Phyllis McGuire, last member of the McGuire sisters, deceased at 89

Phyllis McGuire – the lead singer and last member of the popular 1950s trio, the McGuire Sisters – has died at 89.

The Middletown, Ohio native died Tuesday at her lavish Las Vegas estate, though no cause of death has been given, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

The singer received her first big break in 1952, when Phyllis and her older sisters Christine and Dorothy McGuire were signed by Coral Records, Variety reported. That same year, they won first prize in the “Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts” competition.

The talented trio then took the musical world by storm, touring the country and making frequent appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and other variety shows, Wrap reported. The McGuire sisters will continue to perform for five presidents and even Queen Elizabeth II over the course of their illustrious careers.

The group is best known for their hit singles, namely their pop cover of the 1954 hit “Sincerely” by the Moonglows and their 1955 rendition of “Sugartime.” Both topped the Billboard American song charts and sold over a million copies, as did their 1956 song “Picnic.”

Sadly, the healthy crooners – known for their perfectly styled hairstyles and synchronized dance moves – saw their image somewhat sullied in the ’60s after reports revealed that Phyllis had an affair with Chicago gangster Sam. Giancana. The singer claimed their relationship was simply platonic, although the 1995 film “Sugartime” took a different path.

In 1965, Phyllis testified before a grand jury that she knew Giancana was a criminal but was not aware of his specific activities.

The band took a temporary hiatus in 1968, during which Phyllis embarked on a solo career. They reunited in 1985, when they performed for nearly two decades, culminating with one last full-scale appearance on the 2004 PBS special, “Magical Moments: Best of 50s Pop,” while Phyllis was in. its 70 years.

The McGuire sisters were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994.

Dorothy died in 2012 at the age of 84 and Christine passed away in 2018 at the age of 92.

“I’m not afraid to live, and I’m not afraid to die,” Phyllis told Vanity Fair in 1989. “You only live once, and I’m going to live it fully, until that I leave. And I’ll keep singing for as long as anyone wants me to.