About this project

Kay Kemble (1911-1989) is a character invented for this project. Kay sang on radio commercials as a child and went on to lead Big Bands and swing ensembles in the 30's and 40's. She worked at Scott Air Field as a WAAC enlistee and a civilian. She produced war bond rallies, and her all-female band promoted a popular shampoo brand. In the 80's there was renewed interest in Kay's musical career.

Kay informally adopted the orphaned niece and nephew of her partner Wilmetta "Teeny" Stockton, and in the early 70's the family moved from St. Louis to New Orleans. After Kay and Teeny's deaths, family members remained in New Orleans until displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In 2014, I arranged to archive, organize, and restore Kay's memorabilia. Most items were damaged due to age, hurried packing , and lack of funds for formal archiving.

I've "become" Kay in reproduction radio broadcasts, and created artifacts to represent damaged or destroyed items in the collection.



Thursday, January 23, 2020

A favorite tune used in Kay's "morale medleys"

In between war-bond rallies during and just after the Second World War, Kay organized community concerts in which local glee clubs, church choirs, and other singing groups would stand on risers at the conclusion of the show and sing a medley of morale-boosting songs. The Marilyn Miller favorite  "Look for the Silver Lining," from the 1920s, was revived by Judy Garland and other singers.



The song was the title number for the Hollywood biopic about Miller:




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