Cha-Cha-Cha Boom! Today in 1924, guitarist and vocalist Malia Ka'aihue—better known as Mary Kay— was born in Detroit. No, not that Mary Kay, the cosmetics company founded by (gasp!) a Texan, but the "Queen of Rock and Roll," the Las Vegas lounge legend!
Performing since she was 12, Mary went on to form the (dare I say) seminal Las Vegas lounge act, The Mary Kay Trio, who recorded numerous singles and albums with that beautiful voice—she could have dropped the guitar completely and made it as strictly a vocalist— and even were featured in the 1956 film Cha-Cha-Cha Boom! They were yuuge!
Guitar Geeks Confidential: There's a Fender Stratocaster model called the "Mary Kay Strat," supposedly played by Ms Kay throughout her career but according to a most interesting Vintage Guitar interview, Mary spent a whole five minutes with the guitar specifically for a photo shoot for a Fender endorsement. After the shoot, the guitar was returned to Fender! Mary's electric guitar of choice was actually a D'Angelico hollowbody. After decades, in 2003 FMIC decided to make a Custom Shop Mary Kay model and gifted Ms Kay with the guitar.
For your swinging pleasure, The Mary Kay Trio!
- Stuff Like That There, 1945
- Fools Rush In / Calypso Rock
- Just One Of Those Things, from 77 Sunset Strip, 1959
- Special guests on The Rosemary Clooney Show, from George's aunt program (who, like Mary Kay, also had a beautiful voice)
