About the Book
Sue Kim's story is one of tragedy, imagination, luck, perseverance and the hand of God as she went from a life of wealth and privilege to displaced refugee, immigrant then super stardom as the first wave of Korean's in American. Along the way, Sue broke racial barriers on every major stage in America, from New York to Los Angeles, pitched the first baseball at a MLB opener, was feted by Elvis, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, but ultimately met and married a New Yorker, who became the longest running casino boss in America. Together, they reigned over Las Vegas at the height of its glamour, eventually having children and conquering the demons that come with decades of stardom. Sue's story is truly the greatest American story never told. Sue Kim's story is one of tragedy, imagination, luck, perseverance and the hand of God as she went from a life of wealth and privilege to displaced refugee, immigrant then super stardom as the first wave of Korean's in American. Along the way, Sue broke racial barriers on every major stage in America, from New York to Los Angeles, pitched the first baseball at a MLB opener, was feted by Elvis, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, but ultimately met and married a New Yorker, who became the longest running casino boss in America. Together, they reigned over Las Vegas at the height of its glamour, eventually having children and conquering the demons that come with decades of stardom. Sue's story is truly the greatest American story never told. SJ Choi, Producer, the Dimo Kim Musical Theatre Company, Broadway "I have always been fascinated by the untold stories of Asian entertainers who overcame difficulties and cultural differences to make their name in Hollywood - e.g. Anna May Wong, Sessue Hayakawa, Johnny Yune, Philip Ahn, etc. Despite the fact the Kim Sisters were the first and the most successful Korean singers to ever perform in the U. S., over the years they have mostly been forgotten by Americans and Koreans alike, and I always wanted to learn more about them. I'm deeply impressed by not only the wonderful storytelling of this book but also the comprehensiveness of the material. Most of the details in the book were unavailable through any other sources I could find in either Korean or English An eye opening read." Chuck Pryor, Producer, the Joel Osteen Show "The best movies... like the best books... and frankly, the best life comes from real, true, stories. These real, true, stories include everything from joy, heartbreak, tension, sadness, exuberance, conflict, impossible odds, defeat, overcoming, and a plethora of ups and down that can only be matched by the worlds most raucous roller coaster ride... it thrills you, it terrifies you, and at times you think it's going to kill you. That's real life... that's Sue Kim's real life. I recently had the privilege of meeting her and her family... She is as kind as she is beautiful and I loved meeting her. Her husband gave me a copy of this book and I was captivated. Sarah Gerdes does a masterful job of telling The Sue Kim story, with all the ups, downs, heartache, joy, and everything in between do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. It truly is the greatest story NEVER told... until now." Lucas' Foster, Producer, Warp Film "Imagine a 12-year-old having the sense to sing, sell bottles on the black market, and keep her family alive. She was the start of the Korean community in the United States, which but this story is far bigger than that. Sue's story is an incredible love story, of overcoming adversity against all odds, and one of sacrifice and perseverance. It's time that the rest of the country learned about her amazing contribution to music and to America and Sarah Gerdes does an excellent job capturing it all. It truly is the greatest story NEVER told."