Boswell Sisters, Jimmy Grier Orchestra - It's Written All Over Your Face (1934)

The Boswell Sisters were a close harmony singing group that attained national prominence in the USA in the 1930s.

Sisters Martha Boswell (June 9, 1905 - July 2, 1958), Connee Boswell (December 3, 1907 - October 11, 1976), and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell (May 20, 1911 - November 12, 1988) were raised by a middle-class family on Camp Street in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Martha and Connee were born in Kansas City, Missouri. Helvetia was born in Birmingham, Alabama. (Connee's name was originally spelt Connie until she changed it in the 1940s.)

They came to be well known in New Orleans while still in their early teens, making appearances in local theaters and radio. They made their first recordings for Victor Records in 1925. However, the Boswell Sisters did not attain national attention until they moved to New York City in 1931 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records in 1930, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records from 1931-1935. These Brunswick records are widely regarded as milestone recordings of vocal jazz.

Connie's ingenious reworkings of the melodies and rhythms of popular songs, together with Glenn Miller's hot arrangements, and first rate New York jazz musicians (including The Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Fulton McGrath, Joe Venuti, Arthur Schutt, Eddie Lang, Joe Tarto, Manny Klein, Dick McDonough, and Carl Kress), made these recordings unlike any others. Melodies were rearranged and slowed down, major keys were changed to minor keys (sometimes in mid-song) and rhythmic changes were par for the course. (Interestingly, the Boswell Sisters were among the very few performers allowed to make these changes to current popular tunes as during this era, music publishers and record companies pressured performers not to alter current popular song arrangements). Connee also recorded a series of more conventional solo records for Brunswick during the same period.

The Boswell Sisters were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.


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Jimmy Grier was a musician, songwriter, composer, arranger and bandleader. He plays in dance orchestras, night clubs and dance halls and led his own orchestra from 1931 to 1933. During World War II, he served in the US Coast Guard, and led the 11th Naval District Coast Guard Band.


Boswell Sisters, Jimmy Grier Orchestra - It's Written All Over Your Face (1934)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Boswell
• Sisters
• Jimmy
• Grier
• 1934
• 20s
• 30s

[roybo1930]

My favorit female singing group ever indeed! Tey were just super AWESOME!!!

[ldFlorida]

I haven't heard this song by the Boswell Sisters. Great song. Thanks!

[sesresu]

WHOA!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT RECORDING. AND THAT PHOTO!  REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

[dukesgal39]

Thanks for sharing another great Boswell Sisters video! Never get tired of hearing them ....

[Trombonology]

The Boswells were so great - well ahead of their time, true innovators.

[bhsisthebest]

They really sound like harmonized one, incredibly pleasant sound and vocal colour, perfectly in tune and with relaxed jazz feeling. Great. Thank you for posting!

[Westtoledoguy]

I love the Boswell sisters they are the TOPS in Lady vocals