Connee Boswell Timeline

Connee Boswell and her Swing Band wax two sides for Decca in NYC: "The Panic Is On," followed by "Mama Don't Allow It." This was the only time that a recording would be labeled as being "her Swing Band."

Connee Boswell is a featured vocalist on CBS/WABC's "Coca Cola Show." She is accompanied by English bandleader Ray Noble and His Orchestra with a band that future famous bandleader Glenn Miller helped organize for him in the US.

Connee makes the first of many recordings with Bob Crosby & His Bobcats for Decca records when she records the lovely ballad, "You Started Me Dreaming," which was backed with "Mommy" on the 78 release. Crosby's band included Matty Matlock, Gil Rodin, Eddie Miller, Bob Haggart, Ray Bauduc as well as others. Other sides she would record with Crosby's Bobcats would include "On The Beach At Bali-Bali," "Swing Me A Lullaby," "I Met My Waterloo," and "You Can Call It Swing," recorded on June 9, 1936.

Vet Boswell Jones is born in Toronto, Canada. Connee and the whole family take off for Canada and are there when “another small voice” is added to the Boswell Family.

Connee guests on a number of radio programs, specifically "The California Hour" broadcast out of Los Angeles, CA.

Connee records several sides with Ben Pollack and His Orchestra. These included: "When the Poppies Bloom Again," "Serenade In The Night," "Where Are You," and "Trust in Me."

Connee travels to Hollywood, where she has a featured spot in the movie, "Artists and Models." She is filmed performing "Whispers in the Dark," while Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra plays. The song would be nominated for an Academy Award in 1938 for the best song, losing out to "Sweet Leilani," which was featured in "Waikiki Wedding."

Connee and Ben Pollack Orchestra return to the studios at Decca in Los Angeles and record six more sides, including the commercially released version of her "Whispers in the Dark." This song would later become the theme song that millions would hear when they tuned into "The Connee Boswell Show," in the 1940's.

Connee and Bing Crosby pair up in Decca's Los Angeles studio and make the first of their many recordings together. "Basin Street Blues," is followed by "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)." John Scott Trotter's (who is probably best known for his very long affiliation with Crosby) Orchestra accompanies. "Bob White" hits #1 on the music charts and is a smash hit. Boswell and Crosby had a relaxed, playful banter that was rarely matched and this is obvious in listening to recordings that feature the pair.

Connee is a guest on Bing Crosby's "Kraft Music Hall" program, based out of Los Angeles. Over the next fifteen years, Connee would be featured on the show many times.

Back in the Decca Studios again, Connee waxes what is arguably her most successful solo side, "Martha." Connee had loved listening to Caruso when she was growing up and undoubtably, had been exposed to his recording of Flowtov's "M’appari, Tutto Amor" from "Marta." A very brief, sedate classically-influenced passage is interrupted by a trumpet chorus that lets you know right away that this ain't no opera! Connee, along with Bob Crosby's Orchestra, swing like madness has set in. As if that wasn't enough, they back this with a recording of the traditional "Home on the Range," which also swings like crazy. Jack Kapp, Decca's head producer, did not want to release the recording for fear that both Decca and Boswell would be panned by the critics for having jazzed up an operatic recording. In true Boswell form, Connee told Kapp that if they were panned, she would take out a full page ad in Variety magazine, three weeks running if they would let her, and take full responsibility for the recording. As it turned out, "Martha" was a sensation and Connee took credit for having started a whole trend of "swinging the classics."

Connee is featured in the MGM 2-reel short subject, "Sunday Night at the Trocadero." She sings "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," and later, sings "There's Always A Happy ending," which introduces a young singing group, the Brian Sisters, who have modeled themselves on the Boswell Sisters.

Connee performs in the Columbia Pictures film "It's All Yours," which stars Madeleine Carroll and Francis Lederer. A print of the film was found at the Library of Congress, and "It's All Yours" is available on DVD from vintagefilmbuff.com.

Accompanied by Victor Young and His Orchestra, Bing Crosby and Connee record "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and a medley that has "Home on the Range/True Confession." Eddie Cantor introduces the first side, letting the listener know that the proceeds of the record will benefit the Juvenile Infantile Paralysis Foundation. The record, which is released around the same time as the 20th Century Fox picture of the same name, is a smash hit and is the Boswell/Crosby pairing's second #1 hit.

CBoz is featured on the Maxwell House Coffee's "Good News of 1939" radio program, which is hosted by Robert Taylor (1938), Robert Young (1939) and Edward Arnold (1940).

Connee is back in Decca's studios again and records with Harry Sosnick and Ben Pollack on more sides, which include her recording of Irving Berlin's "(You Forgot to) Remember," "All Alone," and a lovely ballad that Connee co-wrote, "I'm Away From It All", under the name of Diane Foore.

Connee will guest on many radio programs, including "This is New York," "Time to Shine," "A Tribute to Irving Berlin," and the "Camel Caravan."

Connee, who has heard the instrumental versions of "Sunrise Serenade," asks her friend Jack Lawrence to pen lyrics. She hits the studios and records this song, which becomes a minor hit recording for her.

Bing and Connee are back in the studios at Decca and record "Start the Day Right," and "An Apple for the Teacher." They hit the studio again on December 15, 1939 to wax "Between 18th and 19th on Chestnut Street.

Connee records several sides with the Woody Herman Orchestra, including "Deep in a Dream."