The Boswell Sisters, who were raised in New Orleans, consisted of sisters Martha, Connee, and Helvitia (Vet) Boswell. They were best known for their tight family harmonies and were a prominent act in the 1930s.
Their website says this:
They were three extraordinarily gifted musicians who emerged from the wellspring of the jazz movement in New Orleans in the early 1900s. They were icons, pioneers in music and early radio with influences that extend far beyond their own time. As Maxene Andrews once said, “They took the idea of jazz and did it vocally.” And they did it with such blending and precision that it has never been equaled since.
They started recording on Victor Records in 1925, but didn’t receive national attention until 1930 when they moved to New York City and began doing national radio broadcasts, particularly with their own show on CBS from 1931 to 1933.
During the 1930s, The Boswell Sisters had 20 hits including the number one record “The Object of My Affection” in 1935. Most of their significant recordings were in fact done from 1930-36.
And this, from Jazz.com:
The Boswell Sisters were the most innovative vocal group of their day. All three sisters . . . were trained instrumentalists. Connie played cello, piano and saxophone, Vet played violin and guitar, and Martha played piano. Martha was the only one who played an instrument in the act, but Connie wrote all of the arrangements, except “Darktown Strutter’s Ball”, which was arranged by Vet.
Between 1931 and 1936 they had the following top 10 recordings. Quite a run.
- “When I Take My Sugar to Tea” (6)
- “Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On” (7)
- “I Found a Million Dollar Baby” (3)
- “It’s the Girl” (9)
- “Gems from George White’s Scandals” (3)
- “Was That the Human Thing to Do? (7)
- “Rock and Roll” (7)
- “The Object of My Affection” (1)
- “Dinah” (3)
- “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (9)
- “Cheek to Cheek” (10)
- “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter” (3)
In 1936, the group signed to Decca, but broke up after only a few recordings. Their last recording was February 12, 1936. “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” is a jazz standard by Benton Overstreet, lyrics by William Blackstone published in 1921.