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Saucy Sylvia

Saucy Sylvia
Saucy Sylvia 1962.jpg
in 1962
Born Sylvia Cadeski
(1920-07-27)July 27, 1920
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Died May 25, 2017(2017-05-25) (aged 96)
Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
Occupation Entertainer, pianist, comedian, humorist
Spouse(s) Meyer J. Stoun (?–1960s; his death),
Michael L. Mureddu (1970s–2013; his death)

Sylvia Cadeski (July 27, 1920 – May 25, 2017), known professionally as Saucy Sylvia, was a Canadian-born American comedian, classically trained pianist, singer, and radio personality.

Saucy Sylvia was born Sylvia Cadeski in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada in 1920, and grew up in the small village of Mount Forest. At age 6, she began playing the piano, which she learned from the nuns at Sisters of St. Joseph Academy. She played in a country band in high school. Sylvia eventually graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She later left the university of Toronto with a teaching degree and a masters in languages and while in school, she worked at a small local radio station and hosted her own radio show while in college in Toronto.

She decided she really wanted to try show business, and went out on the road. While she played in Indiana, a bandleader named Barney Rapp landed her audition as a staff vocalist, and before long Saucy went on the air at WLW in Cincinnati. At the time it was clear channel and could be heard all over the country.

Sylvia was a staff singer; at the time two young sisters also sang at the station Rosemary Clooney and Betty Clooney. Big names dropped by the ”Sylvia Show” like Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. At the same time, Sylvia played a steady gig at the La Normandie Restaurant for five years and eventually moved to Detroit, MI with her first husband Mike Stoun where she worked comedy in her act. She toured off and on and in Arizona, a promoter billed her as “Saucy Sylvia” on the marquee, giving Sylvia her first new name. After her husband died, she continued performing across the country. She recorded two albums “Sex is the thing that started it all” and “0069”. She eventually moved to Newport, Rhode Island where she met her second husband Mike Mureddu.

Saucy was known to engage her audience directly, making them part of the act. Women from all over the world (estimated over ½ million) wear “I walk for Sauce” buttons announcing their affiliation of the Saucy Sylvia fan club. The Walk for Sauce fan club song was sung and the celebration continued through almost three hours without a break. Saucy’s memory was one of the things that made her so special. Part of her act involved asking audience members for their names and where they were from. She would then include each person’s name in songs and comedy, no matter how large the audience. What was intriguing was her ability to capture all ages from college to seniors.


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