The Boswell Sisters
Biography
Definitely the most talented and arguably the all-around best jazz vocal group of all time, the Boswell Sisters parlayed their New Orleans upbringing into a swinging delivery that featured not only impossibly close harmonies, but countless maneuvers of vocal gymnastics rarely equalled on record. Connee (sometimes Connie), Helvetia (Vet), and Martha Boswell grew up singing together, soaking up Southern gospel and blues through close contact with the black community. They first performed at vaudeville houses around the New Orleans area, and began appearing on local radio by 1925. At first, they played strictly instrumentals, with Connee on cello, saxophone and guitar; Martha on piano; and Vet on violin, banjo, and guitar. The station began featuring them in a vocal setting as well, with Connee taking the lead on many songs (despite a childhood accident that had crippled her and left her in a wheelchair).
Word of their incredible vocal talents led to appearances in Chicago and New York, and the Boswell Sisters began recording in 1930 for Victor. By the following year, they'd moved to Brunswick and reached the Hit Parade with "When I Take My Sugar to Tea," taken from the Marx Brothers' film Monkey Business and featuring the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in support.
Selected Discography
Hmm... I've never heard of them. they're good! I found them when i created the Andrews sisters radio.
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I read that Ella Fitzgerald's idol as a young girl was Connee Boswell, and you can surely hear the influence in her earlier recordings.
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Actually, The Boswell Sisters first recorded for Okeh records in 1925 in New Orleans. They were the very first jazz vocal group recorded and pretty much invented the genre. No one that came after them ever equaled the tightness and originality they had. The first nation wide radio hook up featured them and landed them a regular national show in 1930. By the next year, 8 or more "Sister trios" (some white, some black) were imitating the new sound.
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I love their sound, not too sure their better than the Andrew Sisters or the McGuires, but sure are good
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I didn't think The Andrew Sisters could be beat, but compared to the Boswell Sisters, their voices are shrill and there really isn't much of a comparison. I love their voices, their harmonies, their style.
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My neighbor turned me on to this group, and she's right...they ' r e better than the Andrew AND the McGuire sisters. Enjoy!
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