The Big Band Era

Song Number ONE: The Boswell Sisters Martha, Connee, and Helvetia "Vet" grew up in a middle-class family on Camp Street in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Connee, who was the lead singer and did most of the arrangements, sang from a wheelchair, during her entire career, due to a childhood infirmity. Ella Fitzgerald loved the Boswell Sisters and in particular idolized Connee, after whose singing style she patterned her own. In 1936, the group broke up after which Connee continued to have a successful solo career. This recording of an Irving Berlin standard from 1911 was made with the Dorsey Brothers orchestra in 1935: "Alexander's Rag Time Band."

Song Number TWO: The Mills Brothers turned out more hit records over a longer time than any other vocal group. Formed in the early 1930s, the original group consisted of John Mills Jr., Herbert Mills, Harry Mills, and Donald Mills (lead tenor). Their father, John Mills Sr., replaced John Mills Jr. on bass note vocals and guitar after the latter's death in 1935. The group, which grew out of church choir and barber shop quartet work in Piqua, OH, were the first African-Americans to have a network radio show. Billed as "Four Boys and a Guitar," they were known for their close harmonies, scat singing, and the ability to vocally imitate musical instruments. This 1930 song by Johnny S. Black was chosen by Donald Mills as the B-side for "I'll Be Around," which became a popular hit. Eight weeks later, in 1943, the public discovered it. Recorded in just fifteen minutes, this song became the group's biggest hit. Atop the charts for twelve weeks, it sold six million copies and was the biggest non holiday record hit of the decade. "Paper Doll."

Song Number THREE: The Andrews Sisters: Maxene; Patty, youngest and lead singer; and LaVerne grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. where the idolized and imitated The Boswell Sisters. Their first big hit was their recording of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" in 1937. They were the best-selling female vocal group in the history of popular music, setting records that remain unsurpassed to this day: between 75-100 million records sold from a little over 600 recorded tunes 113 charted Billboard hits, 46 reaching Top 10 status (more than Elvis Presley or the Beatles) 17 Hollywood films (more than any other singing group in motion picture history). While the sisters specialized in swing, boogie-woogie, and novelty hits with their trademark lightning-quick vocal syncopations, they also produced major hits in jazz, ballads, folk, country-western, seasonal, and religious titles. Here they are accompanied by Bob Crosby's orchestra as they re-interpret a Cole Porter song made famous by Artie Shaw "Begin The Beguine."

Song Number FOUR: The Ink Spots, Orville "Hoppy" Jones (bass, played Bass Guitar); Ivory "Deek" Watson (tenor, played Guitar and Trumpet); Jerry Daniels (tenor, played Guitar and Ukulele) [Daniels left in 1936 and was replaced by Bill Kenny]; and Charlie Fuqua (baritone, played Guitar). Watson, Daniels and Fuqua got together to form a vocal, instrumental and comedy group, which was initially called "King, Jack, and Jester". They continued to appear regularly on radio in Ohio, and became a foursome when Jones was added to the group the following year. In July 1934 they changed their name to "The 4 Ink Spots" at the request of bandleader Paul Whiteman, to avoid confusion with his vocal group "The King's Jesters". Later that year, The Ink Spots achieved international success touring the UK with Jack Hylton's Orchestra. In 1939 this Jack Lawrence song became their first smash hit. Afterward, they began to challenge the Mills Brothers in popularity. The Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Foundation notes, "Many of their recordings were copied and reworked for new generations in later years. The Platters made a career of covering Ink Spots songs." "If I Didn't Care."

Song Number FIVE: Growing up in Salt Lake City, UT, The Four King Sisters: Donna, Yvonne, Luise (soprano), and Alyce (alto) grew out of a family group led by their father and vocal trainer, William King Driggs. They later adopted his middle name for professional purposes. They grew to prominence when bandleader Horace Heidt heard one of their KSL broadcasts and convinced their parents to let the girls join his orchestra on his sponsored weekly network radio show. The King Sisters stand out with their unfailing sense of rhythm, perfect intonation and bubbly personalities. Luise married Heidt guitarist Alvino Rey in 1934. After they left Heidt, Rey formed a band and backs them here in a Frank DeVol arrangement of a song made popular by Harry James and written by James and Don Raye. They achieved notable later success with the network television, "King Family Show". Here they sing Music Makers."

Click here to e-mail us. Please make the subject clear to avoid its being deleted with the spam.

To access the other Big Band Era pages use your back button to return to the home page. If that is not appropriate, here is a link.