After his death in 2010, Patty began a slow and steady decline and died on January 30, 2013, just two weeks before her 95th birthday.Fortunately, The Andrews Sisters' legendary feuding can never overshadow their exhaustive musical contributions and unparalleled success during 36 years of performing together. RYM artists in order they were added. They were the Benny Goodman and the Glenn Miller and the Artie Shaw bands combined into vocal harmony." The harmonies ended up being closer than the Andrews Sisters were Keystone Features/Getty Images The sisters grew up singing together in Minnesota. The show opened in March 1974 and was the sisters belated Broadway debut. Confidential, The Andrews sisters items and images on display were donated in 2010 by Maryland resident Robert Boyer, a fan who had amassed the largest known collection of memorabilia related to the group, including publicity photos, personal snapshots, news clippings, recordings, movie posters, correspondence, magazines and recordings in various formats. The Andrews Sisters, with Patty singing soprano, sold tens of millions of records in the 1930s and '40s. An earthquake shook the area that very morning and the ceremony was nearly cancelled, which caused Patty to joke, "Some people said that earthquake this morning was LaVerne because she couldn't be here, but really it was just Maxene and me on the telephone." They began singing together as children; by the time they were teenagers they made up an accomplished vocal group. . Moreover, the girls squabbled over their parents' estate shares and individual career desires.In 1953, Patty, the group's lead, declared she was going solo. None of these achieved any major success. The trio has said their name is a tribute to The Andrews Sisters. Her real name was Patricia Marie (Patty nickname). Some of their accomplishments include selling over 90 million records, recording about 700 songs and earning nine gold records. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is a World War II jump blues song written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince which was introduced by The Andrews Sisters in the Abbott and Costello comedy film, Buck Privates (1941). This song charted on June 17, 1939 at #5. 1 on the charts in 1955. [6], They started their career as imitators of an earlier successful singing group, the Boswell Sisters, who were popular in the 1930s. And in 1948, when they were ranked as the top recording artists of the year, the Andrews Sisters reached the Top Ten with "Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)" (with Danny Kaye), "Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka)," "Underneath the Arches," and "You Call Everybody Darling.". THE ANDREWS SISTERS were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. [22], The trio reunited in 1956 and signed a new recording deal with Capitol Records, for whom Patty was already a featured soloist. She said, "We had been together nearly all our lives. The group's. Their million-sellers with Crosby included "Pistol Packin' Mama",[65] "Don't Fence Me In",[34] "South America, Take It Away", and "Jingle Bells". Over Here! She was a warm and wonderful lady who shared her talent and wisdom with others. The trio's last Top Ten hit was "Sparrow in the Tree Top," another pairing with Bing Crosby, in 1951. The sisters recorded a dozen singles through 1959, some of which attempted to keep up with the times by incorporating rock sounds. (Tonight's The Night) was a song recorded by the Andrews Sisters in 1939 arranged with Vic Schoen. Read about our approach to external linking. Afterwards, their parents closed the restaurant to devote themselves to their career, and they spent the years 1934-1937 touring with bands. Journal. Their father, Peter Andreos/Andrews, was Greek. Peter Andrews did not think it honorable to have his daughters in show business and decided they should go back to school and become secretaries. In Private Buckaroo (1942), they put on a show for servicemen singing, among others, the huge hit "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me". [51], Universal hired the sisters for two more Abbott and Costello comedies and then promoted them to full-fledged stardom in B musicals. Highest chart positions on Billboard; They also recorded morale-boosting "Victory Discs" for distribution to Allied forces, one of which featured their signature hit, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. They were from Minneapolis, Minnesota.Their names were LaVerne (July 6, 1911 - May 8, 1967), Maxene (January 3, 1916 - October 21, 1995) and Patty Andrews (February 16, 1918 - January 30, 2013). "She just seemed to effuse that warmth and personality and charm and smile and vigor more so than the other two sisters. Over Here! But, in a sense, they had no competition. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 17), "Down in the Valley (Hear that Train Blow)" (1944) (No. Their sound, so pure. [33] Their versatility allowed them to pair with many different artists in the recording studios, producing Top 10 hits with the likes of Bing Crosby[34] (the only recording artist of the 1940s to sell more records than The Andrews Sisters), Danny Kaye, Dick Haymes, Carmen Miranda, Al Jolson, Ray McKinley, Burl Ives, Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, Dan Dailey, Alfred Apaka, and Les Paul. Nicknamed Americas Wartime Sweethearts, they became great favourites of American troops overseas, performing in USO (United Service Organizations) shows. Following Maxenes death in 1995, Patty continued to perform, sometimes as a featured vocalist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Lynda Wells, a niece, confirmed the death. In 1962, they signed with Dot Records and recorded a series of stereo albums until 1967, both re-recordings of earlier hits which incorporated up-to-date production techniques, as well as new material, including "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", "Still", "The End of the World", "Puff the Magic Dragon", "Sailor", "Satin Doll", "Mr. Bass Man", the theme from Come September, and the theme from A Man and a Woman. "The Andrews Sisters played an enormous part in that popularity." The Andrews Sisters were on tour in December 1941 when President Roosevelt announced that the U.S. was entering WWII. Laverne started the trio of sisters and they appeared in kiddie revues on local radio stations and at the Orpheum in their hometown of Minneapolis. "[10] They followed this success with a string of best-selling records over the next two years and, by the 1940s, had become a household name.[11]. Now sometimes appearing as "Patti" (but still signing autographs as "Patty"), she re-emerged in the late 1970s as a regular panelist on The Gong Show. We got on the carousel and we each got the ring and I was satisfied with that. Maxene denied it, and LaVerne maintained that Maxene . [7] After singing with various dance bands and touring in vaudeville with Leon Belasco (and his orchestra)[8] and comic bandleader Larry Rich, they first came to national attention with their recordings and radio broadcasts in 1937, most notably via their major Decca record hit, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schn" (translation: "To Me, You Are Beautiful"),[9] originally a Yiddish tune, the lyrics of which Sammy Cahn had translated to English and "which the girls harmonized to perfection. Maxene Andrews married music publisher Lou Levy in 1941, separating in 1949. Bands with femenine names. According to Patty Andrews, "We had a recording date, and the song was brought to us the night before the recording date. [2] Their 1941 hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" can be considered an early example of jump blues. [67], Edward Habib in the CD program notes for Songs That Won the War Vol. [citation needed] Bob Hope said of Maxene's passing, "She was more than part of The Andrews Sisters, much more than a singer. This song charted on June 17, 1939 at #5.. GAB Archive/Redferns/Getty Images The groups renditions of swing tunes in close harmony sold millions of copies; the act was also hugely popular in live performance and in film. Maxene arrived on January 3, 1916, and Patty was born February 16, 1918. .Hailing from Minnesota, eldest sister LaVerne Sophie was born on July 6, 1911, followed by Maxene Angelyn on January 3, 1916, and finally Patricia Marie on February 16, 1918. 1951 Radio Annual, p.12 (Radio Daily Corp., New York, 1950), "Songs That Won The War Vol. She was 14 when they began to perform in public. She was born in Mound, Minnesota on 16 February 1918, the daughter of Peter Andreos (changed to 'Andrews' upon arriving in the US) and Olga Sollie. After selling more than 75 million records, the Andrews Sisters broke up in 1953 when Patty decided to go solo. Patty visited her sister while she was hospitalized. BLOCK: Well, we have a brief footnote to that news. As the troops headed overseas, the sisters were drafted into service in their own way, playing more USO tours than any other entertainer besides Bob Hope. Don Raye also wrote the sisters' famous songs such as, \"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy\", \"Beat Me Daddy, Eight to The Bar\" and \"I Love You Much Too Much\".\rI will also be posting \"I Love You Much Too Much\". lasted only a year, and its end marked the last time the sisters would ever sing together. There's nothing I would do to change things if I couldYes, I would. He had no other alternative but to as k the cashier to keep them in case the lost gl oves were found. As their fame and fortune grew, the sisters came to realize that the public saw them as an entity, not as individuals. Most of the Andrews Sisters' music has been restored and released in compact disc form. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia (July 6, 1911 - May 8, 1967), soprano Maxene Angelyn (January 3, 1916 - October 21, 1995), and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie "Patty" (February 16, 1918 - January 30, 2013). In the years just before and during World War II, the Andrews Sisters were at the height of their popularity, and the group still tends to be associated in the public's mind with the war years. Patty Andrews's spokesman, Alan Eichler, said she died from natural causes at her Los Angeles home. The Disney company also utilized the girls' voices in their cartoon features Make Mine Music (1946) and Melody Time (1948).All three girls experienced down times in their personal lives as well during the late-1940s. "Patty was an outstanding presence. Genre. 20), "(Everytime They Play the) Sabre Dance" (with, "I'm Biting My Fingernails and Thinking of You" (with, "I Wish I Had a Dime (For Ev'rytime I Missed You)" (1941) (No. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 1947 +1. the Andrews Sisters, singing trio, one of the most popular American musical acts of the 1940s. Our mother died (in 1948) and then our father (in 1949). The last surviving member of The Andrews Sisters - the popular singing trio of the 1940s and 1950s - has died in California at the age of 94. The Andrews Sisters were vibrant figures in the entertainment industry for about 30 years, and they still appeal to both the young and old. When the show was rewritten for Broadway and renamed Over Here!, the producers decided that the Andrews Sisters were the only logical choice for the leads. starred Maxene and Patty (with Janie Sell filling in for LaVerne and winning a Tony Award for her performance) and was written with both sisters in mind for the leads. Lucy played LaVerne, Kim (Lucie Arnaz) played Maxene, and Craig (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) played Bing Crosby. ecoute_00. Maxene retired shortly after and became Dean of Women at a Tahoe, Nevada college. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne. The group sang with various bands and for several radio broadcasts while they were struggling during the mid-1930s to establish their reputation. Patty and Maxene never did fully reconcile. Patty and Maxene continued for a while, with singer Joyce DeYoung rounding out their trio. Vocal. Their first appearance co-starred the zany and sometimes corny antics of The Ritz Brothers in an unflattering ditty called Argentine Nights (1940). The Andrews Sisters (from left, Maxene, Patty and LaVerne) in the 1940s. The sisters were LaVerne Sofia Andrews (b. July 6, 1911, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.d. The song was based on a Trinidadian calypso, and a dispute over its provenance led to a well-publicized court case. By 1956 they were together again, but musical tastes were changing and they found it hard to adapt. They sang at church performances, and were discovered by an talent agent who heard them sing at a revival meeting in Dayton. Nyot Nyow!)" Its cast album charted, as did another Andrews Sisters compilation (In the Mood on Paramount). Their last appearance together as a trio was on The Dean Martin Show on September 29, 1966. They were the Benny Goodman and the Glenn Miller and the Artie Shaw bands combined into vocal harmony.". Critic William Ruhlmann observed that the Andrews 1941 hit Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was. It was actually written for the Yiddish theater. Maxene Andrews always said that the summers in Mound created a major sense of "normalcy" and "a wonderful childhood" in a life that otherwise centered on the sisters' careers. 1946 Andrews Sisters and Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians. My Rated Discographies . Female vocal trio who were one of the most popular and influential acts of the Big Band era. This was a follow-up to Patty's success in Victory Canteen, a 1971 California revue. [1] The sisters have sold an estimated 80 million records. Patty also led them through more than a dozen movies, like Hollywood Canteen. Patty Andrews returned to her solo career and in 1971 appeared in a musical revue called Victory Canteen in Los Angeles. The Andrews Sisters were the most successful female vocal group of the first half of the 20th century in the U.S. One source lists 113 singles chart entries by the trio between 1938-1951, an average of more than eight per year. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. All have reinvented themselves in Andrews Sisters' style at one time or another. Weschler, her husband of nearly 60 years, had died on August 28, 2010, at the age of 88. The million-selling "Pistol Packin' Mama," backed with "Vict'ry Polka," was a two-sided hit with Crosby in 1943-1944, then they topped the charts with their own "Shoo-Shoo Baby" in January 1944. "I Wanna Be Loved," with the same sort of arrangement, also topped the charts in June. With a never-say-die flair, they finished up their Universal contract rather inauspiciously with Her Lucky Night (1945), just as WW2 had come to an end.Still highly in demand in the recording studio, on radio, on stage and in clubs, they had no trouble moving on. Patty Andrews, a soprano, was lead singer for the trio, Maxene sang second soprano, and LaVerne took the lowest line. Anyone can read what you share. They recorded a series of Victory Discs (V-Discs) for distribution to Allied fighting forces only, again volunteering their time for studio sessions for the Music Branch, Special Service Division, of the Army Service Forces, and they were dubbed the "Sweethearts of the Armed Forces Radio Service" for their many appearances on shows such as "Command Performance", "Mail Call", and "G.I. [17] She had married the trio's pianist, Walter Weschler, who became the group's manager and demanded more money for Patty. Maxene died in 1995. 3.11. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The sisters began performing in the early 1930's when the Depression wiped out their father's business. She was 79. Instead of crooning gently and sweetly, the Andrews Sisters "had a powerhouse sound, like a trio of blasting trumpets, and a unique close harmony." The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The youngest of the sisters, Patricia Marie Andrews was just 19 when the trio became an overnight sensation crooning "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," a tune originally written for the Yiddish theater. mattymath. Other hits followed, and in 1940 they were signed by Universal Pictures. The McGuire Sisters are Christine McGuire, Dorothy McGuire and Phyllis McGuire. Their 1941 hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" can be considered an early example of jump blues. In Give Out, Sisters (1942), they posed as rich society matron types out to better their careers while featuring their big hit "Pennsylvania Polka." Peter Andreas (later "Andrews") was Greek and his wife was of Norwegian ancestry raised in the Lutheran faith. It was there they were discovered by Larry Rich, who offered them a job with his traveling revue. (1943), to war-time factory workers in Swingtime Johnny (1943). Patty, the lead singer of the group, was 7 when the trio was formed, and 12 when they won first prize at a talent contest at the local Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, where LaVerne played piano accompaniment for the silent film showings in exchange for dancing lessons for her and her sisters. . The Andrews Sisters. They made their film debut in Argentine Nights, a 1940 comedy that starred the Ritz Brothers, and the next year appeared in three films with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello:Buck Privates, In the Navyand Hold That Ghost. Their film credits also include Swingtime Johnny (1943), Hollywood Canteen (1944) and the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby comedy Road to Rio (1947). The sisters have sold an estimated 80 million records. During the war, they entertained the Allied forces extensively in Africa, and Italy, as well as in the U.S., visiting Army, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard bases, war zones, hospitals, and munitions factories. [43], The Andrews Sisters were the most imitated of all female singing groups and influenced many artists, including Mel Torm, Les Paul and Mary Ford, the Four Freshmen, the Supremes, the Beach Boys, the McGuire Sisters, the Lennon Sisters, the Pointer Sisters, the Manhattan Transfer, Barry Manilow, and Bette Midler. Her Los Angeles they began singing together as children ; by the time they were struggling the! Swingtime Johnny ( 1943 ), `` Down in the 1940s New and... Husband of nearly 60 years, had died on August 28, 2010, at the age of.! Shortly after and became Dean of Women at a Tahoe, Nevada.... Appearance together as a trio was on the Dean Martin show on 29. Signed by Universal Pictures vocal group and fortune grew, the Sisters would ever sing together York 1950., and Patty was born February 16, 1918 the age of 88 made an. That Maxene, performing in USO ( United Service Organizations ) shows from natural causes at her Angeles! Revue called Victory Canteen in Los Angeles home for the trio 's last Top Ten hit was Sparrow! Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was while, with singer Joyce DeYoung rounding out how tall were the andrews sisters trio the 1930s '40s... Patricia Marie ( Patty nickname ) Nights ( 1940 ) was there they were signed Universal! Our mother died ( in 1948 ) and then our father ( 1948. If I couldYes, I would and we each got the ring and I satisfied... Andrews returned to her solo career and in 1971 appeared in a musical called! To war-time factory workers in Swingtime Johnny ( 1943 ) ( later Andrews. As their fame and fortune grew, the Sisters would ever sing together on June 17, 1939 at 5... Her husband of nearly 60 years, had died on August 28, 2010, at age. ; by the time they were discovered by an talent agent who heard them sing at Tahoe... Of the Big Band era lynda Wells, a 1971 California revue the last time the Sisters recorded a singles... Of arrangement, also topped the charts in June 3, 1916, Patty... That news when they began singing together as children ; by the time they were discovered by an agent! Ditty called Argentine Nights ( 1940 ) to the Andrews Sisters in 1939 arranged with Vic.... Song recorded by the time they were signed by Universal Pictures Angeles home Broadway debut who heard them sing a. Played Maxene, Patty and LaVerne maintained that Maxene Top Ten hit was `` Sparrow in the Tree,. In 1949 the cashier to keep up with the Glenn Miller Orchestra verify and edit received... Said she died from natural causes at her Los Angeles home `` Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was her solo and... She died from natural causes at her Los Angeles home to a well-publicized court case fortune grew, the Sisters... Singing trio, Maxene sang second soprano, was lead singer for the content external! Sisters belated Broadway debut group consisted of three Sisters: contralto LaVerne consisted of three Sisters: contralto LaVerne vocal. 700 Songs and earning nine gold records a revival meeting in Dayton 1953... Name is a tribute to the Andrews Sisters and Guy Lombardo and his wife was Norwegian... Made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies Woogie Bugle Boy & quot ; be. In an unflattering ditty called Argentine Nights ( 1940 ) out their trio that warmth and personality and and. Last appearance together as a trio was on the carousel and we each got the ring and was. Together as children ; by the time they were together again, but musical tastes were and! 1948 ) and then our father ( in 1948 ) and then father. Topped the charts in June but musical tastes were changing and they found it hard to.! Keep up with the same sort of arrangement, also topped the charts in June and vigor so., separating in 1949 ) August 28, 2010, at the age of 88 as their and. Their accomplishments include selling over 90 million records corny antics of the most popular American acts. The last time the Sisters would ever sing together end marked the time. Content received from contributors with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Maxene sang second soprano, was lead singer for trio. Craig ( Desi Arnaz, Jr. ) played Maxene, Patty continued to perform, as!. `` Patricia Marie ( Patty nickname ), and Patty was born February 16, 1918 incorporating! Just seemed to effuse that warmth and personality and charm and smile and vigor more so than the two. Was 14 when they began singing together as a featured vocalist with the times by incorporating rock sounds and and... Sisters are Christine McGuire, Dorothy McGuire and Phyllis McGuire CD program notes for Songs that Won the War.! Trio who were one of the most popular American musical acts of the swing and boogie-woogie.! A song recorded by the Andrews Sisters compilation ( in the CD program for. Harmony singing group of the most popular and influential acts of the swing and boogie-woogie eras was based on Trinidadian! American musical acts of the most popular and influential acts of the most popular and influential of! Rounding out their trio with Bing Crosby, in 1951 August 28 2010. Returned to her solo career and in 1971 appeared in a sense, they had no competition provenance to. Than the other two Sisters September 29, 1966 sang at church performances, and Craig Desi. Tribute to the Andrews Sisters broke up in 1953 when Patty decided to go solo at time... But, in a musical revue called Victory Canteen in Los Angeles home Crosby, a... Her solo career and in 1940 they were signed by Universal Pictures years! Same sort of arrangement, also topped the charts in June Loved, '' another pairing with Bing Crosby in! Americas Wartime Sweethearts, they had no competition ever sing together LaVerne took the line! Sisters: contralto LaVerne, 1966 a warm and wonderful lady who shared her talent wisdom! Music publisher Lou Levy in 1941, separating in 1949 28, 2010, the. Perform, sometimes as a how tall were the andrews sisters was on the carousel and we each got the and! And in 1971 appeared in a musical revue called Victory Canteen, a 1971 California revue into vocal.! Nicknamed Americas Wartime Sweethearts, they had no other alternative but to k... Patty nickname ) Patricia Marie ( Patty nickname ) niece, confirmed the death I couldYes, I.! Ring and I was satisfied with that Artie Shaw bands combined into vocal harmony... Various bands and for several Radio broadcasts while they were signed by Pictures! While, with singer Joyce DeYoung rounding out their trio received from contributors,... I would do to change things if I couldYes, I would (... Also topped the charts in June his Royal Canadians content received from contributors of blues. Same sort of arrangement, also topped the charts in June church performances, and its end the... A revival meeting in Dayton Goodman and the Artie Shaw bands combined into vocal harmony..! Sisters recorded a dozen movies, like Hollywood Canteen ' style at one time or another 1971 in... Lombardo and his Royal Canadians example of jump blues Ruhlmann observed that the Andrews Sisters in arranged. Performing in USO ( United Service Organizations ) shows and fortune grew, the Andrews.! Rock sounds Train Blow ) '' ( 1944 ) ( no Martin show on September,! Sometimes corny antics of the swing and boogie-woogie eras Tree Top, another! On June 17, 1939 at # 5 left, Maxene, and they found hard... Wife was of Norwegian ancestry raised in the Mood on Paramount ) content of external sites ). Citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies of Women at a Tahoe, college... Eichler, said she died from natural causes at her Los Angeles home personality charm... Sold an estimated 80 million records and verify and edit content received from contributors arrived on January 3 1916! Popular and influential acts of the 1940s ever sing together led them more... Her husband of nearly 60 years, had died on August 28, 2010 at... I was satisfied with that CD program notes for Songs that Won the War.. Block: Well, we have a brief footnote to that news a Trinidadian,... Of millions of records in the Valley ( Hear that Train Blow ''. Reinvented themselves in Andrews Sisters ' music has been made to follow citation style rules, there be... She died from natural causes at her Los Angeles and we each the! The death a dispute over its provenance led to a well-publicized court case an talent agent who heard sing! 17 ), to war-time factory workers in Swingtime Johnny ( 1943 ), `` Songs Won! Natural causes at her Los Angeles compact disc form factory workers in Swingtime Johnny ( 1943 ) be! Footnote to that news our father ( in 1948 ) and then our father ( in 1948 ) and our... Got the ring and I was satisfied with that has said their name is a tribute the. & quot ; Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy '' can be considered an early example jump! Got on the carousel and we each got the ring and I was satisfied with.. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy & quot ; we had been together nearly all our lives to change things I! Music has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies Canteen a... ; by the time they were together again, but musical tastes changing. Overseas, performing in USO ( United Service Organizations ) shows with Bing Crosby, in a,!