The way they work out an “arrangement” is fascinating. One of them plays from an ordinary piano song company, singing the melody. The other two chip in with uncanny instinct on the right harmony and distribution.
Bozzzzzzzzzz
In our many cruises across the ether waves bozzies.com has discovered many stories and links of interest to those on the journey to the Land of Boz. Have a favorite site or article you care to share? Send it in our way for review!
The Hits Just Keep on Comin’
The Boswell Sisters made the cut in two of America’s most prestigious selections.
The Library of Congress chose It’s the Girl to represent one of the 25 recordings selected in 2011 under the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000. The Library seeks out the very best surviving recordings of the work and preserves it for posterity. This is the 9th year that the Library has issued its 25 titles and the first time the Boswell Sisters have been honored.
Right down the street, the Smithsonian is issuing a new 111 track, 6 CD set called JAZZ: The Smithsonian Anthology. Tucked among the likes of Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Miles David, John Coltrane and a wealth of fellows, the Boswell Sisters are the only female trio and only one of a mere handful of ladies whose tunes have made it to this recording. Everybody Loves My Baby is sure to Boz the world of the folks who fork over a C-note to make this big baby their own.
Vettennial!
Helvetia George Boswell Jones would have been 100 years old on May 20, 2011. There are celebrations across the globe commemorating this event.
- In the Vancouver, BC area, Company B is appearing at the White Rock Traditional Jazz Society weekly dance, Sunday, May 22nd, 3-6pm, at the Crescent Beach Legion, 2643 - 128th Street, White Rock / South Surrey, BC, Canada (a stone's throw from the Canada/US border, 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver). They will salute the former Canadian chanteuse with their Bozzie blessed blend, and enjoy a Rye on the rocks in her honor.
- Down in Sunny Spain, O Sister has been spotted playing in the streets of Seville and toasting to Helvetia. We don’t think they mean Switzerland, either. They will dedicate their May 21st appearance at Teatro Municipal Torcal, C/ Ramón y Cajal, 8, Antequera, Málaga, to dear Votzy. Via todos! (That’s as close as I can get to “y’all come.”)
- In New Orleans, an ensemble who has actually performed with Vet Boswell will be taking the stage at Chickie Wah Wah around 5:30 on Friday, May 20th. The Pfister Sisters bring the genuine Crescent City cred to the harmonies of Vet and her Sisters. They’ve been doing the Boswell music longer than the Boswell’s did, so a great treat to the ears will be had by all.
No Centenary celebrations nearby? Tune in hear Randall Riley and Cynthia Lucas on KOOP’s Adventures in Sound, hosted by Dennis Campa. They will be saluting Vet and Rosemary Clooney, whose birthday is May 23rd. The show is Saturday, May 21st, from 1:00 to 2:00 Central time. Catch music and more via streaming audio at http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html.
Happy Birthday Vet!
Finally, A Boswell Sisters Documentary!
Yes, it's true! A full documentary is in pre-production right now. Read more about it, and watch the trailer now on Boz Video Buz. We will be posting production updates for you on the new Boz Buds Board, and we'd also love to hear your thoughts on this new feature production.
Watch this Boz Video Buz Special Feature and Get bozzed!
"We Copied the Boswell Sisters"
A revealing new article by David McCain about the original sound of the Andrews Sisters. While the dedicated Bozzed among us already know the Boswell Sisters inspired a great many performers, including the Andrews Sisters, what many may not know is that we've tracked down a very early and long lost recording of "Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia" from the Andrews Sisters, and we have it right here on Bozzies.com.
David's article chronicles the hunt for the long lost recording, as well as many great interviews along the way. Get bozzed.
The King Sisters - A Chapter From the History of Harmony
David McCain takes a look at the history of the King Sisters, whose harmony roots trace back to the Boswell Sisters. Once again he brings terrific research together with a love for his subject that makes for a must read! Also featured is a biographical song performed by the King Sisters from the Fitch Bandwagon, which you can listen to on the BozPod.
Get Bozzed with the Kiggle-ding Siggle-disters!
Boz Video Buz
Crazy People get the Heebie Jeebies as they do the Lou'siana Waddle when It's Sleepy Time Down South. Ya gotta see it to believe it and we gots it here on video!... Get bozzed.
Sing Sister, Sing
We have recently been given permission to air what was a home made VHS tape of the production right here on Bozzies.com. It is our hope that Bozzies will be delighted to find this little window into the life of the Boswell Sisters’ "official" story. Get bozzed.
Boz Buys from Amazon.com
As our Boz Bufs already know, Bozzies.com (aka Bozzies.org) is a non profit organization dedicated to preserving the memory of, and spreading the word about the Boswell Sisters and their contributions to musical history and performance, as well as their influence on a great many other performers. We've expanded our Boz Buys section to include links directly to everything Bozzie we could find on Amazon.com. A small percentage of any purchases made through our links will go to helping to keep the Bozzie site up. Get bozzed.
New! Connee Boswell's Timeline
It's Here! We have assembled the most comprehensive timeline of Connee's life and career after the Boswell Sisters that you'll find on the web. Many thanks to Randall Riley and David McCain for helping to pull this together... Get bozzed.
Boswell Sisters Centennial Celebration Recap
What a celebration! December 3, 2007 would have been Connee Boswell’s 100th birthday. In honor of this milestone, the Boswell Sisters Centennial Committee is partnered with New Orleans Jazz National Park, the Louisiana State History Museum, The Midlo Center at the University of New Orleans, Snug Harbor and Bozzies.com for a weekend of live music, seminars, labs and more to honor the innovation, influence and achievements of the Boswell Sisters Bozzies from around the world united the twentieth anniversary of Vet Boswell Jones' death. Read more about it and Get bozzed
Remembering Vet
The Boswell Centennial officially wound down on November 12, 2008, the twentieth anniversary of Vet Boswell Jones' death. Bozzies.com is honored to mark this milestone with David McCain's reminiscence of his friend Helvetia in the article, Remembering Vet. Get bozzed.
Connee's Wheelchair Discovered
The light from the single, faraway bulb was dim, but Boswell researchers David McCain, Randall Riley and Cynthia Lucas knew as soon as they saw the wheelchair tucked away in the corner that this had belonged to Connee Boswell. Get bozzed.
Boswell Sisters Inducted in Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
We were there in Jackson Square on a beautiful April afternoon with thousands of French Quarter Fest celebrants. They applauded their approval as the Boswell Sisters became only the second posthumous group inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Although members of the Boswell family were not able to be there, they asked that the honor be accepted on behalf of all the fans who continue to discover, enjoy and celebrate the Boswell Sisters music.
The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame has posted a copy of the plaque on their website and has featured a number of Boswell movie clips in their gallery.
Big Bozzie "attaboys" to LMHOF director Mike Shepherd for making the award possible and a chest of doubloons to the Pfister Sisters for hosting the awards during their performance.
Mo' Connee Downloads, Yowsah
There are hours and hours of the Connie Boswell Show just ready to download at the Internet Archive. Stream it or click it, either way you can listen to CBoz efforts during wartime to keep her country smiling through.
Bozzin’ With the Brian Sisters
One of the sister acts to rise in the wake of the Boswell Sisters’ success was the Brian Sisters. First seen in Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” comedies, Betty, Doris and Gwen amazed audiences with their tight, hot harmonies and were making movies before they were in their teens. Many know that they appeared in MGM’s “Sunday Night at the Trocadero” with Connie Boswell, but few know of how Connie befriended them and helped them reach a new level in their career. Doris Brian Rounds told the story of the struggle she and her sisters faced when they came to Los Angeles and Connie’s influence on their lives to bozzies.com.
Connee Boswell Second Line and Memorial Wake
See pictures and video captured as Bozzies.com celebrated the life of Connee Boswell and the Boswell Sisters on the 30th anniversary of Connee's death.
Liner Notes from the 1943 Brunswick Collection
How quickly they forget…at least Connee’s age! This pdf is taken from the liner notes that appear in a great Brunswick reissue of the Boswell Sisters best songs. There is some significant poetic license taken in the story this tells of the Boswell Sisters, but it still makes a great read.
Boz Banter
Bozzies.com is proud to feature Richard Lamparski's 1965 interview with Connee and Vet Boswell. The famed author of the “Whatever Became Of...” series and the great new “Hollywood Diary” and “Manhattan Diary” editions has graciously allowed us to share his WBAI interview with the Boswell Sisters. Hear them tell their story in their own words...and Get Bozzed.
Boz Ballroom on the Air
Tune into two hours of music and memories on the Jimmie Jazz Show, straight from the swing hamlet of New England, www.wool.fm in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Just click, find the Boswell show and bode-a-lee ho!
Blog Your Baby to the Bozzy Beat
Canadian swing-thing Mike Daley shares his Bozzie thoughts and meanderings via the web at www.boswellsisters.blogspot.com.
Cboz in the Lions Den
MGM had the best of the best in their stable of stars in the 1930s, so it should be no surprise to the bozzed that she made regular appearances on their radio show, “Good News”. Shelly Brisbin has included one of these broadcasts in her “Hollywood on the Radio” series. Hear the divine Connee hold her own with this pantheon of stars, singing “The Gypsy in my Soul,” “I Can Dream, Can't I” and engaging in banter with "Mur-deth" Wilson and Robert Taylor.
Dis Man's Got IT!
If you love the Bozzies, you’ll love Dismuke.net. He has lots of real gems on his virtual radio machine that include Connee’s smash hit with Bob Crosby and his Bobcats, “Martha”. But his greatest discovery may have been of an old Philco promo record that features the Boswell Sisters under the name the “Philco-eds”. Well worth downloading real player just to listen!
Keepin’ the Home Fires Burning
The Pfabulous Pfister Sisters got around the piano in the New Orleans parlor where the Boswell Sisters used to practice and sang our friend Cynthia a birthday song. It's as close as you can get to the real thing today!
MySpace Bozzed
Yes, Helvetia, there is even a Bozzie page in MySpace. Boz on over and check out the tunes and videos on The Boswell Sisters site. Then cuddle up a little closer with CBoz. Great videos and tunes!
Best Boz Discography on the Web
Sure, there's a better one you can buy, but this is the best free Boz discography we've found on the web. Check out Patrick Gaffey's site (and tell him when there's something wrong).
Serious Boz
Although things are in transition at the Boswell Museum, no Bozzie site would be complete without an homage to Chica Minnerly's labor of love to her Mother (Vet Boswell), aunts Martha and Connie and the age of radio.
Bozzie Bakes
Sweet and hot are always ingredients in Connie's cupboard.
Connie Boswell's Pineapple Torte recipe
From the “Good Things to Eat from Out of the Air - 136 tested radio recipes” by Winifred S. Carter, c. 1932 from Proctor and Gamble.
Combine these ingredients. Take out 3/4 cup of the mixture. Use remainder to line the bottom of square cake pan.
Blend sugar with flour. Add pineapple and slightly beaten egg yolks. Fold in stiffly beaten whites. Pour this over rusk mixture. Sprinkle top with 3/4 C of crumbs. Bake 1 hour in a slow oven (325 F). Chill. Serve with plain or whipped cream.
(Note from Stinceria – try this in a 9x9 pan, greased and flowered.)
