The Kendalls Biography
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 Royce Kendall (Royce Kykendall, 25 September 1934, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, d. 22 May 1998, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA) and Jeannie Kendall (b. 30 November 1954, St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Royce learned guitar from the age of five and formed a duo, the Austin Brothers, with his brother Floyce. After serving in the US Army, Royce and his wife Melba started a hairdressing business in St. Louis. Their only child, Jeannie, began harmonizing with her father on old-time country songs, and they were soon entertaining family and friends. Their first record, for a small local label, was ‘Round Round Round’, and their talents were recognized in Nashville by Pete Drake, although they simply recorded country versions of pop hits such as ‘Leavin’ On A Jet Plane’ (a minor hit), ‘Proud Mary’ and ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’. Jeannie Kendall was among the backing singers on Ringo Starr’s Nashville album Beaucoups Of Blues. The family moved to Hendersonville, just outside Nashville, and the Kendalls had success with Dot Records, notably ‘Two Divided By Love’ and ‘Everything I Own’. A brief spell at United Artists Records brought no success.
In the mid-70s, Ovation Records started a country division and the Kendalls, who had a contemporary sound with traditional overtones, were signed to test the market. Their cover version of Jimmy Work’s ‘Making Believe’ became a modest hit in April 1977, until it was surpassed by a competing version from Emmylou Harris. When a single of ‘Live And Let Live’ was released in 1977, Ovation found that country disc jockeys preferred the b-side, a version of Jerry Gillespie’s ‘Heaven’s Just A Sin Away’. It topped the US country charts for four weeks and also collected a Grammy award for Best Vocal Performance By A Duo. The father and daughter pairing followed the record with other ‘cheating’ songs, notably ‘It Don’t Feel Like Sinnin’ To Me’ and ‘Pittsburg Stealers’. They had a further US country number 1 with the double-sided ‘Sweet Desire’/‘Old Fashioned Love’, plus further Top 10 hits with ‘I’m Already Blue’ and Dolly Parton’s ‘Put It Off Until Tomorrow’. In 1981, they moved to Mercury Records and continued their success with ‘Teach Me How To Cheat’ and ‘If You’re Waiting On Me (You’re Backing Up)’. They had their third country chart-topper in 1984 with ‘Thank God For The Radio’. Thereafter they enjoyed markedly less success although they did retain a loyal following for live shows and regularly performed in Branson, Missouri. After spells with MCA Records and independent label Step One, their final chart placing came with ‘Blue Blue Day’ for Epic Records in 1989. However, they maintained their popularity with live audiences throughout the 90s. Although Royce’s singing voice was good, he usually confined himself to harmonizing with his daughter, selectively using double-tracking. Jeannie’s voice is high and clear and she delivers her material with emotionally intense and powerful effectiveness. Royce Kendall died in May 1998, shortly after suffering a stroke incurred while performing a soundcheck. Jeannie embarked upon a solo career and signed with Rounder Records in 2002.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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Royce Kendall (Royce Kykendall, 25 September 1934, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, d. 22 May 1998, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA) and Jeannie Kendall (b. 30 November 1954, St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Royce learned guitar from the age of five and formed a duo, the Austin Brothers, with his brother Floyce. After serving in the US Army, Royce and his wife Melba started a hairdressing business in St. Louis. Their only child, Jeannie, began harmonizing with her father on old-time country songs, and they were soon entertaining family and friends. Their first record, for a small local label, was ‘Round Round Round’, and their talents were recognized in Nashville by Pete Drake, although they simply recorded country versions of pop hits such as ‘Leavin’ On A Jet Plane’ (a minor hit), ‘Proud Mary’ and ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’. Jeannie Kendall was among the backing singers on Ringo Starr’s Nashville album Beaucoups Of Blues. The family moved to Hendersonville, just outside Nashville, and the Kendalls had success with Dot Records, notably ‘Two Divided By Love’ and ‘Everything I Own’. A brief spell at United Artists Records brought no success.