Mac and Katie Kissoon

Early life and career

Mac and Katie Kissoon emigrated to the United Kingdom with their family in 1962. Katie began recording in 1965 cutting a total of four singles under the name Peanut and was later a member of the Rag Dolls who had a single released in 1967 and another in 1968. Mac Kissoon was a member of the Marionettes in 1966 and 1967, then fronted his own band which played US bases in Europe: returning to the UK in 1969 he cut a solo record: "Get Down With It - Satisfaction" which became a Top 30 hit in the Netherlands - #29 in February 1970.

Mac and Katie Kissoon made their first collaborative recording covering the Lally Stott recording "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" for the UK market. Released July 1971 the Kissoons' version of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" lost out in the UK to another cover by Middle of the Road who scored a #1 hit while the Kissoons' stalled at #41 UK. However a parallel release of the Kissoons' version of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" in the US became a major hit with the single reaching #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1971.

Mac and Katie Kissoon continued to record together and although their follow-up single to "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" entitled "Freedom" failed to register in either the UK or US the track charted throughout Europe with estimated sales approaching one million units. The duo continued to have European chart success particularly in the Netherlands and on the Belgian Dutch-language chart and finally broke through in the UK in 1975 when "Sugar Candy Kisses" reached #3 UK.

Their easy listening, bubblegum pop music career having receded by the early 1980s, Katie and Mac Kissoon were in demand as backing singers and session musicians. Katie was a member of James Last's singers in the 1980s, her brother Mac continuing there until Last's death. Katie Kissoon's career has continued as backing singer for Van Morrison (1978 and later), Elkie Brooks (1982), Eric Clapton (1986 and later), Roger Waters (since 1984), Elton John (1985), Eros Ramazzotti (1990), George Harrison (1991), Pet Shop Boys (1994), George Michael (Unplugged on MTV 1996) and Robbie Williams (2000 and later).

In 1997, Mac and Katie Kissoon released an album of new material called From Now On.

In 2002, Katie Kissoon appeared on stage at the Concert for George. In 2006-2007 she was also part of the backing section for Roger Waters' The Dark Side of the Moon Live world tour. The tour continued for nine dates in 2008, but Katie was unable to perform and was replaced by Sylvia Mason-James. In 2006, Katie provided backing vocals on Andy Fairweather Low's album, Sweet Soulful Music'.

Katie Kissoon performed backing vocals on three tracks on Van Morrison's 2008 album Keep It Simple, and "The Healing Game" and sang with his band on several concert dates in 2008.

Available chart info