Diving into the antiquities this weekend. Pulling up an unreleased aircheck recording of a song not recorded commercially by Connee Boswell. Initially performing as The Boswell Sisters, Connee and her siblings were one of the most popular female singing groups of the early 1930s, and were prominently featured on many variety radio shows at the time. But by 1936, the group disbanded and her sisters, Martha and Vet gave up the business, leaving Connee to continue with her solo career. It was the decision that established Connee as one of the most influential Jazz singers during the Big Band era. Ella Fitzgerald was said to have been inspired by her voice and her style and she sought to emulate her in the early days of her career.
Connee Boswell became a household name during the War years. She was a favorite duet partner with Bing Crosby and had a lengthy career under contract to Decca Records as well as being a co-star of the popular Radio Variety show The Kraft Music Hall in the early 1940s. Her recording career continued through to the early 1950s when tastes and music changed. Boswell recorded less and less and had a recurring role in the 1959 TV series Pete Kelley’s Blues.
She died in Manhattan in 1976 after a bout with Stomach Cancer.
This recording is something of a mystery. The customary NBC Reference Recording label has long-since fallen off, but the flip side is a rousing rendition of “We Did It Before And We’ll Do It Again” featuring Susan Miller and Ray Noble from The Chase & Sanborn Program of January 4, 1942. So it’s a hunch this session is from roughly around the same time.
So, a rarity from a dim-distant bygone age – when music was considerably different and Pop Culture had a hip language all its own.
Get ready for more artifacts from these musical archeological digs. Fascinating stuff.
This version of “Boogie Wooglie Piggy” was recorded August 28. 1941 from the NBC “Kraft Music Hall” program. Normally sponsored by Bing Crosby, it was guest-hosted by Don Ameche. John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra behind Miss Boswell.
Thanks for the update. It was on the other side of “We Did It Before”, sung by Susan Miller. Unfortunately, the Boswell side had a missing label. I hate when that happens.
G.