Mac and Katie Kissoon emigrated to the United Kingdom with their family in 1962. Katie began recording in 1965, cutting a total of four singles under the name Peanut, and was later a member of the Rag Dolls, who had a single released in 1967 and another in 1968. Mac Kissoon was a member of the Marionettes in 1966 and 1967, then fronted his own band which played U.S. bases in Europe. Returning to the UK in 1969, he cut a solo record, "
Get Down With It Satisfaction", a medley of songs by
Bobby Marchan and the
Rolling Stones which became a Top 30 hit in the Netherlands, reaching number 29 in February 1970. Mac recorded his 1970 solo album
Souled Out (aka
Sole Satisfaction) which included "Get Down With It / Satisfaction", "
Baby I Love You" and "
I Can Feel It". Mac and Katie Kissoon made their first collaborative recording
covering the
Lally Stott song "
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" for the UK market. Released July 1971, the Kissoons' version of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" lost out in the UK to another cover by
Middle of the Road, who scored a number 1 hit in the
UK Singles chart, while the Kissoons' recording stalled at number 41. However, a parallel release of the Kissoons' version of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" in the U.S. became a hit, with the single reaching number 20 on the
Billboard Hot 100 in October 1971. Mac and Katie Kissoon continued to record together, and although their follow-up single to "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep", "Freedom", failed to chart in either the UK or U.S., the track charted throughout Europe, with estimated sales approaching one million units.
Neil Sedaka released "
Love Will Keep Us Together" in 1973, and Mac & Katie Kissoon covered the song that year, with a U.S. release in 1974.
Captain & Tennille also covered the song in 1975, which became a worldwide hit. The Kissoons continued to have European chart success, particularly in the Netherlands and on the Belgian Dutch-language chart, and finally broke through in the UK in 1975 when "Sugar Candy Kisses" reached number 3. In 1976 they released the new album
The Two of Us, with the single "Dream of Me". In 1979 and 1980, Mac Kissoon had three solo hits in the Netherlands, including "Lavender Blue" and "Love and Understanding", both reaching the Top 10. Their pop
soul music career having receded by the early 1980s, Katie and Mac Kissoon were in demand as backing singers and
session musicians. Katie was a member of
James Last's singers in the 1980s, her brother Mac continuing there until Last's death. Katie Kissoon's career as backing singer has continued with
Van Morrison (1978 and later),
Dexys Midnight Runners (1982),
Elkie Brooks (1982),
Eric Clapton (1986 and later),
Roger Waters (since 1984),
Elton John (1985),
Eros Ramazzotti (1990),
George Harrison (1991),
Big Country (1991),
Pet Shop Boys (1994),
George Michael (Unplugged on MTV 1996),
Robbie Williams (2000 and later), and
Mark Knopfler (2018). In 1997, Mac and Katie Kissoon released an album of new material called
From Now On. In 2002, Katie Kissoon appeared on stage at the
Concert for George. In 2006–2007, she was also part of the backing section for
Roger Waters'
The Dark Side of the Moon Live world tour. The tour continued for nine dates in 2008, but Katie was unable to perform and was replaced by
Sylvia Mason-James. In 2006, Katie provided backing vocals on
Andy Fairweather Low's album
Sweet Soulful Music. Katie Kissoon performed backing vocals on
Van Morrison's
The Healing Game (1997). In 2008, she appeared on his album
Keep It Simple, and performed with his band on several concert dates that year. She appeared as one of several guests of Eric Clapton at his
Royal Albert Hall concert on 7 May 2022. She continued to sing backup for Clapton on his 2024-5 tour. ==Available chart information==