Connee Boswell
One of the finest jazz singers of the 1930s, Connee Boswell (who was always cited by Ella Fitzgerald as her main early influence) originally rose to fame as a member of the Boswell Sisters, one of the premiere jazz vocal groups. Boswell contracted polio as an infant and always used a wheelchair, although her disability was usually well covered up on-stage. Early on she played cello, piano, alto sax, and trombone but unfortunately never recorded on any instruments. The three Boswell Sisters (with Martha on piano and Vet on violin) did have an opportunity to perform with the New Orleans Philharmonic but soon they gave up playing their instruments (except for Martha on piano) and chose to work on developing as a vocal group. Although they recorded both "Nights When I'm Lonely" and Connee's solo number "I'm Gonna Cry" in 1925, the Boswells did not begin catching on (and recording regularly) until late 1930. During 1931-1936 the Boswell Sisters became quite popular on radio and in concert, making occasional appearances in films (most notably 1932's The Big Broadcast). During the same period, Connee (who worked out most of the Boswell's surprising arrangements) occasionally recorded solo sides of her own. When Vet and Martha got married and decided to retire from singing in 1936, Connee (who also was married during the same period) officially launched her own solo career. Although she never broke through to become a major star, Connee Boswell was fairly well-known and worked steadily into the '50s, appearing in some films (including Kiss the Boys Goodbye and Syncopation) and on the short-lived television show Pete Kelly's Blues. Most notable of her recordings was a 1937 session with Bob Crosby's Bob Cats that resulted in inventive and hard-swinging versions of "Martha" and "Home on the Range." Connee Boswell also recorded a notable (but long out of print) 1956 jazz album with Billy Butterfield, Miff Mole, and Jimmy Lytell, who came together as the Original Memphis Five.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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The Very Best Of
Vocal Jazz - Released by Master Classics Records on 1/02/2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Merry Christmas (Recordings of 1943 - 1946)
The Andrews Sisters, Mel Tormé, Connee Boswell, Hoagy Charmichael, Will Bradley
Miscellaneous - Released by Christmas Album on 31/10/2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sings Irving Berlin (A Golden Anniversary Tribute) (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by RevOla on 16/09/2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blue Moon (First Ladies of Song) (Recordings 1938 - 1940)
Jazz - Released by Women in Jazz on 8/03/2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connee Boswell And The Original Memphis Five in Hi-Fi (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by RevOla on 13/03/2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connee Boswell chante des blues (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1/01/1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Singing The Blues With Connee Boswell
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Sepia on 4/09/2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Singing the Blues
Blues - Released by Blue Pie Records USA on 23/06/1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hits And Selected Singles 1931-54
Pop - Released by ACROBAT on 14/01/2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connee Boswell - Music History
Jazz - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 15/06/2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ole Buttermilk Sky
Jazz - Released by Redwood Records on 25/04/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Nearness Of You
Jazz - Released by Classic Records on 26/11/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Connee Boswell: Concentratin' On You
Jazz - Released by Retrospective on 4/06/2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connee Boswell by Blue Moon
Jazz - Released by Shami Media Group 3 on 25/01/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connee Boswell Selected Favorites, Vol. 2
Vocal Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21/03/2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connee Boswell Selected Favorites, Vol. 3
Vocal Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21/03/2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Swingin' the Blues (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1/01/1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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If I Give My Heart To You (Orchestra Directed by George Siravo 78RPM)
Lounge - Released by Decca on 11/09/1954
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tennessee (Spells Heaven To Me)
Jazz - Released by Decca on 11/09/1954
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo