Constance Foore "Connee" Boswe… Read Full Bio ↴From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell (December 3, 1907 - October 11, 1976) was an American female vocalist born in Kansas City, Missouri but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. With her sisters, Martha and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group during this period via recordings and radio. Connee herself is widely considered one of the greatest jazz female vocalists and was a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald who said, "My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it....I tried so hard to sound just like her."[1]
In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).
The Boswells came to be well known locally while still in their early teens, making appearances in New Orleans theaters and radio. They made their first recordings for Victor Records in 1925, which included "Cryin' Blues" where Connee is featured singing in the style of her early influence, the African American singer Mamie Smith. The Boswell Sisters became stage professionals that year when they were tapped to fill in for an act at New Orleans' Orpheum Theatre. They received an invitation to come to Chicago and perform in 1928 and honed their act on the Western Vaudeville Circuit. When their tour ended they traveled to San Francisco. The hotel that had been recommended had a less than savory reputation, and the man at the desk suggested that these three young ladies might be better off in another hotel. That man, Harry Leedy, would later become their manager on a handshake and become a permanent part of Connee's life.
The Boswell Sisters travelled to Los Angeles where they performed on local radio and "side-miked" for the soundies, including the 1930 production "Under Montana Skies." did not attain national attention, however, until they moved to New York City in 1930 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records from 1931-1935. In 1935, the sisters had a #1 hit with "The Object of My Affection", the biggest of twenty top 20 records they would enjoy.
In 1936, the group signed to Decca Records and after just three releases called it quits (the last recording was February 12, 1936). Connee Boswell continued to have a successful solo career as a singer for Decca.
All through her career with The Boswell Sisters, and well into the 1940s, her name was spelt "Connie". She later changed the spelling to Connee, reputedly because it made it easier to sign autographs.
Connee Boswell was also an arranger (the legendary Boswell Sisters harmony arrangements are hers) and a composer.
Connee sang from a wheelchair - or seated position - during her entire career, due to either a childhood bout with polio or a childhood accident (sources differ). The general public was not aware of her condition although Boswell herself did not keep this secret. During World War II, she tried to get involved with the U.S.O. tours but was not given permission to travel overseas. The "powers that be" apparently thought it might not be a morale-booster to have a "cripple" perform for the troops.
Connee Boswell was a favorite duet partner of Bing Crosby and they frequently sang together on radio as well as recording several hit records as a duo in the 1930s and 1940's. Boswell, Crosby, and Eddie Cantor recorded a version of Alexander's Ragtime Band that was a #1 hit in 1938.In 1939, Crosby and Boswell had three hit duet records that each climbed into the top 12 on Billboard; "An Apple For The Teacher" climbed all the way to #2.
Connee Boswell also had several dozen solo hits, including "Moonlight Moon" in 1942. Boswell's career slackened in the 1950s but she still recorded occasionally and would be featured on a number of television broadcasts including a regular stint on the 1959 series "Pete Kelly's Blues".
Connee Boswell died at age 68 in 1976. A number of her recordings are now available on CD, both as a soloist and part of the Boswell Sisters.
All Of Me
Connee Boswell Lyrics
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You taught me how to care
Am I to be just the remnant of a one-sided love affair?
All you took, I gladly gave
There's nothing left for me to save
All of me why not take all of me
Can't you see I'm no good without you
Take my arms I'll never use them
Your good bye left me with eyes that cry
How can I go on dear without you
You took the part that once was my heart
So why not take all of me
The lyrics of All Of Me by Connee Boswell describe a love that was unrequited, a love where one person gave everything they had to the other person, but received nothing in return. The opening verse speaks of how her lover took her kisses and her love, but she is left wondering if all he wanted from her was a one-sided affair, where he would take everything she had to offer, but give nothing back in return. She then goes on to say that she gave him everything willingly, and there is nothing left for her to save. The chorus of the song then requests the lover to take all of her if he wants, because without him, she is no good. She asks him to take her lips, arms and everything that reminds her of him, because without him, she is left with eyes that cry, making it impossible for her to go on.
Overall, the lyrics of All Of Me beautifully capture the pain, longing and desperation of a love that was not reciprocated. The song conveys a message that many people can relate to, of giving their all to someone they love, only to be left with a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
You took my kisses and you took my love
You accepted my love and I allowed you to take it from me
You taught me how to care
You helped me understand the true meaning of love and how to show it
Am I to be just the remnant of a one-sided love affair?
Is my existence nothing more than a reminder of a love that was only felt by one person?
All you took, I gladly gave
I was happy to give you everything I had, and you willingly took it all from me
There's nothing left for me to save
After giving you everything, there is nothing left for me to hold onto or protect
All of me why not take all of me
I am offering all of myself to you, so why not accept me completely?
Can't you see I'm no good without you
Without you, I am incomplete and unhappy
Take my lips I want to lose them
I don't want to kiss anyone else except for you, so take my ability to do so
Take my arms I'll never use them
I have no use for my arms if they can't hold you, so take them from me
Your good bye left me with eyes that cry
The sadness caused by your departure has left me in tears
How can I go on dear without you
I cannot imagine living without you by my side
You took the part that once was my heart
You have taken the piece of me that is responsible for feeling love and emotion
So why not take all of me
Since you have already taken my heart, why not take everything else too?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KELLY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind