The daughter of Joseph and Mary Katherine Popilek DeZurik, she was born on a farm 6 miles west of Royalton, Minnesota. She and her 7 brothers and sisters would practice singing and yodeling, imitating the sounds of the birds they heard around them in rural Minnesota. The entire family were musically gifted. The father of the DeZurik children played fiddle for local barn dances, son Jerry played accordion and guitar and sang and five of the six girls were also singers and guitar players. But it was Mary Jane and Carolyn who persisted in honing their talents to a professional edge to put the DeZurik name before the public. In the sounds of the birds and animals, they heard an inspiring natural music. These varied animal sounds provided them with an astonishing repertoire of high, haunting yodels and yips that they incorporated into their singing to produce a unique style that set them apart from other vocalists. They became known as The Cackle Sisters because of their unique bird-like vocalizations. Their close harmony is said to be possible only between siblings
The DeZurik sisters received their first stage experience by entering amateur contests in central Minnesota. In 1937 they were regulars on "Checkerboard Time," radio show, sponsored by Purina Checkerboard feed. They appeared on WLS National Barn Dance and signed a contract with station WLS radio in 1936 and went on tour for them. It was there that she met Ralph "Rusty" Gill, whom she later married, on September 1, 1940. In 1938 they recorded six sides for the Vocalion label, the only recordings they ever made. Those recordings are now legendary. A number of their radio transcriptions can be found on the web. Shortly after her marriage, the sisters were asked to Hollywood to star in the Republic Pictures movie, "Barnyard Follies." They were the first women to achieve stardom on both the National Barn Dance and the Grand Ole Opry. In 1956, after her sister, Mary Jane, retired, she switched gears and became a polka band with her husband, called The Polka Chips, during a regional polka craze. Two years later they became a duet and starred in a show called Polka-Go-Round on ABC TV. From 1956 to 1963 she signed to do commercials for Busch Bavarian Beer. When the contract expired, she retired and moved to Chicago with her husband, Rusty.
The DeZurik sisters received their first stage experience by entering amateur contests in central Minnesota. In 1937 they were regulars on "Checkerboard Time," radio show, sponsored by Purina Checkerboard feed. They appeared on WLS National Barn Dance and signed a contract with station WLS radio in 1936 and went on tour for them. It was there that she met Ralph "Rusty" Gill, whom she later married, on September 1, 1940. In 1938 they recorded six sides for the Vocalion label, the only recordings they ever made. Those recordings are now legendary. A number of their radio transcriptions can be found on the web. Shortly after her marriage, the sisters were asked to Hollywood to star in the Republic Pictures movie, "Barnyard Follies." They were the first women to achieve stardom on both the National Barn Dance and the Grand Ole Opry. In 1956, after her sister, Mary Jane, retired, she switched gears and became a polka band with her husband, called The Polka Chips, during a regional polka craze. Two years later they became a duet and starred in a show called Polka-Go-Round on ABC TV. From 1956 to 1963 she signed to do commercials for Busch Bavarian Beer. When the contract expired, she retired and moved to Chicago with her husband, Rusty.
The daughter of Joseph and Mary Katherine Popilek DeZurik, she was born on a farm 6 miles west of Royalton, Minnesota. She and her 7 brothers and sisters would practice singing and yodeling, imitating the sounds of the birds they heard around them in rural Minnesota. The entire family were musically gifted. The father of the DeZurik children played fiddle for local barn dances, son Jerry played accordion and guitar and sang and five of the six girls were also singers and guitar players. But it was Mary Jane and Carolyn who persisted in honing their talents to a professional edge to put the DeZurik name before the public. In the sounds of the birds and animals, they heard an inspiring natural music. These varied animal sounds provided them with an astonishing repertoire of high, haunting yodels and yips that they incorporated into their singing to produce a unique style that set them apart from other vocalists. They became known as The Cackle Sisters because of their unique bird-like vocalizations. Their close harmony is said to be possible only between siblings
The DeZurik sisters received their first stage experience by entering amateur contests in central Minnesota. In 1937 they were regulars on "Checkerboard Time," radio show, sponsored by Purina Checkerboard feed. They appeared on WLS National Barn Dance and signed a contract with station WLS radio in 1936 and went on tour for them. It was there that she met Ralph "Rusty" Gill, whom she later married, on September 1, 1940. In 1938 they recorded six sides for the Vocalion label, the only recordings they ever made. Those recordings are now legendary. A number of their radio transcriptions can be found on the web. Shortly after her marriage, the sisters were asked to Hollywood to star in the Republic Pictures movie, "Barnyard Follies." They were the first women to achieve stardom on both the National Barn Dance and the Grand Ole Opry. In 1956, after her sister, Mary Jane, retired, she switched gears and became a polka band with her husband, called The Polka Chips, during a regional polka craze. Two years later they became a duet and starred in a show called Polka-Go-Round on ABC TV. From 1956 to 1963 she signed to do commercials for Busch Bavarian Beer. When the contract expired, she retired and moved to Chicago with her husband, Rusty.
The DeZurik sisters received their first stage experience by entering amateur contests in central Minnesota. In 1937 they were regulars on "Checkerboard Time," radio show, sponsored by Purina Checkerboard feed. They appeared on WLS National Barn Dance and signed a contract with station WLS radio in 1936 and went on tour for them. It was there that she met Ralph "Rusty" Gill, whom she later married, on September 1, 1940. In 1938 they recorded six sides for the Vocalion label, the only recordings they ever made. Those recordings are now legendary. A number of their radio transcriptions can be found on the web. Shortly after her marriage, the sisters were asked to Hollywood to star in the Republic Pictures movie, "Barnyard Follies." They were the first women to achieve stardom on both the National Barn Dance and the Grand Ole Opry. In 1956, after her sister, Mary Jane, retired, she switched gears and became a polka band with her husband, called The Polka Chips, during a regional polka craze. Two years later they became a duet and starred in a show called Polka-Go-Round on ABC TV. From 1956 to 1963 she signed to do commercials for Busch Bavarian Beer. When the contract expired, she retired and moved to Chicago with her husband, Rusty.
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