Jackie Cain: Icon with angelic voice

I remember Roy Kral picking me up in Montclair, New Jersey with his old, golden Mercedes and taking me to his and his wife’s home. Jackie Cain greeted me as if we hadn’t seen each other for a long time whereas it was our first encounter. What was supposed to be a 45-minute interview with the longest running music couple ever (married for over 50 years and recording together for as long as that), ended up with a full afternoon with them. Jackie talked about their long and lasting musical career and also about their children and family while Roy always stood up to let me hear one of his latest compositions or ideas he had in mind recently.

Jackie & Roy got together in 1946 and first started making music with Charlie Ventura a couple of years later. In the early 50s, they had their own TV show in Chicago (where Roy was born) and between 1957 and 1960, they had tremendous success in Las Vegas. They moved to New York in 1963 and recorded a string of critically acclaimed albums which also included some unusual recording techniques such as the overblending of their voices.

Jackie recorded a solo album in 1977 with pianist Loonis McGlohon. The couple recorded together for as long as 1999 and they both did a number of shows in their latter years. Roy Kral died in August, 2002 and is now joined by his charming wife who had the voice of an angel.

The picture was taken in 1998 at the Algonquin in New York. Jackie’s autograph is on the back of the cover for their 1966 LP “Changes”.