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The Lennon Sisters are still just being themselves
By John Benson
For whatever reason, there’s an inherent fascination among the public about singing sisters.
From the World War II-era’s the Andrew Sisters to modern pop-rock act Haim, siblings carrying a song or performing together remains special.
Wholesome girls who could sing like angels, that’s how Janet Lennon describes the allure and popularity of her family act, the Lennon Sisters. More so, Janet said her sisters weren’t driven by fame. Removing this often self- destructive element from the equation allowed the Lennon Sisters to focus on just being themselves.
“We were normal, natural children,” said Janet, calling from Branson, Mo. “We weren’t real glamorous. We weren’t as cute as Shirley Temple. We were just kids people could identify with. And to this day, after every show we meet people who say, ‘I grew up with you, and you were such an influence on me because I didn’t have a happy home, but I pretended I was in your home and it got me through rough times.’
“We realized we influenced a lot of people just by being natural. We were, and are still, very unaffected by fame. I think that transferred itself across television. People just wanted to like us, and we had really good voices for being so young. That just resonated with a lot of people.”
The Lennon Sisters, which today includes Janet, Mimi and Kathy, are about to celebrate their 60th anniversary of debuting on “The Lawrence Welk Show.” While the outfit would spend the next dozen or so years on the popular program, the Lennon Sisters enjoyed radio hits such as “Tonight,” “You Belong to Me” and “Sad Movies Make Me Cry.”
Over the decades, the siblings appeared on seemingly every variety show of the ’50s and ’60s, including “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Jackie Gleason Show.”
The Lennon Sisters come to the Youngstown area Friday for a show at Packard Auditorium, and another one Saturday at Orr Auditorium at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.
Janet said the Lennon Sisters enjoy a lasting legacy that continues today.
“We really had a full and fulfilling career, even though it’s never been a huge drive for us to be stars,” Janet said. “It has happened, and we continue to be asked to work. So we do.”