Early Years
He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Paul Bynum Kyser and Emily Royster (Howell) Kyser. Editor Vermont C. Royster was his cousin. Kyser graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was also senior class president. Because of his popularity and enthusiasm as a cheerleader, he was invited by Hal Kemp to take over as bandleader when Kemp ventured north to further his career. He began taking clarinet lessons but was better as an entertaining announcer than a musician. He adopted the initial of his middle name as part of his stage name, for its alliterative effect.
Long before his national success, Kyser recorded two sessions for Victor in the late 1920s (Camden, NJ in November, 1928 and Chicago in early 1929). These were issued on Victor's V-40000 series devoted to country music and regional dance bands.
Read more about this topic: Kay Kyser
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