Millie Kirkham had an unearthly high soprano voice, and recorded with some of the biggest stars of her era (and other eras and ours). Perhaps most famously, she provided the swoopy woozy soprano part on Elvis’ original recording of “Blue Christmas”. (Speaking of Elvis’ “Crimmus” songs.)
Kirkham appeared on recordings with Carl Perkins, Patsy Kline, Chet Atkins, Bob Dylan, need I go on? She sang on Bobby Vinton’s Blue Velvet, Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over,” and Brenda Lee’s “I’m Sorry,” to name just a few.
She was pregnant when she sang that silly part on “Blue Christmas”, and Elvis was not expecting a pregnant woman to walk into his studio. When she entered, none of his guys (musicians, entourage) stood up for her. He chastised them, and found a chair for her. But the funniest capper to the story is: a couple of months after she had the baby, she was called in for another recording session with Elvis. She was feeling good, she had slimmed down and lost some of the weight, which was important to her. She walked into the room, and Elvis, meaning well, poor guy, put his foot in it when he greeted her with, “Did you have that baby yet, Miss Kirkham?” He meant it in the friendliest way possible, not at all realizing his faux pas. She laughed when she told the story years later. She loved him and loved working with him.
Here Kirkham is, reminiscing about her career. It’s long, but well worth it. The stories she tells!
In the interview, she says of “Blue Christmas” and its phenomenal eternal success: “If I was gettin’ royalties, I’d be a rich old woman.”
No official word yet, but this Nashville Cream piece seems legitimate.
Rest in peace.
That is crazy…am finally reading Guralnick’s Elvis opus, and not being able to sleep I just read about Millie this morning, about 4 am. Having not heard of her before. And now this.
Really love the stories about those essential, behind-the-scenes figures, like Marni Nixon etc. Found your site after looking for Marion Keisker info on the web…another fascinating person. Nice piece about her…and the sex and Elvis connection. Keep up the good work…
Jon Rodine (St. Paul MN)
Jon – wow, kismet! Yes, Millie sang with them all! She worked with everyone! If you have some free time, watch that interview with her that I included – she’s got such great anecdotes. Not just about Elvis, but about everyone!
Marion Keiskier was amazing – she saw it, she felt it – who knows what she felt – but she was in “the presence” (as Tennessee Williams referred to Elvis: “The Presence.” Love that.) I think it’s fascinating and not at all surprising that it would be a woman who made that first push for Elvis to get his shot. That sexuality thing operating, even in those early days … she sensed it.
Thanks for the comment – I really appreciate your kind words.
Enjoy the Guralnick!
And Mary Ann Mobley, the beauty queen, who was in Girl Happy with Elvis, just passed away on December 9.
The sequence where he has Mary Ann Mobley on the porch, with another girl inside, and he’s flying back and forth between the two, is one of my favorite sequence from any Elvis movie. Girl Happy is a trip.
So yes: they’re all passing on now – it is very important to take a moment to remember them.
What a sweet and fascinating lady, thanks.
She really was!
RIP Millie Kirkham. I opened my Christmas season on the 11th, and the very first song I played was Blue Christmas.
Nice!!
I love how, in the clip, Millie Kirkham remembers that everyone in the recording studio was treating that song as a joke, a goof – nobody really wanted to record it, least of all Elvis. It struck everyone as a dumb song. So you just never know what’s gonna be a hit!!