- The Kendalls had 16 albums and were one of the most established father-daughter country music duo groups ever
- The band ended when Royce Kendall died in 1998 but Jeannie later continued to make music as “The Kendalls” with Carl Acuff Jr. and released the “You Got Me” album in 2021
- The Heaven’s Just a Sin Away singers Royce Kendall and Jeannie Kendall were individually married to Melba Kendall and Mack Watkins respectively
The Kendalls was an American music group comprising of a father (Royce Kendall) and daughter (Jeannie Kendall). The band lasted for 29 years from 1969 to 1998 before the death of Royce Kendall. They had several award-winning works with Heaven’s Just a Sin Away as one of the best they’ve ever recorded.
Who Were the Members of the Father-Daughter Duo Band and What to Know About Their Personal Lives
Royce Kendall had Another Band Before The Kendalls
Royce was a member of The Austin Brothers alongside his brother Floyce Kendall. The band was formed in California and performed on TV shows among other places.
The duo later broke up and Royce headed to Missouri where he would later start another family duo band with his daughter, Jeannie.
Jeannie Kendall Showed Prospect in Music Since She was at a Tender Age
Jeannie was born in St. Louis and was raised alongside a brother and had her growing up in St. Louis and California.
She was born into a family of music and while it came naturally, her father who breathed music also nurtured her talent
By the time she was a teenager, she had already rooted herself deeply in music and by the time she was about 15 to 16, she had already joined her father to create music.
In her later life and as a musician, she became married to Mack Watkins.
How The Kendalls Became Famous Country Song Band
In 1969 when Royce was about the age of 35 and his daughter was also about 15, the band recorded an album.
Their “Meet the Kendalls” album under the Stop record label had Leaving on the Jet Plane as its top single as it peaked at 52 on the US chart.
They further pushed their music career with other songs and tours across the United States and in no time, their music was heard across the globe.
In 1972, they released another album titled “Two Divided by Love” with a hit single of the same title. Also, the single Everything I Own off of the album further exposed them to a spot on the US chart and also a larger listener.
Years progressed and so was the music career of the band that counted 16 albums in total until the death of Royce in 1995.
They have worked under several records such as:
- Stop
- Dot
- United Artists
- Ovation
- Mercury
- MCA
- Step One
- Epic
- Lonesome Dove
What are the Best Songs of The Kendalls?
Although many songs have been recorded by the duo, Heaven’s Just a Sin Away, Sweet Desire, and Thank God for the Radio are regarded as the best singles. Out of their 16 albums, “Let the Music Play/Heaven’s Just a Sin Away” (1977) is also known as the best of their albums.
Here’s what to know about the best songs of the duo.
Heaven’s Just a Sin Away
- Release Date: September 1977
- Genre: Country
- Label: Ovation
- Songwriter: Jerry Gillespie
- Producer: Brian Fisher
- Notable Award: Grammy
Heaven’s Just a Sin Away is one of the greatest songs that was recorded by the band. It was composed by American country songwriter Jerry Wayne Gillespie.
Upon its release, the song peaked in different charts including the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles (peak at No. 1), U.S Billboard 100 (peak at 69), Canadian RPM Country Tracks (peak at 1), Canadian RPM Top Singles (peak at 59), Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks (peak at 37).
The song became their only Grammy-winning song when they won the Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group at the 20th annual Grammy Awards in 1978.
The song also won The Kendalls a Country Music Association in the category of Single of the Year.
Sweet Desire
- Release Date: August 1978
- Genre: Country, Country Rock
- Label: Ovation
- Songwriter: Jeannie Kendall
- Producer: Brian Fisher
One of the most accomplished songs of The Kendalls is Sweet Desire. The song was released in 1978 on the Old Fashioned Love album of the duo that was released the same year.
On the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles, the song peaked at NO. 1 while it also peaked at No. 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.
Thank God for the Radio
- Release Date: January 1984
- Genre: Country
- Label: Mercury
- Songwriter: Ma D. Barnes and Robert Jones
- Producer: Blake Mevis
This is the third hit song of the father-daughter band. It was released in 1984 and about 15 years since they started the band.
Thank God for the Radio was in the weekly and year-end charts. On the weekly charts, it peaked at number 1 and 16 on the US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) and Canadian RPM Country Tracks respectively.
On the year-end charts, on the other hand, it peaked at 27 on the US Hot Country Songs (Billboard).
About 10 years after its release in 1998, American singer and songwriter Alan Jackson made a cover of the son on his “Who I Am” album.
Let the Music Play/Heaven’s Just a Sin Away (Album)
- Release Date: 1976
- Genre: Country, Folk, World
- Label: Ovation
- Format: Album
- Producer: Brien Fisher
This has been recorded as the best album of The Kendalls. It contains 11 tracks including Heaven’s Just a Sin Away. The album is also known as “Heaven’s Just a Sin Away”.
On the US chart, the album peaked at No.5. It was also certified Gold and Platinum in the United States and Canada respectively.
Other Great Songs and albums of the Band
Albums
Some Singles of the Duo
What Happened to the Kendalls and Are They Still Alive?
The Kendalls stopped singing after 29 years, 16 albums, and several other songs after the death of Royce Kendall. He died after suffering from a stroke on 22 May 1998 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA at the age of 64.
The older Kendall died at the time that they had partially recorded an acoustic album. Jeannie finished the work after some time.
Jeannie is currently 70 years and still pursuing her music career. In 2003, she released her second solo album titled All The Girls I Am which include songs like Love Chooses You.
She also sings as a duo with Carl Acuff Jr. under the same pseudonym she did with her father – The Kendalls!
In 2021, the duo with Carl released a 10-track album called “You Got Me”.
In conclusion, The Kendalls, a father and daughter duo country band led a musically fulfilled career for 29 years and won Grammy in the process. Although Royce, a founding member of the group died along the line, Jeannie kept pushing and continues to immortalize the name of the band.
She currently makes music with Carl Acuff Jr. as The Kendalls.
