Biography
Andy and the Bey Sisters was a vocal trio formed in the late 1950s by pianist-vocalist Andy Bey and his two older sisters, Salome Bey and Geraldine Bey (de Haas). Andy Bey, born October 28, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, was a genuine child prodigy who began performing professionally at age eight, appearing on television shows like "The Star Time Kids" and at the Apollo Theater before his teenage years. At age 17, the three siblings combined their considerable vocal talents to create a sophisticated jazz cabaret act that drew upon jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, Broadway, and pop influences. Their dark-toned family blend, featuring upbeat standards, crowd-pleasing special material, and impersonations of artists like Eartha Kitt and Pearl Bailey, quickly gained international recognition.
The trio achieved significant acclaim in Europe, particularly after their 1958 booking at the prestigious Blue Note in Paris, which led to a 16-month European tour. They were hailed by the London Daily Herald as "the world's most exciting vocal group" at a time when Lambert, Hendricks & Ross were at their peak, and Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein brought them back to the United States to perform at his Boston jazz club, Storyville. Despite their artistic success and critical acclaim, Andy and the Bey Sisters recorded only three albums—one for RCA Victor in 1961 and two for Prestige in 1964 and 1965—before disbanding in 1966-1967. The group's lack of commercial success was partly attributed to industry discrimination, with an RCA executive reportedly slow-rolling their promotion. After the trio's breakup, Andy Bey pursued a solo career that eventually led to a resurgence in the 1990s, while the legacy of Andy and the Bey Sisters remained a testament to their innovative blending of multiple musical genres and their sophisticated vocal artistry.
Fun Facts
- Andy Bey recorded his first single, 'Mama's Little Boy Got the Blues,' for Jubilee Records at age 13 in piercing, pubescent tones, singing about how 'a bobbysoxer broke my heart!' on the NBC children's show 'The Star Time Kids,' which also gave Connie Francis her start.
- The London Daily Herald called Andy and the Bey Sisters 'the world's most exciting vocal group' during a time when the highly acclaimed Lambert, Hendricks & Ross were at their peak, yet an RCA executive admitted to deliberately slow-rolling the trio's promotion, reportedly saying 'George, don't you think that they're too black?'
- Footage of Andy and the Bey Sisters delighting a Parisian audience appears in Chet Baker's 1988 documentary 'Let's Get Lost,' preserving their European performances for posterity.
- After the trio disbanded in 1966-1967, Andy Bey found himself adrift and eventually wound up playing background piano at a Holiday Inn in Terre Haute, Indiana, before being swept into the Civil Rights Movement in 1968 following the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Sarah Vaughan - Major vocal influence and inspiration; Newark native who influenced Bey's jazz approach (General vocal style and jazz sensibility) [1950s]
- Billie Holiday - Vocal influence and stylistic inspiration for blues and jazz interpretation (Blues and jazz vocal techniques) [1950s]
- Nat King Cole - Vocal influence on smooth jazz and standards interpretation (Standards and vocal phrasing) [1950s]
- Billy Eckstine - Vocal influence; Bey imitated his hypermasculine sound in his teenage years (Vocal tone and delivery style) [1950s]
Key Collaborators
- Salome Bey - Sister and co-founder of the vocal trio (Andy and the Bey Sisters albums for RCA Victor and Prestige) [1958-1967]
- Geraldine Bey (de Haas) - Sister and co-founder of the vocal trio (Andy and the Bey Sisters albums for RCA Victor and Prestige) [1958-1967]
- George Wein - Newport Jazz Festival founder who discovered the trio in Europe and served as manager; booked them at Storyville in Boston (Storyville performances and management) [1960-1961]
- Max Roach - Jazz drummer; the trio worked opposite his Sextet in Boston (Live performances at Storyville) [1960]
- Horace Silver - Jazz pianist; performed alongside the trio at Storyville (Live performances) [1960]
- Ornette Coleman - Jazz musician; performed at Storyville during the trio's engagement (Live performances) [1960]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5 | 2018-03-18 | Album |
| Essential Masters | 2012-09-01 | Album |
| Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5 | 2018-03-18 | Album |
| Zombie Jamboree | 2014-01-05 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Scoubidou (Essential Masters)
- Trees (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- Revenge (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- On the Sunny Side of the Street (From "The International Revue") (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- Zombie Jamboree (Back to Back) (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- Mood Indigo (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- It Must Be So (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- You Can't Be Mine Anymore (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- Dreamy (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
- Smooth Sailing (Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 5)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
andy and the bey sisters has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 2025 | 18:50 | god bless the childfrom 'round midnight | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Al Colón |