Phyllis McGuire – the singer and the last remaining member of the popular 1950s trio the McGuire Sisters – has passed away at the age of 89.
The Middletown, Ohio resident died Tuesday at her lavish Las Vegas estate, although no cause of death was reported, the Las Vegas Sun reported.
The singer got her first big break in 1952, when Phyllis and older sisters Christine and Dorothy McGuire were signed to Coral Records, Variety reported. That same year they won the first prize in the competition “Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts”.
The talented trio then took the music scene by storm, touring the country and performing regularly on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and other variety shows, The Wrap reported. The McGuire Sisters would perform for five presidents and even Queen Elizabeth II throughout their illustrious careers.
The group is best known for their hit singles, namely their pop cover of the Moonglows’ 1954 hit ‘Sincerely’ and their rendition of ‘Sugartime’ from 1955. Both topped the charts of Billboard’s US songs, selling over a million copies. just like their 1956 song ‘Picnic’.
Sadly, the healthy crooners – known for their perfectly coiffed hairstyles and synchronized dance moves – had their image somewhat tarnished in the ’60s after reports surfaced that Phyllis was having an affair with Chicago gangster Sam Giancana. The singer claimed their relationship was purely platonic, although the 1995 film “Sugartime” took a different path.
In 1965, Phyllis testified before a grand jury that she knew Giancana was a criminal, but was unaware of his specific activities.
The group took a temporary hiatus in 1968, during which Phyllis embarked on a solo career. They reunited in 1985, for nearly two more decades, culminating in a final major appearance in the 2004 PBS special, “Magic Moments: The Best of ’50s Pop,” when Phyllis was in his seventies.
The McGuire Sisters were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994.
Dorothy died in 2012 at the age of 84 and Christine died in 2018 at the age of 92.
“I’m not afraid of living, and I’m not afraid of dying,” Phyllis told Vanity Fair in 1989. “You only live once, and I’m going to live it to the fullest until I leave. keep singing as long as someone wants me. “