Kvitka "Kasey" Cisyk was an American singer of Ukranian ethnicity. She was classically trained as an opera singer, but when her father died suddenly and left the family without income, Casey turned to singing jingles, studio back up and so forth to earn an immediate living. She is perhaps best remembered in America as the voice behind the "Have You Driven a Ford Lately?" jingle, as well as the original singer of the Oscar-winning song "You Light Up My Life". (Her voice is heard in the movie of the same name; Debbie Boone would record the song as well, and this would be the version to sell millions of copies, as well as win the noted Oscar).
Kasey attended school in New York, and then attended a SUNY-sponsored opera program in Belgium in 1971. She also received a violin scholarship during this time, but had switched to classical voice training by graduation. The latter, as noted, would also be put on a back burner for a career in commercials, back up and movie covers ("The One and Only","Working Girl", the before mentioned "...Life").
Kasey's voice was heard in literally hundreds of commercials; she noted in an interview that she would sing for McDonalds' in the morning, a grocery store in the afternoon and a car company at bedtime as a routine schedule. Ironically, while she did record and win numerous awards in her own country, most of Kasey's commercial fame during her life did center around America's knowledge of the 'girl with the voice in the ads.'
Kasey died less than one week before her 45th birthday of breast cancer; she was survived by a young son and her second husband. It is again ironic to note that, to this day, many people are clueless to Kasey's passing, as she remains embedded in the commercial memory of society.
Kasey Cisyk's memory is honored with her own day in her home country of the Ukraine; her Youtube videos are some of the most popular online. It has been estimated that Kasey's famous Ford jingle has been heard by 20 billion people.
Kasey attended school in New York, and then attended a SUNY-sponsored opera program in Belgium in 1971. She also received a violin scholarship during this time, but had switched to classical voice training by graduation. The latter, as noted, would also be put on a back burner for a career in commercials, back up and movie covers ("The One and Only","Working Girl", the before mentioned "...Life").
Kasey's voice was heard in literally hundreds of commercials; she noted in an interview that she would sing for McDonalds' in the morning, a grocery store in the afternoon and a car company at bedtime as a routine schedule. Ironically, while she did record and win numerous awards in her own country, most of Kasey's commercial fame during her life did center around America's knowledge of the 'girl with the voice in the ads.'
Kasey died less than one week before her 45th birthday of breast cancer; she was survived by a young son and her second husband. It is again ironic to note that, to this day, many people are clueless to Kasey's passing, as she remains embedded in the commercial memory of society.
Kasey Cisyk's memory is honored with her own day in her home country of the Ukraine; her Youtube videos are some of the most popular online. It has been estimated that Kasey's famous Ford jingle has been heard by 20 billion people.
Kvitka "Kasey" Cisyk was an American singer of Ukranian ethnicity. She was classically trained as an opera singer, but when her father died suddenly and left the family without income, Casey turned to singing jingles, studio back up and so forth to earn an immediate living. She is perhaps best remembered in America as the voice behind the "Have You Driven a Ford Lately?" jingle, as well as the original singer of the Oscar-winning song "You Light Up My Life". (Her voice is heard in the movie of the same name; Debbie Boone would record the song as well, and this would be the version to sell millions of copies, as well as win the noted Oscar).
Kasey attended school in New York, and then attended a SUNY-sponsored opera program in Belgium in 1971. She also received a violin scholarship during this time, but had switched to classical voice training by graduation. The latter, as noted, would also be put on a back burner for a career in commercials, back up and movie covers ("The One and Only","Working Girl", the before mentioned "...Life").
Kasey's voice was heard in literally hundreds of commercials; she noted in an interview that she would sing for McDonalds' in the morning, a grocery store in the afternoon and a car company at bedtime as a routine schedule. Ironically, while she did record and win numerous awards in her own country, most of Kasey's commercial fame during her life did center around America's knowledge of the 'girl with the voice in the ads.'
Kasey died less than one week before her 45th birthday of breast cancer; she was survived by a young son and her second husband. It is again ironic to note that, to this day, many people are clueless to Kasey's passing, as she remains embedded in the commercial memory of society.
Kasey Cisyk's memory is honored with her own day in her home country of the Ukraine; her Youtube videos are some of the most popular online. It has been estimated that Kasey's famous Ford jingle has been heard by 20 billion people.
Kasey attended school in New York, and then attended a SUNY-sponsored opera program in Belgium in 1971. She also received a violin scholarship during this time, but had switched to classical voice training by graduation. The latter, as noted, would also be put on a back burner for a career in commercials, back up and movie covers ("The One and Only","Working Girl", the before mentioned "...Life").
Kasey's voice was heard in literally hundreds of commercials; she noted in an interview that she would sing for McDonalds' in the morning, a grocery store in the afternoon and a car company at bedtime as a routine schedule. Ironically, while she did record and win numerous awards in her own country, most of Kasey's commercial fame during her life did center around America's knowledge of the 'girl with the voice in the ads.'
Kasey died less than one week before her 45th birthday of breast cancer; she was survived by a young son and her second husband. It is again ironic to note that, to this day, many people are clueless to Kasey's passing, as she remains embedded in the commercial memory of society.
Kasey Cisyk's memory is honored with her own day in her home country of the Ukraine; her Youtube videos are some of the most popular online. It has been estimated that Kasey's famous Ford jingle has been heard by 20 billion people.
