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.”

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.