Gayle Caldwell

**Gayle Caldwell** (20 February 1941 - 14 April 2009) was an American musician. Born **Judith Gayle Geddes** in Eugene, Oregon, she was married to Dick Ziker and Russ Caldwell.

In the fall of 1962, following a tip from a friend, Gayle was hired to be a featured soloist in an “off-Broadway” musical comedy revue at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles. One night, after the show, a man from the audience by the name of Sid Garris came into the dressing room and asked her to audition for his group, The New Christy Minstrels. She'd not heard of them.

In spite of their promising success, one of the women in the group had left abruptly, eager to get back to solo work. Sid was in urgent need of a suitable replacement. To Gayle, it was a welcome opportunity; in fact, the prospect of a weekly paycheck seemed like a godsend.

Gayle fit well into the Christy team and her talents brought much to the group's sound. Even when she was not featured in a step out solo (every Minstrel was given time in the spotlight), her sound was apparent in the blend, and her clear, liquid soprano was used often to great effect in accent parts. Within the group, she and Jackie Miller, the other woman in the group, developed a tight, distinctive blend as a duo and, on stage, they looked great together. The group's career continued its amazing trajectory and, within a few months, Gayle had attracted her own loyal following among the group's burgeoning audience of fans.

At the end of the first season of *The Andy Williams Show*, Randy Sparks and his partners decided not to return for a second year; instead, they opted to put the group on the more lucrative concert trail. In 1963, they recorded four albums; among them were *Ramblin'* (which earned a gold record and has become a pop folk classic) and – perhaps their most beloved release – *Merry Christmas!*, which showcased Gayle beautifully on several songs. By the close of the year, they were full-fledged stars.

When the Christies embarked on the concert trail, the business managers had told Gayle in no uncertain terms to keep the fact that she had a daughter a secret. The public would judge her too young to have a child, and she must not do anything that would jeopardize the group's squeaky clean image – or she’d be fired on the spot. On top of that, her relationship with Russ was falling apart.

As 1963 drew to a close, Gayle concluded she had to make a change. In early December, she submitted her resignation to Randy Sparks, explaining she needed more time at home with Michelle. She agreed to stay until a replacement could be found. Within a week after Gayle announced her plans, Jackie Miller decided that she would leave at the same time. By then, the two had become close pals. One of their last major appearances with the group was at the White House in January of 1964.

By the summer of 1964, “Jackie and Gayle” were being represented by none other than the William Morris Talent Agency. Between 1964 and 1967, the girls released several singles, co-starred in two teen-oriented movie musicals, *Wild on the Beach* and *Wild, Wild Winter*, and appeared on numerous TV variety shows.

She wrote the song "Cycles" for Frank Sinatra; Rickie Lee Jones has also covered a version of the tune.

## Minstrels Albums

* *The New Christy Minstrels Tell Tall Tales! (Legends and Nonsense)*
* *Ramblin'*
* *Merry Christmas!*
* *Land of Giants*
* *Today*

* *A Retrospective 1962 - 1970*

## References

1. ↑ https://www.rodmckuen.org/flights/260510.htm