Song:Heaven's Just A Sin Away
Album:16 Greatest Hits
The Kendalls scored three number one country hits from 1977-84. The 1977 single Heaven's Just A Sin Away crossed over to pop so it was their biggest hit. The unusual thing about The Kendalls is they were a father daughter duo. Royce Kendall was from St. Louis. He formed The Austin Brothers with his brother Floyce and moved to California. They appeared on TV but it doesn't look like they ever recorded. When that ended, Kendall and his wife Melba moved back to St. Louis. The Kendalls knew that daughter Jeannie was very talented. But Melba didn't want her touring alone. So dad went with her and that's how The Kendalls were born. The first guy who saw something in them was steel guitar legend Pete Drake. The Kendalls released the 1971 album Meet The Kendalls on his Stop label and a cover of John Denver's Leaving on a Jet Plane made the country chart. They signed with Dot Records and a cover of The Grass Roots' Two Divided By Love made the country chart. After releasing a few singles for United Artists and Polydor, The Kendalls signed with Ovation Records, a label created by percussionist Dick Schory to sell quadraphonic sound. You don't remember that? I do. Schory helped create Dynagroove when he worked at RCA. Ovation released all kinds of music but they had their greatest success with The Kendalls. Heaven's Just A Sin Away topped the Country Singles chart and it crossed over to #69 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Jerry Gillespie who also co-wrote Somebody's Knockin' for Terri Gibbs. Sweet Desire was The Kendalls second number one hit. The music was produced by Ovation house producer Brien Fisher. By 1980, Ovation was having financial problems and they closed. The Kendalls signed with Mercury and the 1984 single Thank God For The Radio was their third number one hit. They faded after that. They left Mercury in 1986 and also recorded for MCA and Epic. The best comp to get is this one from Varese which has Ovation and Mercury hits. Most other comp CDs including the one on Curb are re-recordings. Beware! Like many country acts, The Kendalls had their own theater in Branson, MO in the 90s. That ended when Royce Kendall died on May 22, 1998. Jeannie Kendall has released a couple of albums on Rounder and she continues to tour. Here's The Kendalls performing Heaven's Just A Sin Away on an awards show.
No comments:
Post a Comment