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Tags: phyllis mcguire | mcguire sisters | obit

Phyllis McGuire, Last Surviving Member of McGuire Sisters, Dies at 89

christine phyllis and dorothy mcguire sit behind table
(L-R) Christine McGuire, Phyllis McGuire and Dorothy McGuire of The McGuire Sisters attend the opening of the World of Coca-Cola on July 7, 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Las Vegas News Bureau Archives via Getty Images)

By    |   Friday, 01 January 2021 10:27 AM EST

Phyllis McGuire, the last surviving member of the 1950s' pop band the McGuire Sisters, has died at age 89. The singer passed away on Tuesday in her home in Las Vegas, People confirmed.

Phyllis and her sisters Christine and Dorothy broke into the music industry in 1952, after winning the televised "Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts" competition. They were snapped up by Coral Records and elevated to fame upon releasing their chart-topping single, a cover of The Moonglows' song "Sincerely," in 1955. The song, along with the recording "Picnic" and their second no.1 hit "Sugartime," which was a cover of a song by Charlie Phillips and Odis Echols, all sold more than one million copies.

The McGuire Sisters broke up in 1968 following a performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Phyllis continued to perform solo while Christine pursued various business ventures, franchising cinemas, restaurants, and diet centers, according to IMDB. Dorothy, who in 1958 married real-estate developer Lowell Williamson, became a full-time wife and mother.

In 1985, the trio reunited and went on to perform in Las Vegas for two decades, according to People. The McGuire Sisters were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994. The band's final performance came in 2004, when they appeared on the 2004 PBS special, "Magic Moments: The Best of '50s Pop."

Dorothy died in 2012 and Christine passed away in 2018. Phyllis's longtime partner, Mike Davis, died in 2016. She is survived by nieces and nephews.

Zoe Papadakis

Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


TheWire
Phyllis McGuire, the last surviving member of the 1950s' pop band the McGuire Sisters, has died at age 89. The singer passed away on Tuesday in her home in Las Vegas, People confirmed. Phyllis and her sisters...
phyllis mcguire, mcguire sisters, obit
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2021-27-01
Friday, 01 January 2021 10:27 AM
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