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Kay Kyser(1905-1985)

  • Actor
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Kay Kyser
Lowell Blackford (Kay Kyser) is blessed with a gift of music,but also cursed with a hereditary "evil eye" which hypnotizes people,and he is virtually a recluse. He goes in search of a Broadway publisher for a symphonietta he has written, and ends up crashing an audition at the Swing Publishing Company, where he meets torch singer Ginger Gray (Marilyn Maxwell) and her fiance and promoter, Waltzy Malone (William Gargan). Ginger accidently walks off with his music and he follows her to a gym where Waltzy's fighter, "Killer" Kennedy (Nat Pendleton), has just been kayoed by his sparring partner. Waltzy learns of Lowell's hypnotic power and believes that Kennedy can win the championship if Lowell uses his power against the champ. He arranges for Lowell to lead the band at the club where Ginger sings. The latter objects to the role she is to play in getting Lowell to use his "evil eye" but Waltzy persuades her to go along by telling Lowell that Kennedy is her brother and it means everything to her if he wins the fight. Lowell, after having Ginger turn down his marriage proposal, joins the Tank Corps. Waltzy is frantic and he has a phoney doctor tell Lowell he needs rest followed by attending a prize fight, and also tells him Ginger has accepted his proposal.
Play trailer1:35
Swing Fever (1943)
2 Videos
17 Photos
Kay Kyser was born on 18 June 1905 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for You'll Find Out (1940), That's Right - You're Wrong (1939) and Playmates (1941). He was married to Georgia Carroll. He died on 23 July 1985 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
BornJune 18, 1905
DiedJuly 23, 1985(80)
BornJune 18, 1905
DiedJuly 23, 1985(80)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos16

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Known for

Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Kay Kyser, and Ginny Simms in You'll Find Out (1940)
You'll Find Out
6.1
  • Kay Kyser
  • 1940
Lucille Ball, Edward Everett Horton, Kay Kyser, and Adolphe Menjou in That's Right - You're Wrong (1939)
That's Right - You're Wrong
6.0
  • Kay Kyser
  • 1939
Playmates (1941)
Playmates
5.5
  • Kay Kyser
  • 1941
Jeremy Irons and Dominique Swain in Lolita (1997)
Lolita
6.8
  • Soundtrack
  • 1997

Credits

IMDbPro

Actor

  • Harry Babbitt, M.A. Bogue, Kay Kyser, Sully Mason, Ann Miller, Victor Moore, and Kay Kyser Band in Carolina Blues (1944)
    Carolina Blues
    5.9
    • Kay Kyser
    • 1944
  • Mischa Auer, Georgia Carroll, Joan Davis, Kay Kyser, and Marcy McGuire in Around the World (1943)
    Around the World
    5.6
    • Kay Kyser
    • 1943
  • Kay Kyser and Marilyn Maxwell in Swing Fever (1943)
    Swing Fever
    6.0
    • Lowell Blackford
    • 1943
  • Gene Kelly, Lucille Ball, and Kathryn Grayson in Thousands Cheer (1943)
    Thousands Cheer
    6.2
    • Kay Kyser
    • 1943
  • William Terry and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Stage Door Canteen
    6.3
    • Conductor of the Kay Kyser Band
    • 1943
  • My Favorite Spy (1942)
    My Favorite Spy
    5.6
    • Kay
    • 1942
  • Playmates (1941)
    Playmates
    5.5
    • Kay Kyser
    • 1941
  • Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Kay Kyser, and Ginny Simms in You'll Find Out (1940)
    You'll Find Out
    6.1
    • Kay Kyser
    • 1940
  • If I Forget You
    6.7
    Short
    • Orchestra
    • 1940
  • Africa Squeaks (1940)
    Africa Squeaks
    5.6
    Short
    • Cake Icer (voice, uncredited)
    • 1940
  • Lucille Ball, Edward Everett Horton, Kay Kyser, and Adolphe Menjou in That's Right - You're Wrong (1939)
    That's Right - You're Wrong
    6.0
    • Kay Kyser
    • 1939

Soundtrack

  • Outer Range (2022)
    Outer Range
    7.1
    TV Series
    • performer: "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"
    • 2024
  • Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Bradley Cooper, and Rooney Mara in Nightmare Alley (2021)
    Nightmare Alley
    7.0
    • performer: "The Umbrella Man", "Cherokee"
    • 2021
  • The Big Lez Show (2012)
    The Big Lez Show
    9.2
    TV Series
    • performer: "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle"
    • 2013
  • Paul Williams: Still Alive (2011)
    Paul Williams: Still Alive
    6.9
    • performer: "On A Slow Boat To China"
    • 2011
  • Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
    Fallout: New Vegas
    8.9
    Video Game
    • performer: "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle"
    • 2010
  • Robert Costanzo, Joe Hanna, Sonny Marinelli, and Rick Pasqualone in Mafia II (2010)
    Mafia II
    8.5
    Video Game
    • performer: "PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION" (uncredited)
    • 2010
  • Cold Case (2003)
    Cold Case
    7.7
    TV Series
    • performer: "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" (uncredited)
    • 2007
  • Jeremy Irons and Dominique Swain in Lolita (1997)
    Lolita
    6.8
    • performer: "Woody Woodpecker"
    • 1997
  • Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
    Devil in a Blue Dress
    6.8
    • performer: "On a Slow Boat to China"
    • 1995
  • FDR (1982)
    FDR
    TV Movie
    • performer: "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"
    • 1982
  • Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
    Alice, Sweet Alice
    6.4
    • Soundtrack ("Three Little Fishies")
    • 1976
  • The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    The Milton Berle Show
    7.4
    TV Series
    • writer: "Friendship" (uncredited)
    • 1949
  • Kay Kyser and Marilyn Maxwell in Swing Fever (1943)
    Swing Fever
    6.0
    • performer: "Sh-! Don't Make a Sound", "Mississippi Dreamboat", "I Planted a Rose", "One Girl and Two Boys", " (I've Grown So Lonely) Thinking of You"
    • 1943
  • Gene Kelly, Lucille Ball, Arthur Freed, Roy Del Ruth, Tommy Dorsey, Zero Mostel, Virginia O'Brien, Rags Ragland, Red Skelton, and Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra in Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)
    Du Barry Was a Lady
    6.1
    • performer: " (I've Grown So Lonely) Thinking of You" (1926)
    • 1943
  • Playmates (1941)
    Playmates
    5.5
    • performer: "Thank Your Lucky Stars and Stripes" (uncredited)
    • 1941

Videos2

Official Trailer
Trailer 1:35
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:24
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:24
Trailer

Personal details

  • Born
    • June 18, 1905
    • Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA
  • Died
    • July 23, 1985
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA(heart attack)
  • Spouse
    • Georgia CarrollJune 8, 1944 - July 23, 1985 (his death, 3 children)
  • Other works
    1/1/42: Grand Marshal, Tournament of Roses parade.
  • Publicity listings
    • 5 Portrayals
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Organized his first band at the University of North Carolina in the mid-1920's. However, he came down with severe stage fright on his opening night, so that a friend, songwriter Johnny Mercer, had to front the orchestra for the occasion.
  • Quotes
    [on his image as a "sweet band" leader[ If playing the melody is corn, than I want to be corny.
  • Trademarks
      Theme song: "Thinking of You"
  • Nickname
    • The Ol' Perfessor

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