Jazz Articles about The Boswell Sisters

The Boswell Sisters: The Boswell Sisters Collection

by Chris Mosey
July 16, 2011

This magnificent boxed set of five CDs and one DVD represents the entire commercially released recorded output of the Boswell Sisters, the most popular and influential close harmony vocal group ever. They were white, but lead singer Connie-- she later changed the spelling to Connee--sang black. Ella Fitzgerald, when she was starting out, said her aim was to sound just like her. Before they concentrated purely on singing, the sisters were a vaudeville act, accompanying themselves on ...

The Boswell Sisters: Nothing Was Sweeter

by David Rickert
April 14, 2007

Although they were the hottest act in their heyday in the thirties, nobody bothers much with the Boswell Sisters anymore. Most people are familiar with their particular style of jazz vocals--tight-knit harmonies and group vocal gymnastics--through their imitators, like the Andrews Sisters. But the Boswell Sisters were much more than that. Consider the fact that Ella Fitzgerald patterned her vocal style on Connie Boswell and you have a very good reason to give a listen.

Nothing Was Sweeter ...

The Boswell Sisters: Nothing Was Sweeter Than

by Nic Jones
December 3, 2006

Jazz vocal groups have never been thick on the ground, and insofar as there is any such lineage at all, it's safe to say its existence is largely down to the Boswell Sisters. Their harmonies amounted to the opposite of sibling rivalry, and the liberties they took with tempo and key changes were to have a positive effect on a young Ella Fitzgerald and others.

The trio lacked the transformative powers of Louis Armstrong, who after all could give musical ...