Boswell Sisters
The Boswell Sisters were an American close harmony singing trio of the jazz and swing eras, consisting of three sisters: Martha Boswell (June 9, 1905 – July 2, 1958), Connie Boswell (later spelled "Connee", December 3, 1907 – October 11, 1976), and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell (May 20, 1911 – November 12, 1988). Hailing from uptown New Orleans, the group blended intricate harmonies and song arrangements featuring effects such as scat, instrumental imitation, ‘Boswellese’ gibberish, tempo and meter changes, major/minor juxtaposition, key changes, and incorporation of sections from other songs. They attained national prominence in the United States in the 1930s during the twilight of the Jazz Age and the onset of the Great Depression. After the trio split in 1936, Connie continued as a solo vocalist in radio, film, and later television for an additional quarter century. The trio's "unique singing style and ground-breaking arrangements fused 'blackness' and 'whiteness' in music," and their collaborations with "the preeminent white swing musicians of their day—the Dorsey Brothers, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, Artie Shaw, Victor Young, Bunny Berigan—had a profound effect on the development of the big band sound in the 1930s." When assessing their legacy, scholars claim the Boswell Sisters "made 'real' jazz commercially viable, destigmatizing the music and opening its appreciation to the wider American public." |
Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1925, Died Ceased 1935
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1936
Roles Represented in DAHR: Vocal group
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 26-40 of 40 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brunswick | E37113 | 10-in. | 8/27/1931 | Heebie jeebies | Boswell Sisters | Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | XE37320 | 12-in. | 10/25/1931 | Gems from George White’s scandals | Brunswick Orchestra [Brunswick Studio Orchestra] ; Victor Young | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal trio and male vocal solos | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | XE37321 | 12-in. | 10/25/1931 | Gems from George White’s Scandals | The Brunswick Orchestra [Victor Young Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal trio, male vocal solo, and mixed vocal ensemble | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | E37354 | 10-in. | 11/5/1931 | River, stay ’way from my door | Boswell Sisters | Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | E37355 | 10-in. | 11/5/1931 | An ev’ning in Caroline | Boswell Sisters | Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | E37445 | 10-in. | 12/4/1931 | Nothing is sweeter than you | Boswell Sisters ; The Dorsey Brothers | Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | E37446 | 10-in. | 12/4/1931 | I thank you. Mr. Moon | Boswell Sisters ; The Dorsey Brothers | Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | TCL1467 | 10-in. | 3/27/1931 | Betty Lou | Boswell Sisters | Female vocal trio | Vocal group | |
Brunswick | TCL1468 | 10-in. | 3/27/1931 | Ain’t misbehavin’ | Boswell Sisters | Female vocal trio | Vocal group | |
Decca | 60029 | 10-in. | 10/8/1935 | Top hat, white tie and tails | Boswell Sisters | Vocal group | ||
Decca | 60030 | 10-in. | 10/8/1935 | Cheek to cheek | Boswell Sisters | Vocal group | ||
Decca | 60302 | 10-in. | 1/6/1936 | I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter | Boswell Sisters | Vocal group | ||
Decca | 60303 | 10-in. | 1/6/1936 | The music goes 'round and around | Boswell Sisters | Vocal group | ||
Decca | 60463 | 10-in. | 2/12/1936 | Let yourself go | Boswell Sisters | Vocal group | ||
Decca | 60464 | 10-in. | 2/12/1936 | I'm putting all my eggs in one basket | Boswell Sisters | Vocal group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Boswell Sisters," accessed November 18, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103494.
Boswell Sisters. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103494.
"Boswell Sisters." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: The Boswell Sisters
Discogs: Boswell Sisters
Allmusic: Boswell Sisters
Apple Music: Boswell Sisters
IMDb: Boswell Sisters
Britannica: Boswell Sisters
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Boswell Sisters - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82024090
Wikidata: The Boswell Sisters - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q894612
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/137149338
MusicBrainz: The Boswell Sisters - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/41e2d679-43a3-4b9b-8469-ce748ad7b1ca
ISNI: 0000 0001 0724 1091 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000107241091
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