Marilyn Maye McLaughlin, known professionally as Marilyn Maye, was born on April 10, 1928, in Wichita, Kansas. She began performing at a young age, encouraged by her mother Lyla McLaughlin. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Maye performed locally in the Midwest. Her breakthrough came in 1963 when she was discovered by television personality Steve Allen, leading to appearances on The Steve Allen Show and a contract with RCA Victor, after an executive heard her sing on the show. Between 1965 and 1970, Maye released several albums for RCA, including Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye (1965) and The Second of Maye (1966). Notable singles from this period include "Cabaret" (1966), "Sherry!" (1967), and "Step to the Rear" (1967). Throughout her career spanning eight decades, she has continued to perform regularly in concert.
