Armenuhi Manoogian (Armenian: Արմենուհի Մանուկյան); November 2, 1915 – October 3, 2011), better known by her stage name Kay Armen (Armenian: Քեյ Արմեն), was an American Armenian singer popular during the 1940s and 1950s. Her career in show business spanned almost six decades, as she worked in radio, television, onstage and in film. She wrote multiple songs, performed in nightclubs and recorded many records.

Radio

Armen was born in Chicago, Illinois. She first appeared on radio at WSM in Nashville, Tennessee, performing on 12 programs per week. In 1947, she had her own weekly 15-minute program, Kay Armen-Songs, on NBC-Blue.

Television and Film

She appeared in a number of roles, notably in the 1959 NBC sitcom Love and Marriage, and on screen in the 1955 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical Hit the Deck and the 1961 film Hey, Let's Twist!. She was also a songwriter with compositions including "Be Good to Yourself", "My Love and I" and "It’s a Sin to Cry Over You".

Filmography

• 1955: Hit the Deck as Mrs. Ottavio Ferrari
• 1959-1960: Love and Marriage as Sophie (TV series, 18 episodes)
• 1961: Hey, Let's Twist! as Angie
• 1980: Jimmy B. & André as Mama Butsicaris (TV film)
• 1981: Paternity as Claudia Feinstein