some of your other sites and it looks like you are involved in groups that made some interesting music. You indicated that could be downloaded free, or do you have to have some kind of subscription-membership. Could you respond to me on this at 218-739-9312 or the e mail or address listed below. If membership if required for this, could you please send me details about that.You also sound like somebody with whom it would be interesting to talk about off-beat music. Hope to hear from you.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Jerry I’m not sure what you’re talking about, I’m a musician myself but I’m not doing anything Cackle-Sisters-related with my music. I’m not in any groups that have access to their music or anything like that. Just a fan same as you. I’m on tour right now and my laptop’s broken (as is my cellphone now, apparently) so won’t be able to hang around talking about music with you, sorry…
June 7th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Edith,
Hello! I’ve been looking where i can get information about Carolyn de Zurik songs, I had some of her singles released here in the Philippines like the song of You,You,You Are The One is their available cd of this song? Can please give me a little information what year it was released
Thanks
Jun
July 27th, 2006 at 7:31 am
My neighbor’s blind sister, Shelby Jean Walls of Paoli, Indiana, was named after Shelby Jean Davis. Ms. Davis sang for a Chicago radio station that the family often listened to. Ms. Davis actually visited Shelby Walls in the hospital as an infant. Shelby Walls was famous for being the smallest premature baby to survive in recorded history (or some such) in the 30s and made national news reels, etc.
I found this post while searching on info about Shelby Jean Davis for my neighbor.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:31 pm
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/08/365-days-214—.html
Yep!
December 19th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Hey….does anyone know how to contact any of the Cackle Sisters? Or a relative? I’ve recorded the Arizona Yodeler with a Los Angeles based singer….and would like to get some info on the song. We stayed pretty true to the original arrangement including the vocal treatment which is an incredible and unique arrangement. I’d like to give credit where credit is due and maybe send a copy of our “version” to them. Thanks, Terry
December 19th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
(private response sent)
January 20th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hello,
I am in the 7th grade and a girl not like others I know because I love yodeling and older country music. I especially love the DeZurik sisters and their fun yodeling style and admire and respect them so much. I have several songs of theirs.
I yodel too and across America at various places fairs and fesivals, and I yodel a few Dezurik songs that are crowd sure crowd pleasers. Some Carolina Cotton, Kenny Roberts, and Elton Britt. I just love it all.
I read here that Carolyn lives in Chicago and I would love to send yodeling wishes to… Carolyn DeZurik, one of my yodeling mentors, my American Idol. You are awesome. She can send me a message if she wants at taylor@taylorware.com I am thrilled that you all miss the sisters like me and want more.
Yodeling is so much fun. Thank you,
Yodel On! XOXO, Taylor Ware
April 17th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
To Ron Hall:
Shelby Jean Davis is my Mom. Email me back with any questions you might have
April 21st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I can’t believe that there are so many people that still enjoy my Great-Grandmother Carolyn DeZurik (Gill) and Great-Great Aunt’s music.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
Hello I need help!
I have an old 45rpm record on Mar Kay Records that has reads :
The Cackle Sisters:
side A) Gee It’s Lonesome Here Tonight side B) Call My Name
however, under “The Cackle Sisters” it reads (Mary & Cathy), what is this? It sounds like them but has no yodeling, only a fiddle with two female voices. Is this the DeZurik Sisters? How come these songs are not mentioned in any of the discographies? Is this a boot-leg form the Barn Dance radio days? If you have any incite, please respond!
Thanks. -A.W. Mittler
May 8th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Hi… I am producing a radio documentary on Cincinnati’s broadcast history and wonder if you could forward my email to someone in the Carolyn DeZurik family. Does she ever do interviews? I am fascinated with the portion of their career that took them to Cincinnati in the 40′s and 50′s. Thanks for any help you might be able to provide. Mike Martini
May 8th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
The last I heard (years ago) Don was at AOL using his whole name all smashed together. Hopefully he won’t be spammed if I say it that way. And that is all I know, and now I will no longer have to be the one to always bug him with press requests! ;-)
March 4th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I know that there are still songs by the DeZurik Sisters on the web. I just found some on accident at blip.fm.
I live in Washington state and was born in Chicago, but never heard of them until this year. What wonderful music! So original, joyous, and haunting at the same time.
Thanks to everyone who’s replied to this. So much great information!
March 20th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I found your blog the other day and wanted to pass along some sad news. Carolyn Dezurik recently passed away on March 16th. She died from complications from pneumonia…she was 90 years old. Her husband (Rusty Gill) also died in November of 2008. I’m Carolyn and Rusty’s grandson. I noticed that some of the entries were looking for my dad, Don. He also passed away in February of last year.
Over the last year our family has had more than our share of loss and emotional challenges, but it is great to hear that there are so many people who still care about and enjoy the music my grandparents created which will help to keep their memory alive in our hearts.
If anyone needs any information, feel free to contact me anytime.
Thanks
March 20th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Ooooh Kevin. I’m so so sorry to hear all this, it was all (bad) news to me. I think I’m sad most of all about Don, because he was the one who helped me out several times when people were trying to get info about the DeZuriks. His comments are right here, and now he’s gone? He was always so kind too. Thanks so much for posting… it’s awful how much y’all have gone through lately. Sending out good vibes & love for the whole family.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Shelby Jean Davis often sang on the Don McNeil Breakfast Club. Mom used her name, modified it and named me Shelva. I was too young to remember her and I can’t sing worth beans.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I have a record of “YOU ARE THE ONE” by an artist named Carolyn De Zurik. Is she the same person who recorded this song. It was sung mostly in English but towards the latter part of the song, she sang it in German/Austrian. Please confirm.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
No idea but I would imagine it must be the same Carolyn. Somebody else may be able to say for sure.
August 13th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Thanks for your quick reply. Can you please direct my question to Carolyn’s grandson, Kevin. He must have some info. Thanks again
August 15th, 2009 at 12:33 am
I guess I have to answer my own query from my own research. It was Carolyn DeZurik who sang the female lead vocal in that song “You, You, You Are The One” which was included in the album “One! Two! Polka Go Round” by Lou Prohut and the Polka Rounders. It was released in 1961. As a tribute to Carolyn, I posted her song, so just follow the link to hear that song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asDnXTMnSTY
August 15th, 2009 at 2:16 am
I went into the backend of the blog database yesterday (I mean Thursday?) to find out if Kevin is a subscriber to comments on this post. Seems he wasn’t so I wrote to him for you and asked if he could post here or write you back; I gave him your e-mail.
Looking forward to watching the video tomorrow; it’s two in the morning here.
Sorry I didn’t post back immediately… I have no actual connection to the family of the DeZuriks, I’m just a fan like you.
August 15th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Loved the video, Onsop! Hope Kevin gets to see it. I haven’t heard back from him, don’t even know if the e-mail is still valid.
August 15th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Glad you liked the video. But I had to make sure that it is ‘the’ Carolyn DeZurik we know. In one of my videos, I posted a song by Terry Wayne from the U.S. without being aware that there is another Terry Wayne in the U.K. at about the same time (1959). It sparked a lengthy debate until somebody called our attention that there are two Terry Waynes. I don’t want to commit the same mistake so I asked your help. But somebody (probably Carolyn) guided me to a Korean blogger who is a polka enthusiast, and there it is. So Carolyn must have answered my question indirectly. Thanks.
September 7th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
HI, I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING A SINGER, BY THE NAME OF : SHELBY JEAN DAVIS, FOR WHOM I WAS NAMED. THE LADY WAS BORN IN 1926, AND SANG FROM WJJD, IN CHICAGO, IL. I UNDERSTAND SHE MARRIED A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF BILL RUSSO. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION TO OFFER, I WILL BE GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. (YOU MAY CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL.) Ohmajean@aol.com
September 11th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I am looking for music by Shelby Jean Davis, Any idea where it can be found? Thank you for your time and any help would be greatly appreciated.You can email me @cathymalone01@aol.com
September 16th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Wow! I have been trying to locate Caroline DeZurik. A friend and I are reviving their music out here in the San Francisco Bay Area. How can we get in touch with her? We would love to write her a note and link her to our music and meet her some time, if she would have us. Check out our revival of “I Left Her Standing There” at nellrobinsonmusic.com, click on the Henriettas.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I aooreciate so much the information re. Carolyn Dezurik. I Listened to the Cackle Sisters by battery radio when a very small boy in very rural northeast Arkansas!! They were among the best and perhaos THE BEST of all female yodeling duos. Thanks for the information, Kevin!! And it is absolutely great to hear from a member of that family!! Jim
October 26th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Well: Please excuse the typos: It is getting late at night for an old man.:)I a(PP)reciate the information. And the sisters were perha(P)s the best of all female yodeling duos!! Jim
February 13th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYQl3cJZlKo
I’m a fan, too.;
February 13th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
OH MY GOD!!!! I didn’t know any video even existed! Hoooly… everybody go watch that right now!
March 12th, 2010 at 4:58 am
That video is amazing. Thanks Mitch for posting the link. I never knew it existed. I know it’s been a while since I last posted, and I’m glad my grandmother’s music is still a favorite of so many people. I’ve been going through my grandparents personal archives and have found hundreds of hours of tapes of performances throughout their career. The recordings date from the early days as the Cackle/Dezurik Sisters to the years she performed with my grandfather Rusty Gill and the Prarie Ramblers. I’ll try to get some of this stuff uploaded for others to enjoy.
Some day I’ll track down a copy of the 1940 Republic film “Barnyard Follies” in which they performed. If anyone has any information about this film, I would love to hear form you. My Dad (Don Gill) tried for several years to track it down, but wasn’t able to. Apparently, Republic Pictures went bankrupt and no one seems to know what happened to the film library. Oh well…maybe someday!
Anyway, I love reading the posts, feel free to contact me if anyone has any questions. I’ll try to answer them the best I can.
Take care.
April 26th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
[...] [Tangential: Davis comes up in an entertaining thread on Edith Frost's Web page.] [...]
July 28th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
There’s a little more video of Carolyn and Lorraine here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foBNdIPC5j8
They show up at about 16:43.
Still hoping Barnyard Follies will turn up someday….
July 28th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Awesome, thank you so much!!
July 28th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Hello fellow DeZurik fanatics. My friend Cary Sheldon and I are have been obsessed with reviving the DeZurik Sisters since we first heard a song or two on the German compilation: Flowers of the Wildwood. Since then the WAMU webpage has been posted and filled with all their amazing music. On April 3d, Cary and I were featured on A Prairie Home Companion performing two of our favorites: I Left Her Standing There and You Really Lose Your Mind. In homage to the originals Cackle Sisters we formed the Henriettas and like them, we do not speak, we just cackle :-) We have just finished learning two other songs: Big Ball in Texas and Crawdad Song. This is like a love affair. We’d love you to check out our stuff at nellrobinsonmusic.com/henriettas and sincerely hope we are worthy of (but in no way equal to) the Sisters. We have one of the songs posted there. best, Nell
September 13th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
“”"Hello, “Hello I need help! I have an old 45rpm record on Mar Kay Records that has reads : The Cackle Sisters: side A) Gee It’s Lonesome Here Tonight side B) Call My Name however, under “The Cackle Sisters” it reads (Mary & Cathy), what is this? It sounds like them but has no yodeling, only a fiddle with two female voices. Is this the DeZurik Sisters? How come these songs are not mentioned in any of the discographies? Is this a boot-leg form the Barn Dance radio days? If you have any incite, please respond! Thanks. -A.W. Mittler”"”"
I have this same 45 because Cathy was my Great Grandmother. I have no idea what connection my Grandmother “Cathy Nelson”, and The Cackle Sisters have. I am also curious because I can find no record of a “MAR KAY” record company. My great grandmother and great grandfather died of cancer in Kentucky so I can’t just ask them or i would, and info would be greatly appreciated,
Forest Knauff Parker, Colorado
February 9th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
ATTENTION KEVIN GILL!
I am a young professional musician in Chicago, studied with the principal of the Chicago Symphony and own and perform with a chamber group around the city. This summer we are putting together an American program. The first half will feature “American Song” and the second half will feature more classic styled works like Samuel Barber. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your grandparents and father, I have just spent days researching/tracking down the DeZurik sisters and would love to talk to you about performing several of their songs. We would be honored to have you and your family there for the performance as we are great fans of your grandmother and great aunt! Their precision is impressive even to classical musicians and it would be our pleasure to continue their sound. When you are able, please contact me at christopher.buckler@gmail.com
thank you so much! Chris
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:23 pm
I first found this thread a few years ago when I stumbled across the Checkerboard Time recordings, which have been favourites with our kids ever since. We were listening to them in the car this morning on our way up the M1 (England) and once again thought of how it is just impossible to be unhappy while listening to the sisters. I was very sad to hear that Carolyn is no longer with us, and also Don, I should have liked to have been able to have added to her fanmail. I would like to send love to all of her family and friends, and have a great 2012.
June 24th, 2012 at 9:51 am
30 Checkerboard Time Radio Show Recordings are available at Country Music Treasures, a Canadian company. Cackle on ladies!
http://www.countrymusictreasures.com/traditional-country-music/the-dezurik-sisters.html
January 14th, 2013 at 2:37 am
I Find it sad That there is no full album by the DeZurik sisters…maybe someone Will Put together one? Lets hope so.
January 25th, 2013 at 8:26 pm
Great to hear more about the Dezuriks. I tell people about them all the time.
I note that about a dozen of their tracks are available on the non-profit Internet Archives, well worth supporting.
http://archive.org (search for Dezurik).
March 2nd, 2013 at 11:39 am
I have heard about the DeZurik Sisters from my family – my grandfather’s sister was married to Matt DeZurik, so it’s a shirt-tale thing they were always proud of. I am curious what Mary Jane died of at such a young age, and also Lorraine – even younger, if anyone knows. Thank you. Love their singing!
April 24th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
[...] Track: First Whippoorwill Song Artist: The DeZurik Sisters“Some of my first records were compilations. Rhino’s Blues Masters, for example, introduced to me great talents, many of who informed my own playing style and ability. (Lonnie Johnson is a man I dearly love.) Soundtracks, too, can be marvelous compilations, and for a while I became a collector of songs performed by actors and actresses. Karen Allen and Jeff Bridges in Starman singing “All I Have To Do Is Dream.” My father brought home one day a copy of The Apostle, which contains “I Love To Tell The Story”, performed by Emmylou Harris and Robert Duvall. The DeZurik Sisters came to me on a disc accompanying the magazine Oxford American, and “The Arizona Yodeler” was all I cared listening to for many weeks. What’s most glorious about it all is the DeZuriks rediscovery, which continues today. There isn’t much written about the DeZuriks, but the latest wave might be credited to a simple enthusiastic blog entry posted by singer-songwriter Edith Frost. (Edith’s original thread can be accessed by simply clicking HERE.)” [...]