06/18/1905
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA:
James Kern Kyser (June 18, 1905 – July 23, 1985), known as Kay Kyser, was a popular radio personality and bandleader in the 1930's and 40's. Kyser's most popular show was Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge, which combined popular music with a quiz show format. It aired on Mutual Radio in 1938 and then moved to NBC Radio from 1939 to 1949. Kyser led the band as “The Ol’ Perfessor,” spouting signature catch phrases like, “That’s right—you’re wrong,” “Evenin’ folks, how y’all?” and “C'mon, chillun! Le's dance!” Kyser was also known for having his singers sing the song titles, a device copied by Sammy Kaye and Blue Barron. When the song began, one of the band's lead singers (usually Harry Babbitt) sang the title phrase, and then the first verse or two of the song was performed instrumentally before the lyrics resumed.
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Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Self (archive footage) |
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Showbiz Goes to War (1982) as (archive footage) |
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The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage) |
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Carolina Blues (1944) as Himself |
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G.I. Journal (1944) as Self |
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Around the World (1943) as Kay Kyser |
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Swing Fever (1943) as Lowell Blackford |
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Screen Snapshots (Series 23, no. 3) (1943) as Himself |
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Thousands Cheer (1943) as Kay Kyser |
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Stage Door Canteen (1943) as Kay Kyser |
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Show-Business at War (1943) as Self |
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My Favorite Spy (1942) as Kay Kyser |
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Playmates (1941) as Kay Kyser |
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Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 (1941) as |
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Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1 (1941) as Self |
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You'll Find Out (1940) as Himself |
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If I Forget You (1940) as Orchestra |
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Africa Squeaks (1940) as Cake Icer (voice) |
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That's Right – You're Wrong (1939) as Kay Kyser |
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Unsichtbare Gegner (1933) as Sir Thomas |