Kasey Cisyk
| Kasey Cisyk | |
|---|---|
Kasey Cisyk
|
|
| Born |
Kvitka Cisyk April 4, 1953 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 29, 1998 (aged 44) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Breast cancer |
| Occupation | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1971–1998 |
| Spouse(s) | Jack Cortner Edward J. Rakowicz (m. 1983) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Volodymyr Cisyk Iwanna Cisyk |
| Awards |
Academy Award Golden Globe |
| Website | kvitkacisyk |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
Kvitka (or "Kasey") Cisyk (Ukrainian: Квітка Цісик, Kvitka Tsisyk; April 4, 1953 – March 29, 1998) was an American coloratura soprano of Ukrainian ethnicity. Cisyk, a classically trained opera singer who achieved success in four musical genres: popular music, classical opera, Ukrainian folk music and commercial jingles for radio and TV advertisements.
Cisyk recorded the version of "You Light Up My Life" heard in the movie (Oscar and Golden Globe Awards win in 1978), sang the "Have you driven a Ford lately?" and "You deserve a break today!" jingles and also released two critically acclaimed albums of Ukrainian songs.
Cisyk was the daughter of two Ukrainian immigrants; her given name, Kvitka, is Ukrainian for "flower". Her father, Volodymyr Cisyk, a well known Ukrainian concert violinist and teacher, taught his daughter the violin when she was 5 years old, grooming her for a career as a classical musician.
Cisyk attended the High School of Music & Art in New York City and graduated in 1970. She attended Harpur College, also known as SUNY Binghamton, for one year directly after high school. Her sister taught piano there. In the summer of 1971, she attended a SUNY-sponsored opera program in Ghent, Belgium. She received a violin scholarship to the Mannes College of Music, but had switched to classical voice training by the time of her graduation.
Cisyk's original goal was a career as an opera singer, but her father's death left the family without a source of income. Needing to earn money immediately, Cisyk pursued a career as a session singer in popular music. She drew her professional name (Kasey) from her first and last initials.
Cisyk began singing in clubs, while submitting audition tapes to producers and advertising agencies. She had a successful career as a background singer in popular music, working as a backup singer for Carly Simon and Michael Franks and for artists produced by Quincy Jones.
Cisyk achieved her widest success as a singer of the musical jingles used in TV and radio commercials. Cisyk's recording of the slogan "Have you driven a Ford lately?" was used in Ford commercials from 1981 to 1998; in 1989, Ford executives estimated that Cisyk's recording of that phrase had been heard by 20 billion people.
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