Sherrell Paris

Singer

Graduate

        Sherrell and her sisters Albeth and Priscilla began entertaining as tap dancers at Shriner’s and Veteran’s hospitals throughout the Bay Area in the 1950’s while Sherrell was still at Jefferson Grammar School. Their mother, Frances, who had been an opera singer, also taught them how to sing at an early age, such an early age that they were able to practice singing together in the bathtub. They eventually studied with Bill Hayes who taught them harmony and The Paris Sisters began singing in the style of the style of the Andrews Sisters. For a time they played Elks Clubs and county fairs through out the area and the state fail in Sacramento. Then, at the Warfield Theater where the Andrews Sisters were appearing on a farewell tour, that they were invited onto the sage and sang the Andrews Sisters’ hit Rum and Coca Cola. An agent from William Morris was in the audience and immediately signed on as the sister’ agent. He got them a contract with Decca where they cut nine singles, into two with Bing Crosby’s son, Gary, who hoped to recreate Bing’s success with the Andrews Sisters. They also toured in places as different as Casper, Wyoming and New York City. In Las Vegas, they sang at the Dunes with Frank Sinatra and at the Hilton with Elvis Presley even though they were not nearly old enough to drink or gamble.  Makeup and padded clothes disguised their youth.

        In the 1960’s, they were teamed up with Phil Spector who brought them to New York and changed their style from the Andrews Sisters to a more youthful sound, what he called a ‘soft sound’. He put Priscilla, who was the youngest, on lead and the Paris Sisters recorded their first hits to reach the Billboard charts, Be My Boy and I’ll Be Crying Tomorrow. They then recorded their biggest hit, the Grammy award winning I Love Hoy You Love Me. That hit was followed by He Knows I Love Him Too Much by Carole King. By now hugely popular, they appeared all over the United States with such stars as Rowan and Martin and George Burns. They also made frequent television appearances on the Arthur Godfrey Show, the Red Skelton Show, the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Muscular Distrophy Telethon.

        In the 70’s, Sherrell created her own band, Sherrell Paris and the New People. Then in the late ‘70s the sisters were to be contestants on the original Family Feud but Priscilla decided to move to Europe and their appearance was cancelled. But Sherrell used the opportunity to convince the producers of Family Feud, Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, to hire her as a production assistant. Within six weeks she had been promoted to Executive Assistant to Bob Barker on the Price is Right, another Goodson and Todman show, where she stayed for 23 years. During her tenure, the show won 15 Emmys.

        More recently, Sherrell has volunteered with Los Angeles area police departments assisting crime victims and their families cope with their experiences. This has led her to produce and host a Los Angeles based television show, Beach Beat-Crime Watch, which is still on the air. She is currently working on a special show, Medal of Valor, to honor the heroic efforts of Los Angeles area police officers.

        Sherrell has received numerous certificates of commendation from local officials for her volunteer activities. In recognition of her accomplishments, Sherrell was inducted into the Abraham Lincoln High School Wall of Fame in May 2005.