Kay Twomey

Kathleen G. "Kay" Twomey (April 27, 1914 in Boston, Massachusetts – September 26, 1995 in Wellesley, Massachusetts) was an American songwriter and music arranger. Twomey co-wrote "Serenade of the Bells", which reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on November 7, 1947 and lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #3, and in a separate recording reached the Billboard's Best Seller chart on December 26, 1947 at #13. She also co-wrote "Wooden Heart", best known for its use in the 1960 Elvis Presley film G.I. Blues. A cover version by Joe Dowell made it to number one in the US charts at the end of August 1961. Dowell's version also spent three weeks at number one on the Easy Listening chart.

Other songs by Twomey include the 1961 Elvis Presley single "Put the Blame on Me", "Lend Me Your Comb" and "In the Beginning", as well as songs recorded by Jo Stafford, Doris Day, Carl Smith, Don Cornell, Jill Corey, Eddy Arnold, Eartha Kitt, Caterina Valente, Guy Mitchell, Johnnie Ray, Brian Hyland, Gus Backus, Ray Ellis, Perry Como ("The Island of Forgotten Lovers"), Hayley Mills, Earl Grant, The Sandpipers, the Eli Radish Band, Frank Sinatra ("Hey! Jealous Lover"), The Statler Brothers, Leroy Van Dyke, Lucille Starr, Girl Trouble, The Beatles, Daniel O'Donnell, Barbara Lynn, David Houston and the Nat King Cole Trio.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 27, 1914 (Boston), Died September 26, 1995 (Wellesley)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-055491 10-in. 3/26/1941 Sing a song of spring Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Eddie Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-063831 10-in. 4/29/1941 Consider yourself kissed Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-064065 10-in. 4/11/1941 Where's the captain's hat? Art Kassel Trio ; Marion Holmes ; Kassels-in-the-Air Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo, male vocal trio, and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-066434 10-in. 6/30/1941 Two pair of shoes Mildred Law ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-068854 10-in. 1/12/1942 Loretta Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor BS-068884 10-in. 1/15/1942 Loretta Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band. with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-071848 10-in. 2/13/1942 Loretta Carl Denny ; Hal McIntyre Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-073568 10-in. 3/13/1942 Johnny Doughboy found a rose in Ireland Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Clyde Rogers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-073831 10-in. 4/10/1942 Johnny Doughboy found a rose in Ireland Barry Wood Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-074307 10-in. 4/7/1942 Johnny Doughboy found a rose in Ireland Tommy Ryan ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-074790 10-in. 7/29/1942 Better not roll those blue, blue eyes New Music [Shep Fields] ; Ralph Young Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor D7VB-0487 10-in. 3/24/1947 Heartbreakin' Page Cavanaugh Trio Male vocal trio, with guitar, bass, and celeste songwriter  
Victor D7VB-1259 10-in. 7/11/1947 Serenade of the bells Sammy Kaye ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Male vocal solo, with vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-1743 10-in. 10/15/1947 In a little book shop Vaughn Monroe ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-1790 10-in. 10/25/1947 Who were you kissing (when you kissed me last night) Artie Dunn ; Three Suns Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio songwriter  
Victor D7VB-2039 10-in. 11/11/1947 I'm living a lie Cathy Allen ; Louis Prima Orchestra Female vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-2130 10-in. 11/26/1947 Blue Hawaiian rose Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Clyde Rogers Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor D7VB-2525 10-in. 11/26/1947 There's s music box in the moon Artie Dunn ; Sun Maids ; Three Suns Male vocal solo, with female vocal group and instrumental trio lyricist  
Victor D7VB-3032 10-in. 12/27/1947 Completely yours Vaughn Monroe ; Moon Maids ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal quartet and jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D7VB-3102 10-in. 12/30/1947 The legend of Tiabi Vaughn Monroe ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D8VB-4060 10-in. 12/15/1948 The melancholy minstrel Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal group and instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Columbia HCO3057 10-in. 12/26/1947 Serenade of the bells Gene Autry String band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal chorus songwriter  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Twomey, Kay," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112499.

Twomey, Kay. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112499.

"Twomey, Kay." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112499

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