Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band

Subject: Obit: Kathy Kay
From: Tam the man
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 01:09 PM

Kathy Kay died yesterday in a nursing home in Largs of the west coast of Scotland, just along the road from my home town.
She was a singer with the Billy Cotton band during the 1950's.
I think that it is sad that anyone dies.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 01:34 PM

I remember her I'm afraid, another childhood memory wiped out. God rest her soul.
Giok

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: BanjoRay
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 04:09 PM

Memories of Sunday afternoons in the fifties listening to the Light Programms on the wireless. 2-way Family Favorites followed by the Billy Cotton Band Show, with Kathy Kay (nice voice) and Alan Breeze (closing time tenor). Waikey Waikhaayy - dah-dah dah-dah dah daaah etc. "I can still hear it clearly", he burbled into his beer......
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 06:57 PM

lovely Kathy Kay! as Billy always described her

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Flash Company
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 07:12 AM

My old boss, who understood such things, always reckoned that Billy Cotton had the finest dance band in the business. Better than Joe Loss, Geraldo, Jack Hylton et al.
If you recall their play out theme at the end of the radio shows, you will see what he meant, it swung like mad.

FC

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: jacqui.c
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 08:00 AM

I agree - Billy Cotton's Band Show was staple Sunday fare in our house.

Kathy must have been one of the last survivors - does anyone know how old she was?

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Jeanie
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 10:09 AM

Yes - I only have to hear that intro and I can smell the Sunday roast. I've just read on the BBC news website that Kathie Kay was 86 and that, sadly, she had been suffering from Alzheimer's for the past 15 years.

She was not the last survivor, Jacqui. I know of one: Alf Reece, who played in the band, is still going strong. He lives in the same block of retirement apartments as my mum, and still goes out giving trumpet lessons.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 02:59 PM

Alan Breeze, "You down there with the glasses", makes a person quitre nostalgic. RIP Kathy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From:
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 12:23 PM

We have been talking about Kathy recently and wondering what happened to her. As her namesake, I am often asked on the telephone if I am the real Kathy Kay. I then tell the person on the other end of the line that I know how old they are.
RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 03:02 PM

She helped make my Sunday afternoons, Nan & Mum would devour Nuttalls Mintoes and watch down the main street, discussing the family history?morals of every person walking up or down the road. Grandad would be asleep under the "News of the World" and I'd be listening to the Light Programme.
Sleep well, Kathy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,Ken
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 06:37 PM

I remember as if it was only yesterday listening to the Billy Cotton Band Show at Sunday lunchtime. Kathy Kay had a lovely voice. I am old enough to remember her predecessor. When I first started listening to Billy Cotton, Doreen Stephens was his female vocalist who also had a lovely voice. I saw Billy Cotton live at the Walthamstow Palace in 1948.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,lpoolmcg
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 03:07 PM

Suday afternoons at the Scala in souhtport, what days thet were. particulary with that special someone, n Billy Cotton.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:29 PM

As the author of the book. The Greatest Billy Cotton Band show.and Kathie Kay,s last manager, I know that she would like me to thank you all for your kind thoughts,Kathie was a true professional she believed that diction was very important,a real sign of old school
professionalism ,sadly lacking in today's world of entertainment. I think of her a great deal,I miss her very much,but I am very lucky because I have so many happy memories of her.THANK YOU all for remembering Kathie

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 05:53 AM

What Grand memories our generation share. Teenagers during the Billy Cotton Round the Horn years, certainly had it good. Recovering from the austerity of the war years there was an honest simplicity to life.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 06:58 PM

Me too -- Sunday's Family Favorites and The Billy Cotton Band Show were staples -- you KNEW it was Sunday when you heard them,,,,,,,,,,

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 03:49 AM

"When Father Papered The Parlour" is still in my repertory - I first heard that from Alan Breeze. Roast dinners, coal fires; - the ache of long-lost things.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 03:49 AM

There is very little about her and I couldn't find any songs of hers.

However this should interest those that didn't realise that she was a yellowbelly, born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire UK 20th November 1918

Quite a few mudcatters are from the Gainsborough area.

Just as a reminder of Billy Cotton, unfortunately without Kathy Kay

http://www.turnipnet.com/radio/billycotton.wav

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOqvfFCE0Ls&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54bMmzyLOLg

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 04:47 AM

Well it comes to us all ... The Shaking of the Sheets.

She must have been an influence on me wanting to sing, because I was allowed to stay up and watch The Billy Cotton Band Show.

RIP

Sal

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 06:03 AM

.........ivy will cling!!

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: banjoman
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 06:41 AM

I remember the Sunday Shows well. I was also fortunate to see the Billy Cotton Band Show complete with all the usual favourites at the Empire in Liverpool. Best bit was the snowball fight at the end between the band (who started it) and the audience. Agreat show from true professionals and its sad to see their numbers more reduced by the death of Kathy Kay.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: bubblyrat
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 12:47 PM

I saw them (aged about 4 !) in Reading,with my grandfather...must have been 1951 I guess : I thought the "Snowball Fight" routine was great fun ! In later years,of course,Billy Cotton was essential listening,and I always liked Kathy,although I found Alan Breeze rather irritating !!

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: terrier
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 03:18 PM

All your old time favourites are on YouTube HERE

Old threads never die.. they just end up on YouTube :)
Cathy Kay never looked like that on the old wireless broadcasts!

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 11:51 PM

I don't think I realized there was a live show behind it (no brains for me) -- I just assumed it was radio only!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,Christopher McCulloch
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 05:45 PM

I just want to thank everyone for there little messages about Kathie Kay she was my grand-mother. It is amazing to think that some of you still remember her, I trully miss her as I miss her late husband Archie McCulloch. Kathie was a fantastic grand-mother and had such positive energy. God bless her.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,dave wrighton, tamworth staffs aged 50
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:02 PM

i recall hearing cathy on the billy cotton show singing regularly. she had a lovely voice and my favourite was "feed the birds, twopence a bag" which she once sang while throwing seed to the birds. god bless her she was a good 'un.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Acorn4
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:22 PM

We always used to listen to the show at Sunday lunch at my gran's.

The show also featured such talents as Russ Conway as regulars.

Michelle Breeze (Alan's daughter I think) still writes for the Music Maker Magazine regularly and has produced a musical about Boudicca.

Kathy was of my mum and dad's generation and part of the fabric of life in the fifties and early sixties.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: goatfell
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 02:16 PM

So sad

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,WIKKERMAN
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 05:38 AM

Thanks for a happy past KATHY,can't see us doing a singalong in years
to come to the words of PPP Poker face you had class!!

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 05:51 AM

I remember the Billy Cotton Band show when I was a little girl at home, on television and radio and especially the Kathy Kay spot. It reminds me of 'proper Sundays' roast dinners, bathtime and school the next day. RIP Kathy Kay.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST,Joyce - East Yorks.
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:34 AM

I have just found your site after Googling Kathy Kay. The reason I did this was because I am researching my family tree and found out recently that I am related to this lady. Her birth name was Kathleen Thornhill and she was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Imagine my amazement when I discovered that the singer with the Billy Cotton Band I used to listen to as a (very) small child was my relative.
How sad to hear of her awful illness and death.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 18 May 11 - 03:29 PM

And of course Billy Cotton was a well-known and successful racing driver at Brooklands and elsewhere.

Alan Breeze retired to run the 'Buck' pub at Flixton, Suffolk, where he was usually to be seen on the customers' side of the bar. He also owned at least one cottage next door, where the stars of the Great Yarmouth summer shows stayed. I remember Joe Brown there, with his three-litre Rover, and the singer Yana.

Sadly, Alan's son was killed in a farm accident, and he was a sad figure after that.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 02:52 PM

Oh how sad only just heard about the death of Kathy Kay,another blast from the past gone ,but not forgotten. Colin ?. one of BCs trumpeters is still around, he visits Farnborough Jazz Club now & again. The Good old days eh.DaveAllen.

Subject: RE: Obit: Kathy Kay (9 March 05) Billy Cotton Band
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 04:28 AM

I remember Kathy Kay in 1960 when I ATTENDED THE LIVE BROARD CAST FROM THE BBC STUDIO'S IN LONDON every sunday she was a vey kind person and was a great person alone with Jacky Brown MD, Alan Breeze GEESHER the trumpeter. she will always be remembered with billy.