Karen Sue

Austintown, 1960s-1970s

Karen Kuchmaner was a seasoned singer by the time she became a teenager. She was from Austintown and starting singing in public around the age of 10-11. She used the stage name Karen Sue, Sue being her middle name. When she was 13 years old she recorded her first record for the Imperial label. The songs were written by Youngstowners John Goske (aka Johnny Blue) and John LaRocca, who wrote "Bone Shaker Joe" for the Edsels. The record was definitely targeted for girls her age.

She was an active performer during her school years. A few years later, the production team of Frank Stanton and Andy Badale signed her and got her a record deal with United Artists. She recorded her first record in New York City with session musicians. The record got a little writeup in the trade publications but didn't chart.

She had another record out in July 1967. The A side was "Say You're Mine Again" a 1950s vintage pop song revised for the 1960s pop market by Ronnie Dio and the Prophets - yep, the Black Sabbath/Dio/devil horn flashing Ronnie Dio...and also recorded by the Willies from Pittsburgh, which may have been where Karen sourced it. The flip side was another remake of a song recorded by country-pop singer Bobbie Martin a year earlier, also co-written by Badale. 

Karen's style was right in the mid 1960s chart sound with teen pop, soul, and country in the mix. Her own summary of influences seems to match well with her recorded sound. 

The second record was not a hit and Karen returned to singing in local clubs, fronting various groups including the Joey Dee Trio, Gene Rush Trio, and unnamed combos.

Discography:
Boys Will Be Boys / Dear Diary - Imperial 5836, 1962
Wild, Wild Roses / Nobidy Loses A Loser - United Artists 50088, Oct 1966
Say You're Mine Again / Something On My Mind - United Artists 50194, July 1967