The King Cousins celebrate 50th anniversary
In the 1920s, a family in Pleasant Grove, Utah, formed their own musical orchestra with the father, William King Driggs, mother Pearl, and their seven children.
From there they moved and added more to their growing group. Eventually they became “The King Sisters” and in the 1940s their harmony and ballads were on the airwaves and spreading music around the world. As the family grew into “The King Family” with their own TV show, they not only had their stars, “The King Sisters,” but also a bunch of “King Cousins” and the little “King Kiddies.”
Tina Cole, the oldest of the King Cousins, is now the matriarch of the family, which continues to grow. Her grandsons were at their latest concert and as the cousins sang in the song, “God Only Knows” whether a new generation of entertainers will evolve from the latest batch of Kings.
While they are a bit older than they were 50 years ago when the country took them to their hearts and loved their enthusiasm, harmony and spunk, they are still the consummate performers we have loved for the past five decades and beyond.
Taking us back in time to the days of vocal harmony and music that actually touched our hearts and minds, the four King Cousins celebrated their 50th anniversary as a group with a fun concert in Los Angeles. While they have been performing longer than 50 years with the rest of the King Family (“America’s first family of song”), it was 50 years ago that these women formed their own group, “The King Cousins.”
They were originally the “5 King Cousins” with Jamie joining Tina, Cathy, Carolyn and Candy. Jamie had other plans and the group was whittled down to four, which they have remained ever since. But audience members at this special 50th anniversary concert were treated to a surprise. Jamie joined her cousins (and sister Candy) on stage for a couple songs.
Not only did they get the surprise of Jamie, everyone was surprised (including the four women on stage) when their younger cousin Cam (who was one of the “King Kiddies” back in the day of the King Family Show), came on stage to present the women each with a red rose and serenade them with “My Best Girls.” This was not only touching for those in the audience, but it was clear the cousins were deeply moved by his song of love for his older cousins. The closeness of this family has remained through the years and through the generations.
The concert was a meant to bring back “music and memories” to everyone. Beginning with “I Love You More Today Than Yesterday” and then moving on to “California Nights,” the group covered plenty of songs they have recorded over the years.
They discussed their mothers, The King Sisters, and how they learned harmony “through osmosis” by listening to the sisters through the years.
As they explained, when the group was formed as “The Four King Cousins,” LBJ was the president and gas cost 32 cents a gallon. Yes, time has passed since they first began their musical journey, but they still have the zest for performing they had 50 years ago.
They sang the song they explained was written for them, “Leaving It All Behind” which is on their latest CD. They also sang “You Made Me Love You,” which should definitely be on their next CD.
Congratulations on 50 years, King Cousins. Don’t stop. You’re just as enjoyable and fun, funny and filled with fabulous harmony as ever. Long live the King (Cousins)!