Kvitka Cisyk
Encyclopedia
Kvitka "Kacey" Cisyk was an American
soprano
of Ukrainian ethnicity. Cisyk, a classically-trained opera singer, successfully pursued a career in four different 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, 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.
, but had switched to classical voice training by the time of her graduation.
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.
During a career that lasted more than 20 years, Cisyk's skills were so highly valued that competitors within the same industry sought her services. Cisyk's sang the phrase "You deserve a break today" for McDonalds, but also recorded commercials for Burger King
.
In addition to Ford, Cisyk sang for automakers General Motors
and Toyota. She recorded spots for the three national television networks in the 1980s (ABC
, NBC
and CBS
), four major airlines (American
, Delta
, Eastern
and TWA
), two national retailers Sears and JC Penney and the two most popular soft drinks: Coca-Cola
and Pepsi
.
According to her New York Times
obituary, "a typical day, she later recalled, would begin with a 9 A.M. session for Trans World Airlines, followed by Coca-Cola at 11, Hartz Mountain at 1 P.M., Eastern Airlines at 2, Datsun at 3, L'Eggs at 5, McDonald's at 6, and, after all that, a recording session from 8:30 P.M. to 3 A.M."
Cisyk's list of commercial credits also include Mr. Pibb, Safeway
grocery stores and Starburst
candies.
, who worked as a composer and arranger of jingles. Brooks, who wrote, directed and composed the score for the movie You Light Up My Life chose Cisyk to dub the singing voice of actress Didi Conn
.
Cisyk's performance of the song appears on the original soundtrack album, and was released as a single, although she was not listed as the performing artist in the final credits of the film (for which she successfully sued the producers. Her single release of the song reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100
charts.
The song was also recorded by singer Debby Boone
, with Brooks producing and arranging. This recording of "You Light Up My Life"
, became a #1 single on the Billboard chart for ten consecutive weeks. People magazine ran a substantial article about "The real voice behind 'You Light Up My Life" inasmuch the similarity between her and Debbie Boone's voice led many to assume the latter had sung the songs in the movie.
Cisyk also recorded lead vocals for the soundtracks of the movies "The One and Only"
and "Circle of Two
". She also contributed backing vocals to the Carly Simon songs used on the soundtrack for the movie "Working Girl
".
In 1988 she recorded her first album, Kvitka, Songs of Ukraine which won top honors in the 1988 Ukrainian Music Awards.
Her second album, Kvitka, Two Colors
, was released in 1989. was dedicated to "the spirit of the Ukrainian soul, whose wings can never be broken." Today, songs from both albums continue to be heard on radio in Ukraine.
Both albums where nominated for a Grammy Award
in 1990.
Both Songs of Ukraine and Two Colors were family projects. Cisyk's second husband, Ed Rakowicz, a recording engineer, produced them; her first husband, Jack Cortner arranged and conducted them. Her sister Maria, a concert pianist and teacher, performed the solo piano selections on the record.
on March 29, 1998, six days before her 45th birthday. She is survived by her husband, Edward J. Rakowicz and son, Edward W. (born 1991), and her first husband, Jack Cortner.
Because of her contribution to Ukrainian music a yearly music festival is held and a street was named in her honour in Lviv
, Ukraine
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
of Ukrainian ethnicity. Cisyk, a classically-trained opera singer, successfully pursued a career in four different 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"
You Light Up My Life (song)
Many artists have covered "You Light Up My Life" since 1977. The following year, Johnny Mathis recorded and named his album after the song. LeAnn Rimes released her version as a single in 1997, 20 years after Boone's version was released and on the same record label . Her version fared modestly...
heard in the movie, 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.
Early life
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.Education
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 MusicMannes College of Music
Mannes College The New School for Music is The New School university's music conservatory. While the university's main campus is located in Greenwich Village, New York City, Mannes maintains its main academic building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan....
, but had switched to classical voice training by the time of her graduation.
Popular music career
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 (Kacey) 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.
Commercial jingle career
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.During a career that lasted more than 20 years, Cisyk's skills were so highly valued that competitors within the same industry sought her services. Cisyk's sang the phrase "You deserve a break today" for McDonalds, but also recorded commercials for Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
.
In addition to Ford, Cisyk sang for automakers General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
and Toyota. She recorded spots for the three national television networks in the 1980s (ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
), four major airlines (American
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, Delta
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, Eastern
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
and TWA
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
), two national retailers Sears and JC Penney and the two most popular soft drinks: Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
.
According to her New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
obituary, "a typical day, she later recalled, would begin with a 9 A.M. session for Trans World Airlines, followed by Coca-Cola at 11, Hartz Mountain at 1 P.M., Eastern Airlines at 2, Datsun at 3, L'Eggs at 5, McDonald's at 6, and, after all that, a recording session from 8:30 P.M. to 3 A.M."
Cisyk's list of commercial credits also include Mr. Pibb, Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
grocery stores and Starburst
Starburst
Starburst may refer to:*Starburst region, a generic term to describe a region of space with a much higher than normal star formation*Starburst galaxy*Starburst , the breaking up of a large company...
candies.
Soundtrack performances
Cisyk's work in commercials brought her to the attention of Joe BrooksJoseph Brooks (songwriter)
Joseph Brooks was an American screenwriter, director, producer, and composer. He composed the song "You Light Up My Life" for the film of the same name that he also wrote, directed, and produced. In his later years he became the subject of an investigation after being accused of a series of...
, who worked as a composer and arranger of jingles. Brooks, who wrote, directed and composed the score for the movie You Light Up My Life chose Cisyk to dub the singing voice of actress Didi Conn
Didi Conn
Didi Conn is an American film, stage and television actress.-Personal life:Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist. "Didi" was her childhood nickname...
.
Cisyk's performance of the song appears on the original soundtrack album, and was released as a single, although she was not listed as the performing artist in the final credits of the film (for which she successfully sued the producers. Her single release of the song reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts.
The song was also recorded by singer Debby Boone
Debby Boone
Deborah Anne Boone is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent a then record ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year...
, with Brooks producing and arranging. This recording of "You Light Up My Life"
You Light Up My Life (song)
Many artists have covered "You Light Up My Life" since 1977. The following year, Johnny Mathis recorded and named his album after the song. LeAnn Rimes released her version as a single in 1997, 20 years after Boone's version was released and on the same record label . Her version fared modestly...
, became a #1 single on the Billboard chart for ten consecutive weeks. People magazine ran a substantial article about "The real voice behind 'You Light Up My Life" inasmuch the similarity between her and Debbie Boone's voice led many to assume the latter had sung the songs in the movie.
Cisyk also recorded lead vocals for the soundtracks of the movies "The One and Only"
The One and Only (1978 film)
The One and Only is a 1978 film comedy starring Henry Winkler, directed by Carl Reiner and written by Steve Gordon.Gordon went on to write and direct the movie Arthur.-Plot:...
and "Circle of Two
Circle of Two
Circle of Two is a 1980 Canadian film. It starred Richard Burton as a 60-year old artist who falls in love with a sixteen-year-old played by Tatum O'Neal. It was the last film directed by acclaimed film noir director Jules Dassin....
". She also contributed backing vocals to the Carly Simon songs used on the soundtrack for the movie "Working Girl
Working Girl
Working Girl is a 1988 romantic comedy film written by Kevin Wade and directed by Mike Nichols. It tells the inspiring story of a Staten Island-raised secretary, Tess McGill , working in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank...
".
Ukrainian music
As the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, Cisyk was raised with Ukrainian music, and she is well known in the Ukrainian-speaking world for her two albums of Ukrainian songs.In 1988 she recorded her first album, Kvitka, Songs of Ukraine which won top honors in the 1988 Ukrainian Music Awards.
Her second album, Kvitka, Two Colors
Kvitka, Two Colors (album)
Two Colors , in Ukrainian Два Кольори - Ukrainian symphonic folk album by Kvitka Cisyk.-Track listing:#"Де ти тепер" /music: Ігор Шамо, lyrics: Дмитро Луценко/ – 3:36...
, was released in 1989. was dedicated to "the spirit of the Ukrainian soul, whose wings can never be broken." Today, songs from both albums continue to be heard on radio in Ukraine.
Both albums where nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1990.
Both Songs of Ukraine and Two Colors were family projects. Cisyk's second husband, Ed Rakowicz, a recording engineer, produced them; her first husband, Jack Cortner arranged and conducted them. Her sister Maria, a concert pianist and teacher, performed the solo piano selections on the record.
Death and legacy
Kvitka Cisyk Rakowicz died from breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
on March 29, 1998, six days before her 45th birthday. She is survived by her husband, Edward J. Rakowicz and son, Edward W. (born 1991), and her first husband, Jack Cortner.
Because of her contribution to Ukrainian music a yearly music festival is held and a street was named in her honour in Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Participations
| Small Voices Calling | Sounds of a Better World | Vocals |
| Flying Monkey Orchestra | Back in the Pool | Vocals, Choir, Chorus |
| Sadao Watanabe Sadao Watanabe (musician) is an influential Japanese jazz musician who plays the alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone and flute. He is known for his Bossa Nova recordings, although his work encompasses a large range of styles with collaborations from musicians all over the world. Sadao first began learning music at the age... |
Earth Step | Vocals (Background) |
| Sesame Street Sesame Street Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The... |
Sesame Road | Vocals, Voices |
| Carole King Carole King Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S... |
City Streets City Streets (album) - Personnel :*Ted Andreadis – Piano*Heidi Berg – Vocals*Mark Bosch – Guitar*Michael Brecker – Saxophone*Kacey Cisyk – Vocals*Eric Clapton – Guitar*Steve Ferrone – Drums*Sammy Figueroa – Percussion*Seth Glassman – Bass*Sherry Goffin – Vocals... |
Vocals |
| Various Artists | Working Girl Working Girl Working Girl is a 1988 romantic comedy film written by Kevin Wade and directed by Mike Nichols. It tells the inspiring story of a Staten Island-raised secretary, Tess McGill , working in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank... |
Vocals (Background) |
| Michael Franks | The Camera Never Lies | Vocals (Background) |
| Neal Fox | A Painting | Vocals (Background) |
| Michael Franks | Skin Dive | Vocals (Background) |
| Michael Franks | Passionfruit | Vocals (Background) |
| Marvin Stamm Marvin Stamm Marvin Stamm is an American bebop trumpeter.Stamm began on trumpet at age 12. He first attended college at, then known as, Memphis State University and then attended college at North Texas State University where he was a member of the world renowned One O'Clock Lab Band... |
Stampede Stampede A stampede is an act of mass impulse among herd animals or a crowd of people in which the herd collectively begins running with no clear direction or purpose.... |
Vocals |
| Roberta Flack Roberta Flack Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music... |
I'm the One I'm the One (Roberta Flack album) -Track listing:#"I'm the One"#"'Till the Morning Comes"#"Love and Let Love"#"Never Loved Before"#"In the Name of Love"#"Ordinary Man"#"Making Love" #"Happiness"#"My Love for You"... |
Vocals, Vocals (Background) |
| Michael Franks | Objects of Desire | Vocals (Background) |
| David Sanborn David Sanborn David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school... |
Voyeur Voyeur (David Sanborn album) Voyeur is an album by American saxophonist David Sanborn that was released on the Warner Bros. label in 1981.This recording won the first of seven Grammy Awards that have been achieved by the saxophonist to date. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awards the album 4 stars and states: "This 1980... |
Vocals, Vocals (Background) |
| Various Artists | You Light Up My Life You Light Up My Life (song) Many artists have covered "You Light Up My Life" since 1977. The following year, Johnny Mathis recorded and named his album after the song. LeAnn Rimes released her version as a single in 1997, 20 years after Boone's version was released and on the same record label . Her version fared modestly... |
Vocals, Vocals (Background) |
| Michael Franks | Indispensable Indispensable Indispensable is the nineteenth studio album by Mexican singer Lucero. The album was released on September 21, 2010 in the United States and Mexico. It debuted at number 1 on iTunes the same date of its release, it became Lucero's first number 1 album on that list... |
|
| Michael Johnson Michael Johnson (singer) Michael Johnson , is an American pop, country and folk singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1978 hit song "Bluer Than Blue". To date, he has charted four hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and nine more on the Hot Country Songs charts, including two Number One country hits... |
Lifetime Guarantee | Solo, Background vocals |
External links
- New York Times obituary
- [ Allmusic.com discography]
- IMDB.com movie credits
- Review of first album, with music clips from selected songs
- Article about 2008 memorial service in Ukraine
- Article about the numerous single releases of "You Light Up My Life", with Cisyk's release information
- Article about photo session for Ford, with photo
- Los Angeles Times obituary
- Obituary for Kvitka Cisyk