Connee Boswell

Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell (December 3, 1907 – October 11, 1976) was an American vocalist born in Kansas City, Missouri, but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. With sisters Martha and Helvetia "Vet", she performed in the 1920s and 1930s as the trio The Boswell Sisters. They started as instrumentalists but became a highly influential singing group via their recordings and film and television appearances. In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).

Biography Boswell was born in Kansas City, Missouri. but also later recorded for the new Apollo label (1947), RCA Victor (1956), and Decca subsidiary, Design (1958).

In addition to being a co-star on NBC Radio's Kraft Music Hall in 1940–1941, Boswell starred in her own radio show on the NBC Blue Network (later ABC Radio), The Connee Boswell Show, (1944). In 1946 she was featured on CBS Radio's Tonight On Broadway (1946).

Her other guest appearances on radio included The Salute To Irving Berlin/Alexander's Ragtime Band (the feature film), CBS, August 5, 1938; America Calling (appeal for Greek War Relief), February 8, 1941; March of Dimes Special, January 11, 1940; CBC Fourth Annual Victory Loan, May 21, 1943; and "Philco Radio Time", ABC, June 4, 1947.

Boswell also sang in a number of Hollywood films, including It's All Yours (1937), Artists and Models (1937), Syncopation (1942) and Swing Parade of 1946, as well as with the Boswell Sisters in 1932's The Big Broadcast and 1934's Moulin Rouge.

Boswell was interviewed via phone by Bill Fisher on WOWO (Fort Wayne, Indiana). The acetate disk's label contained no date. However, since her then-new Decca single of "Begin The Beguine" was promoted in it, the date should be presumed to be 1952. All through her career with The Boswell Sisters and into the early 1940s, her name was spelled "Connie". She later changed the spelling to Connee. Stories vary as to why she made the change (e.g., because it made it easier to sign autographs or that she felt it was unique and would bring good luck).

Boswell sang from a wheelchair—or a seated position—during her career, owing to a childhood bout, aged four, of polio.

Death

Connee Boswell died on October 11, 1976, from stomach cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, at age 68.

She was married to Harry Leedy and had no children. Her life was chronicled in the 2006 documentary short subject Connee Boswell: Life Is a Song, produced by Austin, Texas-based independent filmmaker Randall Riley. The film premiered during the Boswell Sisters Centennial in New Orleans in 2007. The documentary was screened as La Vida es una Cancion in Spain at the Swing Sevilla Festival on April 2, 2016, with Spanish-language subtitles.

Discography Albums Bing and Connee (Decca, 1952) Singing the Blues (Decca, 1953) Connee (Decca, 1956) The New Sound of Connee Boswell: Sings the Rodgers & Hart Song Folio (Design, 1958) Connee Boswell Sings The Irving Berlin Song Folio (Design, 1958)

Hit singles (solo) Year SingleChart positions US 1932 "Say It Isn't So" 10 1934 "Blue Moon" -- "Isn't It a Shame" 19 1935 "Moon Over Miami" 19 1936 "On the Beach At Bali Bali" 3 1937 "Whispers In the Dark" 9 "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)"(with Bing Crosby) 1 "Basin Street Blues"(with Bing Crosby) 12 1938 "Fare Thee, Honey, Fare Thee Well" 11 "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" 5 "Alexander's Ragtime Band"(with Bing Crosby) 1 "Simple and Sweet" 12 1939 "An Apple for the Teacher"(with Bing Crosby) 2 "Start the Day Right"(with Bing Crosby) 12 "At Least You Could Say Hello" 14 1940 "Between 18th & 19th on Chestnut Street"(with Bing Crosby) 12 "On the Isle of May" 3 "Let's Be Buddies" 25 1941 "Sand in My Shoes" 24 "I'll Keep on Loving You" 22 1942 "South Wind" 21 "Moonlight Mood" 22 "Why Don't You Fall in Love with Me" 21 1946 "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" 9 "Who Told You That Lie?" 22 "Ole Buttermilk Sky" 14 1948 "You Were Meant for Me" 19 1952 "My Little Nest of Heavenly Blue" 25 1953 "Singin' the Blues" 27 "Main Street on Saturday Night" 29 "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" 29 1954 "The Philadelphia Waltz" 30 "If I Give My Heart to You" 10