Kvitka Cisyk

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Kvitka Cisyk (Ukrainian: Квітка Цісик, born April 4, 1953 in Queens, New York, died March 29, 1998 in New York City), soprano singer best known to the Ukrainian-speaking world for her two albums of Ukrainian folk songs, "Kvitka, Songs of Ukraine" and "Kvitka, Two Colors". Her name Kvitka is Ukranian for "flower".

To the English-speaking world she was known as Kacey (from her initials, K.C.), the voice behind commercial messages for products such as Coca-Cola, American Airlines, Mr. Pibb, Sears, JC Penney, Safeway grocery stores and Starburst candies. She did a lot of work for Ford, and sang the slogan "Have you driven a Ford lately"? In the 1970s she also recorded two movie soundtracks, "You Light Up My Life" (1977 Oscar Winning song) and "The One and Only".

Her father, Wolodymyr Cisyk, a concert violinist and teacher, taught her to play the violin when she was 5 years old. Her greatest love was Ukrainian song, and in 1980 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 dedicated to "the spirit of the Ukrainian soul, whose wings can never be broken." Today, songs from both albums can be heard on radio in Ukraine. Both albums where nominated for Grammy Award in 1990.

Both "Song of Ukraine" and "Two Colors" were family projects. Kvitka's husband, Ed Rakowicz, a recording engineer, produced them. Her sister, Maria Cisyk, a concert pianist and teacher, played piano for them. Her mother, Ivanna, made sure that Kvitka's Ukrainian pronunciation was perfect.

Cisyk died due to breast cancer.

[edit] Albums

[edit] Participations

Small Voices Calling Sounds of a Better World Vocals
Flying Monkey Orchestra Back in the Pool Vocals, Choir, Chorus
Sadao Watanabe Earth Step Vocals (Background)
Sesame Street Sesame Road Vocals, Voices
Carole King City Streets Vocals
Various Artists Working Girl 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 ?
Marvin Stamm Stampede Vocals
Roberta Flack I'm the One Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Michael Franks Objects of Desire Vocals (Background)
David Sanborn Voyeur Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Various Artists You Light Up My Life Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Michael Franks Indispensable
Michael Johnson Lifetime Guarantee Solo, Background vocals

[edit] External links