Connee Boswell
Encyclopedia
Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell (December 3, 1907, Kansas City, Missouri
– October 11, 1976, New York
) was an American
female vocalist born in Kansas City
but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana
. With her sisters, Martha
and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group during this period via recordings and radio. Connee herself is widely considered one of the greatest jazz female vocalists and was a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald
who said, "My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it....I tried so hard to sound just like her."
In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).
. The Boswell Sisters became stage professionals that year when they were tapped to fill in for an act at New Orleans' Orpheum Theatre. They received an invitation to come to Chicago and perform in 1928 and honed their act on the Western Vaudeville Circuit. When their tour ended they traveled to San Francisco. The hotel that had been recommended had a less than savory reputation, and the man at the desk suggested that these three young ladies might be better off in another hotel. That man, Harry Leedy, would later become their manager on a handshake and become a permanent part of Connee's life.
The Boswell Sisters travelled to Los Angeles where they performed on local radio and "side-miked" for the soundies, including the 1930 production "Under Montana Skies." They did not attain national attention, however, until they moved to New York City in 1930 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records
, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records
from 1931-1935. In 1935, the sisters had a #1 hit with "The Object of My Affection
", the biggest of twenty top 20 records they would enjoy.
In 1936, the group signed to Decca Records
and after just three releases called it quits (the last recording was February 12, 1936). Connee Boswell continued to have a successful solo career as a singer for Decca.
All through her career with The Boswell Sisters, and well into the 1940s, her name was spelled "Connie". She later changed the spelling to Connee, reputedly because it made it easier to sign autographs.
Connee Boswell was also an arranger and a composer.
Connee sang from a wheelchair - or seated position - during her entire career, due to either a childhood bout with polio or a childhood accident (sources differ). The general public was not aware of her condition although Boswell herself did not keep this secret. During World War II
, she tried to get involved with the USO tours but was not given permission to travel overseas. The Army thought it might not be a morale-booster to have a singer who used a wheelchair perform for the troops.
Connee Boswell was a favorite duet partner of Bing Crosby
and they frequently sang together on radio as well as recording several hit records as a duo in the 1930s and 1940s. Boswell, Crosby, and Eddie Cantor
recorded a version of Alexander's Ragtime Band
that was a #1 hit in 1938.In 1939, Crosby and Boswell had three hit duet records that each climbed into the top 12 on Billboard
; "An Apple For The Teacher" climbed all the way to #2.
Boswell also had several dozen solo hits, including "Moonlight Mood" in 1942. Boswell's career slackened in the 1950s but she still recorded occasionally and would be featured on a number of television broadcasts including a regular stint on the 1959 series "Pete Kelly's Blues".
Connee Boswell died from stomach cancer
at age 68 in 1976, in New York. A number of her recordings are now available on CD, both as a soloist and part of the Boswell Sisters.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
– October 11, 1976, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
female vocalist born in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. With her sisters, Martha
Martha Boswell
Martha Boswell Lloyd was the eldest of the legendary Boswell Sisters. Her younger sisters were Connee and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell....
and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group during this period via recordings and radio. Connee herself is widely considered one of the greatest jazz female vocalists and was a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
who said, "My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it....I tried so hard to sound just like her."
In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).
Biography
The Boswells came to be well known locally while still in their early teens, making appearances in New Orleans theaters and radio. They made their first recordings for Victor Records in 1925, which included "Cryin' Blues" where Connee is featured singing in the style of her early influence, the African American singer Mamie SmithMamie Smith
-External links:* African American Registry* with photos* with .ram files of her early recordings* NPR special on the selection on "Crazy Blues" to the 2005...
. The Boswell Sisters became stage professionals that year when they were tapped to fill in for an act at New Orleans' Orpheum Theatre. They received an invitation to come to Chicago and perform in 1928 and honed their act on the Western Vaudeville Circuit. When their tour ended they traveled to San Francisco. The hotel that had been recommended had a less than savory reputation, and the man at the desk suggested that these three young ladies might be better off in another hotel. That man, Harry Leedy, would later become their manager on a handshake and become a permanent part of Connee's life.
The Boswell Sisters travelled to Los Angeles where they performed on local radio and "side-miked" for the soundies, including the 1930 production "Under Montana Skies." They did not attain national attention, however, until they moved to New York City in 1930 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
from 1931-1935. In 1935, the sisters had a #1 hit with "The Object of My Affection
The Object of My Affection
The Object of My Affection is a 1998 romantic comedy film, adapted from the book of the same title by Stephen McCauley, and starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. The story concerns a pregnant New York social worker who develops romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and the complications...
", the biggest of twenty top 20 records they would enjoy.
In 1936, the group signed to Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and after just three releases called it quits (the last recording was February 12, 1936). Connee Boswell continued to have a successful solo career as a singer for Decca.
All through her career with The Boswell Sisters, and well into the 1940s, her name was spelled "Connie". She later changed the spelling to Connee, reputedly because it made it easier to sign autographs.
Connee Boswell was also an arranger and a composer.
Connee sang from a wheelchair - or seated position - during her entire career, due to either a childhood bout with polio or a childhood accident (sources differ). The general public was not aware of her condition although Boswell herself did not keep this secret. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she tried to get involved with the USO tours but was not given permission to travel overseas. The Army thought it might not be a morale-booster to have a singer who used a wheelchair perform for the troops.
Connee Boswell was a favorite duet partner of Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and they frequently sang together on radio as well as recording several hit records as a duo in the 1930s and 1940s. Boswell, Crosby, and Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
recorded a version of Alexander's Ragtime Band
Alexander's Ragtime Band
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" is the name of a song by Irving Berlin. It was his first major hit, in 1911. There is some evidence, although inconclusive, that Berlin borrowed the melody from a draft of "A Real Slow Drag" submitted by Scott Joplin that had been submitted to a...
that was a #1 hit in 1938.In 1939, Crosby and Boswell had three hit duet records that each climbed into the top 12 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
; "An Apple For The Teacher" climbed all the way to #2.
Boswell also had several dozen solo hits, including "Moonlight Mood" in 1942. Boswell's career slackened in the 1950s but she still recorded occasionally and would be featured on a number of television broadcasts including a regular stint on the 1959 series "Pete Kelly's Blues".
Connee Boswell died from stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
at age 68 in 1976, in New York. A number of her recordings are now available on CD, both as a soloist and part of the Boswell Sisters.
Hit singles (solo)
| Year | Single | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
||
| 1932 | "Say It Isn't So" | 10 |
| 1934 | "Isn't It a Shame" | 19 |
| 1935 | "Moon Over Miami" | 19 |
| 1936 | "On the Beach At Bali Bali" | 3 |
| 1937 | "Whispers In the Dark" | 9 |
| "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)"(with Bing Crosby) | 1 | |
| "Basin Street Blues"(with Bing Crosby) | 12 | |
| 1938 | "Fare Thee, Honey, Fare Thee Well" | 11 |
| "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" | 5 | |
| "Alexander's Ragtime Band"(with Bing Crosby) | 1 | |
| "Simple and Sweet" | 12 | |
| 1939 | "An Apple For Teacher"(with Bing Crosby) | 2 |
| "Start the Day Right"(with Bing Crosby) | 12 | |
| "At Least You Could Say Hello" | 14 | |
| 1940 | "Between 18th & 19th On Chestnut Street"(with Bing Crosby) | 12 |
| "On the Isle of May" | 3 | |
| "Let's Be Buddies" | 25 | |
| 1941 | "Sand In My Shoes" | 24 |
| "I'll Keep On Loving You" | 22 | |
| 1942 | "South Wind" | 21 |
| "Moonlight Mood" | 22 | |
| "Why Don't You Fall In Love With Me" | 21 | |
| 1946 | "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" | 9 |
| "Who Told You That Lie?" | 22 | |
| "Ole Buttermilk Sky" | 14 | |
| 1948 | "You Were Meant For Me" | 19 |
| 1952 | "My Little Nest of Heavenly Blue" | 25 |
| 1953 | "Singin' the Blues" | 27 |
| "Main Street On Saturday Night" | 29 | |
| "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" | 29 | |
| 1954 | "The Philadelphia Waltz" | 30 |
| "If I Give My Heart To You" | 10 | |
Compact discs
- Connee Boswell (1995, out of print)
- Deep in a Dream (1996)
- Connee Boswell Sings Irving Berlin (1997, out of print)
- Heart and Soul (1997)
- Connee Boswell and the Original Memphis Five in Hi-Fi (1998, out of print)
- They Can't Take These Songs (2004)
- Moonlight and Roses (2004)
- With All My Heart (2005)
- Singing the Blues (2006)