The Boswell Sisters
Boswell Sisters (Connee, bottom)
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Born

  • December 3, 1907
  • New Orleans, LA

Died

  • October 11, 1976

Birth Name

  • Connie Boswell

Marriage

  • Harry Leedy (1935-75)

Connee Boswell

Paralyzed from the waist down by a childhood accident (though her condition was often attributed to polio), popular singer and actress Connee Boswell always performed sitting down. Her disability also forced her to change her name from Connie due to slight paralysis in her wrist and hand which made it painful for her to repeatedly dot the ''i'' in her name while signing autographs.

Boswell and her sisters began their singing careers in the vaudeville houses of New Orleans. Gifted musicians as well as vocalists, the Boswell Sisters also worked at a local radio station, performing classical and semi-classical instrumentals. Connee played cello, saxophone and guitar. Their careers took off when the station gave them a daily singing program. The sisters' harmonic vocals, dotted with scatting and numerous tempo and key changes, quickly made them popular in New Orleans and beyond.

They recorded several songs during the 1920s, but it wasn't until 1930, when they recorded four songs for the Okeh label, that they finally achieved popular recognition. They later signed with Brunswick. Between 1930 and 1936 they were the hottest vocal group in the country, appearing in several movies and as regulars on Bing Crosby's radio program. Many of their hit recordings were made with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.

The act broke up in 1936 after sisters Vet and Martha retired. Connee went on to enjoy a mildly-successful solo career. During WWII she dedicated her time to visiting military hospitals and showing disabled soldiers that they could still live a full and successful life. Ella Fitzgerald always cited Connee Boswell as her main influence.