Whitney Web Site A start at my "Autobiography" Selected stories by Dick Whitney
The King Family
New link: Official
King Family site - added May 24, 2009
(see video from first Color TV
Appearance in 1966 at bottom of this page)
Album Covers from my King Family Collection
King Cousins and King Sisters perform Red River Valley
The King Sisters - Yvonne, Alice, Louise, and Marilyn (The King Sisters)
singing at the Brockton Fair in July, 1967 - Dick Whitney photo
Sent: Mon, December 14, 2009 2:15:29 AM
Sadly, aunt vonnie passed away this afernoon around 5pm
in santa barbara. a
handful of us were on call to say our goodbyes and sing
some xmas carols....it is indeed the passing of an era.
thanks for checking in,
Cam
Dear family and friends,
On Friday, we finally got mom to Cottage hospital in Santa
Barbara so we could be closer to our loved ones.We were told that her condition
was not good and that we should be prepared. On Sunday afternoon
we decorated her room with pictures of her life - had King Sisters music
playing - She had made Tina promise she would never let her go without
her make-up, so Heather and Tina did her make-up and hair - we put a blue
silk nightgown on her and covered her with her elegant fur coat and as
many family members and good friends that could make it, came to
the hospital around 2:00 PM. She was surrounded by 16 loved ones. We sang
Christmas carols, "Side by Side" (with the King Family hand jive), "Nighty
Night" (including all of us doing the soft shoe around her bed), and finally
"Love at Home". We then said a family prayer and one by one, we told
her what she meant to us and let her know it was O.K. to go. And she did
just that. Within one hour she slipped peacefully away at 5:40 PM. It was
as perfect as if she had produced it herself, and we all believe she did.
We want to thank you for your love, support and prayers.
With much love to you all,
Tina , Cathy, Cilla and families
A clippings from the TV Guide - 1965?
When I was a teenager, I became a big fan of the King Family from the
ABC television show that aired during the mid 1960's. My father had brought
me up with big band music, and enjoyed there music. When I started watching
the King Family show, I soon became one of their biggest fans. While Alvino
Rey and the King Sisters were featured on the show, the program also
highlighted the talents of others in their family, and featured 30+ others.
Their theme song was "Love at Home", which is a beautiful piece in both
words and music.
As an aside, one of the "King
Cousins" - Tina, became famous as Rob's wife on the Show "My Three
Son's", which Bob Clarke (Alice King's Husband) was a famous character
actor on TV. I recall seeing him a number of times on Dragnet, for one.
Dad and Alvino Rey
both were Ham Radio operators, and shortly after my becoming a big
fan of the King Family, we began communicating via Ham Radio. As a result,
we met with Alvino and Luise, as well as Alice
and Bob Clarke on several of their tour dates through New England.
The following schedul was sent to us from a fellow "Ham" who participated
in contacts with Alvino and friends:
Looking back through my files, I found that I went to the following
King Family concerts:
August 11, 1965 - Warwick RI
July 19, 1966 - Wallingford, CT
July 26, 1966 - Framingham, Ma
July 7 and 9, 1967 - Brockton, Ma
August 1969 - Saratoga Springs, NY
July 1966 photo of the King Cousins in the Round; below a photo I took
of the King Cousins on
the John Davidson show in the summer of 1966
Xan from the King Family, Mom and I at the Brockton Fair
