jjares reviewed The Andrews Sisters: The Lives and Legacy of the Famous Singing Trio during the Swing Era on + 3270 more book reviews
In the 1920s, family singing acts became the rage in America. Even actress June Allison wanted to be an Andrews Sister. The girls were from Minnesota and older sister LaVerne began by accompanying silent movies with her piano playing. Local talent shows were very common at that time and eventually, the girls won contests in a growing region. Although their parents were uncomfortable with the girls working in showbusiness, they closed their restaurant and accompanied the girls. It was the Depression and their restaurant was failing.
They started out going to kiddie contests, they graduated to being signed as acts in Vaudeville and working with various bands. The Andrews Sisters specialized in upbeat, swing-type music that allowed their tight harmonic sound to soar. They really got started in 1932, with Vaudeville and fair acts when the youngest, Patty, was only 14-years-of-age. By 1937, they had a record contract and were on their way to being a household name.
This book does a review of the Andrews Sister's work in film and their more famous recordings. They were particularly effective in war effort films that were upbeat, such as 'Hollywood Canteen.' During the later war years, the Andrews Sisters joined countless others to perform for the troops in the Pacific. During their career, the Andrews Sisters performed with all the most famous names, including Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Eddie Cantor, W C Fields, Les Paul, etc.
This book gives a really light touch to the personal lives of LaVerne, Patty, and Maxene. Then it goes into a nonsensical complaint that they did not express grievance about conditions or do protest songs! The country was unified at that point and protest songs didn't come about for decades. I thought it was stupid to complain that the women weren't gripers.
They started out going to kiddie contests, they graduated to being signed as acts in Vaudeville and working with various bands. The Andrews Sisters specialized in upbeat, swing-type music that allowed their tight harmonic sound to soar. They really got started in 1932, with Vaudeville and fair acts when the youngest, Patty, was only 14-years-of-age. By 1937, they had a record contract and were on their way to being a household name.
This book does a review of the Andrews Sister's work in film and their more famous recordings. They were particularly effective in war effort films that were upbeat, such as 'Hollywood Canteen.' During the later war years, the Andrews Sisters joined countless others to perform for the troops in the Pacific. During their career, the Andrews Sisters performed with all the most famous names, including Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Eddie Cantor, W C Fields, Les Paul, etc.
This book gives a really light touch to the personal lives of LaVerne, Patty, and Maxene. Then it goes into a nonsensical complaint that they did not express grievance about conditions or do protest songs! The country was unified at that point and protest songs didn't come about for decades. I thought it was stupid to complain that the women weren't gripers.
