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.
Bob White
Connee Boswell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He says you got a corny trill
Bob White (I'm gonna swing tonight)
I was talkin' to the mocking bird
He says you are the worst he's heard
Bob White (I'm gonna swing tonight)
Singing those lullaby notes
(Well, he is a bring down)
(He never could swing down)
(He ain't got my high notes)
There's a lot of talk about you, Bob
(Yeah) they're sayin' you're off the cob
(Why, that's heresy, I'll sue)
Fake it, (mm) Mr. B, (yeah go)
Take it, follow me, Bob White
We're gonna break it up tonight
Now, here's a wire from the whippoorwill
(You mean my old friend Will)
Who says you got a mellow drill
(Oh, ho, ho, yes, I have)
Bob White, (oh, ho, ho)
We're in the groove tonight
Now, here's another one from the mocking bird
(What does he have to say)
That you're the best he's heard
(Ho, ho, ho that's too absurd)
Bob White, (oh, ho, ho)
We really stole the light
Even the owl threw in a towel
After you sing staccato
(And the flamingo hollered up a jingle)
(What have we brought to)
Now the consensus of opinion
(Oh, ho, ho, what does the consensus say)
That you are a solid will
(Ho, ho, ho, yes, I am)
Sing on, Mr.B
(I'm gonna swing on merrily)
Bob White
We really broke it up tonight, Bob
The song "Bob White" by Connee Boswell is a playful and humorous take on the rivalry between birds with regards to their singing abilities. The singer of the song is talking to various birds like the whippoorwill, mocking bird, and owl, and asking them their thoughts on Bob White's singing ability. The whippoorwill and mocking bird criticize Bob White's singing as being too corny or the worst they've ever heard, while even the owl tells the singer that Bob White's singing is too lullaby-like. However, the tone of the song changes when the whippoorwill and mocking bird later send messages saying that Bob White actually has a great singing voice, and even the owl concedes that Bob White is solid. By the end of the song, the singer and Bob White are swinging along and have "really broke it up" that night.
The lyrics of "Bob White" are not only witty and amusing but they also give an insightful commentary on how people's opinions and perceptions can change over time. In the beginning, the other birds are dismissive of Bob White's singing, but by the end, they all agree that he is "a solid will" and celebrate his singing abilities. Moreover, the song is also a fun tribute to the world of jazz and swing music, where the singer and the bird are "swinging" together.
Line by Line Meaning
I was talkin' to the whippoorwill
I was having a conversation with the whippoorwill bird
He says you got a corny trill
The whippoorwill told me that your singing style is old-fashioned and unoriginal
Bob White (I'm gonna swing tonight)
The name 'Bob White' is being used as a refrain to emphasize the purpose of the song - which is to swing and dance
Even the owl tells me you're foul
Even the owl bird thinks that your singing is bad
Singing those lullaby notes
You're singing slow and boring notes that would put someone to sleep
(Well, he is a bring down)
The owl's negative opinion is a letdown
(He never could swing down)
The owl can't swing to the music
(He ain't got my high notes)
The owl is bragging that he can hit higher musical notes than Bob White
There's a lot of talk about you, Bob
People are talking about your singing and music
(Yeah) they're sayin' you're off the cob
People are saying that your music is stale and outdated
(Why, that's heresy, I'll sue)
Bob White is upset when he hears people talking negatively about his music, and he threatens to take legal action
Fake it, (mm) Mr. B, (yeah go)
Connee Boswell is encouraging the pianist (Mr. B) to improvise and add some energy to the music
Take it, follow me, Bob White
Connee wants Bob White to follow her lead in swinging and dancing to the music
We're gonna break it up tonight
The singers plan on having an exciting and fun-filled night of music and dance
Now, here's a wire from the whippoorwill
I just received a message from the whippoorwill bird
(You mean my old friend Will)
Bob White is familiar with the whippoorwill bird and refers to him as his friend
Who says you got a mellow drill
The whippoorwill now thinks Bob White's singing has improved and become more pleasant
(Oh, ho, ho, yes, I have)
Bob White is happy and confirms that his singing is now mellower
We're in the groove tonight
The singers are completely absorbed in the music and feeling its rhythm
Now, here's another one from the mocking bird
The mocking bird also sent a message to the singers
(What does he have to say)
Bob White is curious about the mocking bird's opinion
That you're the best he's heard
The mocking bird now thinks Bob White's singing is the best it has ever been
(Ho, ho, ho that's too absurd)
Bob White is happy but also slightly surprised and amused by this sudden change in the mocking bird's opinion
We really stole the light
The singers have completely captured the attention of their audience and are the center of attention
Even the owl threw in a towel
Even the owl was impressed and stopped complaining
After you sing staccato
Bob White sang a high pitched melody with a lot of short, sharp notes
(And the flamingo hollered up a jingle)
Even the flamingo bird was so impressed that it started singing and dancing
(What have we brought to)
Everyone was having a great time and enjoying the music
Now the consensus of opinion
Everyone now agrees and shares the same opinion
(Oh, ho, ho, what does the consensus say)
Bob White is curious to know the common opinion about his singing and music
That you are a solid will
Everyone now thinks that Bob White has great singing skills and is very talented
(Ho, ho, ho, yes, I am)
Bob White is proud and happy to hear that everyone thinks he is a solid singer
Sing on, Mr.B
Connee Boswell encourages the pianist to keep playing music so that they can continue singing and dancing
(I'm gonna swing on merrily)
Bob White is expressing his happiness and excitement to keep swinging and dancing to the music
We really broke it up tonight, Bob
The singers had an amazing night of fun, music, and dance
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josephine Giaimo
We're in the groove tonight.
sylvester breit
nice little swinger