Mac and Katie Kissoon

Mac and Katie Kissoon
Katie Kissoon performing with Roger Waters June 6, 2007 in Ottawa, Canada
Background information
Origin	Trinidad
Genres	Bubblegum pop, rock and roll
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Associated acts	James Last, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Elkie Brooks, Roger Waters, Elton John, Eros Ramazzotti, George Harrison, Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams

Mac and Katie Kissoon are a male and female vocal duo, consisting of brother and sister Mac Kissoon (born Gerald Farthing, November 11, 1943, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies) and Katie Kissoon (born Katherine Farthing, March 11, 1951, Port of Spain).

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).