The McGuire Sisters
Christine, Phyllis and Dorothy
Ruby Christine McGuire
(July 30, 1926-December 8, 2018)
Dorothy "Dottie" McGuire
(February 13, 1928-September 7, 2012)
Phyllis Jean McGuire
February 14, 1931-December 29, 2020)
The singing sisters known for their sweet harmonies and identical outfits, recorded the No. 1 hits "Sincerely" and "Sugartime" in the 1950s. The sisters knowsn for their sweet synchronized body movements and gestures. Other songs were "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" (1954) and "Something's Gotta Give" (1955). The trio was dressed and coiffed identically performing synchronized body movements and hand gestures with military precision. Their recordings of "Sincerely", "Picnic" and "Sugartime" sold more than one million copies.
Christine, Phyllis and Dorothy were born in Middletown, Ohio though grew up in Miamisburg, Ohio and began performing in 1935 when Phyllis, the youngest, was 4. They got their big break on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in 1952. They made numerous appearances on TV variety shows hosted by Milton Berle, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton and others while touring into the late 1960s, making a last stop on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1968. The sisters got back together in 1986 to tour nightclubs and in 2004 they performed in the PBS special Magic Moments: Best of 50's Pop.
The McGuire Sisters performed for five U.S. Presidents and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The five Presidents were Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
They were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2009, the sisters were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
The McQuire Sisters and the Andrew Sisters met several times during their careers.
The McGuire Sisters were inducted into the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame.
Christine, Phyllis and Dorothy at the opening of the World of Coca-Cola in Las Vegas, Nevada
July 7, 1997
The Coca-Cola company signed them to a contract with the highest fee in advertising history at that time.
In 1968, they retired from public performance. Phyllis went to a solo act while Dorothy and Christine became totally devoted to their families. Seventeen years later, however, they joined as an act again in response to their fans. The sisters reunited in 1986, performing at Toronto's Royal York Hotel for the first time since their retirement. Numerous nightclub engagements followed in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and New York City's Rainbows & Stars showcasing the group and Phyllis' impersonations of Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Pearl Bailty, Ethel Merman and even Louis Armstrong. After their singing careers, they opened a restaurant in Bradenton, Florida calling it McGuire's Pub.
The Talented and Beloved McGuire Sisters
Circa 1959
