I’ve been listening to a lot of Korean music lately, and rather enjoying The Kim Sisters (Sook-ja, Ai-ja, and Mia—though Mia was actually the sisters’ cousin): a trio of multi-talented singers and musicians (“Who rate amongst the most versatile entertainers in the business. They not only sing, they play about 20 instruments” was how they were introduced on American TV). The Kim Sisters went from Korean post-war poverty to Las Vegas success in the 1960s.

Sook Ja and Ai-Ja’s mother was the Korean singer Lee Nan Young, and their father was Kim Hae Song, a respected classical conductor. Their father died during the Korean War, and the family home was destroyed. To support her family Lee Nan performed in shows to American troops stationed in the country. It was during one of these shows that Lee Nan introduced her two daughters and their cousin, Mia, as The Kim Sisters. Their singing and musical act proved a hit, and encouraged by their initial success, the girls started regularly appearing on the bill of GI shows.

They often sang just for food, as the family, like most Koreans during and after the war, were in direst poverty. They began singing American show songs, learning the lyrics phonetically. This increased The Kim Sisters popularity, and in 1959, they were helped by a talent manager to perform in the US at Las Vegas’ Thunderbird Hotel. So, began The Kim Sisters American career.
 

 
From being paid beer, fruit and chocolate for their singing, the trio of girls were soon earning $400 a week. From the Thunderbird, they were quickly booked to play the Stardust Hotel, where they developed their act by learning to play an incredible selection of instruments.

Eventually TV came a knockin’ and by the time The Kim Sisters appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Dean Martin Show they were bringing in around $12,000 a week. When Ed Sullivan heard that Lee Nan Young was still in Korea for lack of a visa, he intervened, but with the understanding that she would appear on his show with the Kim Sisters.
 

 
Their success made them a mainstay of Las Vegas, and LA nightclubs, and The Kim Sisters continued to perform through the sixties and seventies. Their musical style was a mix of the Andrews Sisters meets The Supremes, moving from Tin Pan Alley hits to pop songs. This small selection of videos will give you an idea of The Kim Sisters’ appeal. First up is a clip of The Kim Sisters on The Hollywood Palace television show. Stay with it for when they all three start playing the xylophone together (or go directly to about 3:22 in). It’s pretty cool:
 

 
More after the jump…

 
The beautiful and talented Kim Sisters were one of the most popular acts of all in Las Vegas during the 1960s, although they are little remembered today. The group was comprised of three of the seven children of well-known Korean classical music conductor, Kim Hae-song. Their mother, Lee Nan-Young, was one of Korea’s most famous singers, best-known for her version of “The Tears of Mokpo,” a traditional folk song.

When their father was killed by the North Koreans during the war, their mother had Sook-ja, Mi-a and Ai-ja (then 11, 12 and 13-years old) form a vocal trio to entertain the U.S. troops and to help support the rest of the family. Speaking no English at the time, the girls sang phonetically and were given gifts of beer and chocolate bars which they could then trade on the black market for real food. The G.I.s would also gift the girls with American pop records that they would learn to perform.

When news of the singing Kim Sisters reached America after the war, the girls were invited to become a part of the “China Doll Review” at the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas. Eventually the Kim Sisters became accomplished musicians playing a dizzying array of instruments in their glitzy stage show. They were the act on The Ed Sullivan Show more than any other performer, a total of 22 times. Sullivan made the Kim Sisters a nationally known act and soon they were making $13,000 a week. When Sullivan became aware that their mother was still in Korea, he generously intervened and helped her get a visa, the catch being that she had to perform on his program.

During the 70s, all of the Kim sisters got married and the act ended. Ai-ja Kim died of lung cancer 1987, but Sook-ja and Mi-a are still alive and living in America. They are rumored to be working on a documentary about their lives. I hope that’s true.

You can read a fascinating oral history of the Kim Sisters here.
 

 
None of the Ed Sullivan clips have made it to YouTube, sadly. Below is a clip of The Kim Sisters on the Hollywood Palace television show. Stay with it for when they all three start playing the xylophone together (or go directly to about 3:22 in). It’s pretty cool:
 

 
Thank you Douglas Hovey and Billy Beyond!