Mary Kaye
Dublin Core
Title
Mary Kaye
Subject
Source
Women in Nevada History: A Legacy Digital Project
Publisher
Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN)
Rights
This resource is available for education and research purposes. This collection is a collaboration and combination of various projects including, but not limited to; the Women in Nevada History: A Legacy Digital Project, the Nevada Women’s Archives, the Las Vegas Women Oral History Project and the Makers: Women in Nevada History Project, a co-production of the Women's Research Institute of Nevada and VegasPBS. The text, images, audio and video in this collection are under copyright by different repositories and may not be reproduced without express written consent of the appropriate entities.
Person Item Type Metadata
Work/Contribution
Musician and recording artist
Birth Date
January 9, 1924
Birthplace
Arrival in Las Vegas
ca. 1950s
Death Date
February 17, 2007
Biographical Text
Mary Kaaihue was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a family that could trace their lineage to the Hawaiian royal family. Her father, Johnny “Ukulele” Kaaihue had a band, and by the time she was twelve years old Mary began playing the guitar in the group. She and her brother Norm, along with Frank Ross formed the Mary Kaaihue Trio. In 1948, they changed the name to the Mary Kaye Trio.
The group became well known and Mary became one of the first women to play the electric guitar. In the early 1950s, they came to Las Vegas to perform and became one of the earliest lounge acts in the city. They played in a lounge at the Frontier Hotel throughout the 1950s and helped pave the way for future Las Vegas lounge acts like Louis Prima and Keely Smith. The group recorded more than a dozen albums and starred in a film. In 1966, the group broke up citing exhaustion.
Mary Kaye continued to perform as a solo artist. She lived in Las Vegas until her death in 2007. She remains remembered for her skill on the guitar, with Fender even naming a guitar in her honor.
The group became well known and Mary became one of the first women to play the electric guitar. In the early 1950s, they came to Las Vegas to perform and became one of the earliest lounge acts in the city. They played in a lounge at the Frontier Hotel throughout the 1950s and helped pave the way for future Las Vegas lounge acts like Louis Prima and Keely Smith. The group recorded more than a dozen albums and starred in a film. In 1966, the group broke up citing exhaustion.
Mary Kaye continued to perform as a solo artist. She lived in Las Vegas until her death in 2007. She remains remembered for her skill on the guitar, with Fender even naming a guitar in her honor.
Collection
Citation
“Mary Kaye,” Makers Teaching Modules, accessed October 4, 2026, https://makersteachingmodules.sites.unlv.edu/items/show/67.