Underneath the Harlem Moon - The Brown Sisters

In this clip, the undocumented Brown sisters sing the number "Underneath the Harlem Moon." The soulful trio starts the song slow and syncopated. But this gives way to an almost swingy up-tempo rhythm more than worthy of being captured on film. Wish there was more ...

See more at:
http://www.weirdovideo.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1930's
• All
• Music
• Brown
• Sisters
• gospel
• harmony
• jazz
• oldtime
• soundie
• swing
• swingy
• trio
• Underneath
• the
• Harlem
• Moon

[Lenswims]

I love the Brown Sisters and the Boswell's too!! I once read the great Ethel Waters was headlininfg a revue in which she starred and the Brown Sisters were featured. Billie Holiday was sent to Philadelphia (where they were to open) when Billie began to sing Miss Waters flew on the stage and said, "Ain't no other women gonna sing on this show with me but the Brown Sisters." The stage manager offered Billie train fare back to NY but Billie threw the money in Ethel's face and said "F-u and this!"

[qtrtilldawn]

The Brown Sisters sang with Sol S. Wagner and his orchestra as well as Billy Banks Rhythmakers, in Chicago in 1920's & 30's. I only know that because my grandfather, 'Jimmy Lord' was in the band(s). He played with many others, but those are the only two that reference The Brown Sisters. Anyone with more or better info, please contact me on here, Thanks.

[AjLVChi]

WOOOW...this is TRULY AMAZING!!! I really and TRULY enjoyed watching this!!! This look like this was in the 1920's or 1930's!!!! I believe this is my first time hearing about The Brown Sisters! I know that there's a Gospel group currently out named The Brown Sisters in which I know also!!! But this is TRULY AMAZING and they sounded really good! How did you get this old film on here!?!?!

[ivycompton]

@ttuerff

Interestingly, Ethel Waters does a version where she substitutes other words for "darkies" - "that's why schwartzes were born," she says at one point, and "that's why house rent parties were born" - it's unusual but typical of the fearless Waters. Re: Randy Newman's version, it's quite beautiful in its understated way.

[072740]

So much talent.........I wish people sang like this today. WTG Brown Sisters. If you were around today I'd ask for a GROUP HUG.

[punkrkboy]

this is awesome. thanks for posting.

[nauort23]

I love this old jazz. Inevitably, I start reading comments where jazz aficionados (a.k.a, snobs) engage tirelessly in one-upmanship about who influenced/copied/pre-dated whom, and it almost ruins it for me. Thank God I've got the music here to pull me back!!

[hit004541]

Does anyone have the lyrics????

[ivycompton]

I'm speechless. One of my favorite songs done by a Boswell-influenced black female trio! Wonderful and amazing. Thank you!

[infrogmation]

Absolutely, this wonderful group is HUGELY influenced by the Boswell sisters. The Brox Sisters were somewhat earlier and were very good but in a different syle. The Boswells were influenced by the phrasings and rhythms of early jazz they heard growing up in New Orleans; Connee also said that Mamie Smith was an important influence. Listen to the Boswells and other groups from that era and earlier to understand how distinctive and influential the Boswells were.

[grrluknow]

The Brox Sisters came before the Boswells. There are some Brox Sisters vids on youtube. Also some sites around the net have song clips of them. They were fun.