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.
Hummin' to Myself
Connee Boswell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bluebirds and blue skies above,
But how can I sing of sweethearts,
I've got no-one to love!
I've got the words, I've got the tune,
I've even been rehearsin' under the moon!
But I got nobody to hear my song,
I got the place, I got the time,
I've got a lot of words that rhyme,
But I got nobody to hear my song,
So I'm hummin' to myself!
(humming)
I guess it just had to be!
(humming)
Won't someone listen to me?
I've got the words, I've got the tune,
I'd like to croon it under the moon!
But I got nobody to hear my song,
So I'm hummin' to myself!
I've got the words, I've got the tune,
I've been rehearsin' under the moon!
But I got nobody to hear my song,
So I'm hummin' to myself!
I got the place, I've got the time,
I've got a lot of love words that rhyme,
But I got nobody to hear my song,
So I'm hummin' to myself!
(humming)
I guess it just had to be!
(humming)
Listen and learn, won't someone listen to me?
I've got the words, I've got the tune,
I'd like to croon it under the moon!
But I got nobody to hear my song,
So I'm hummin' to myself!
(hummimg)
Humming to myself!
The lyrics of Connee Boswell's song "Hummin' to Myself" express the frustration and loneliness of the singer, who longs to share her musical creations with someone but has no one to do so. The words of the first verse convey her sense of being unable to write happy, romantic songs because she is lacking a lover herself. However, she quickly assures her listeners that this hasn't stopped her from creating the perfect melody and even practicing it in the moonlight.
The subsequent verses reiterate the theme of the singer's solitary existence despite her musical talent. She has the words, the tune, and plenty of love-speak to go with it, yet no one to hear her singing. The chorus, which features the singer humming to herself, highlights this poignant solitude even further. However, the final verses contain a glimmer of hope that someone might finally listen to her music and appreciate it.
Overall, "Hummin' to Myself" is a touching song that captures the feeling of loneliness and the longing to connect with others through the power of music. The straightforward and repetitive nature of the lyrics reinforces the message of the song, which is that the singer's talent and creativity are going to waste as long as no one is there to listen and appreciate them.
Line by Line Meaning
I should sing of sweethearts,
I should be singing happy songs, about love and romance.
Bluebirds and blue skies above,
About happy, sunny days and freedom in the sky.
But how can I sing of sweethearts,
But, I can't sing happy songs, because I don't have someone to love.
I've got no-one to love!
There's no love in my life.
I got the words, I've got the tune,
I have the lyrics and the melody.
I've even been rehearsin' under the moon!
I've been practicing at night, when the moon is out.
But I got nobody to hear my song,
But, I have no one to listen to my music.
I'm hummin' to myself!
So, I just hum to myself.
I got the place, I got the time,
I have the opportunity to perform.
I've got a lot of words that rhyme,
And I have a lot of lyrics that match.
I guess it just had to be!
I guess this is just how things are.
Won't someone listen to me?
Can't someone hear me and appreciate my music?
I'd like to croon it under the moon!
I'd like to sing it softly and romantically under the night sky.
So I'm hummin' to myself!
But, since I'm alone, I'll just hum it to myself.
Listen and learn, won't someone listen to me?
Can't someone hear me and appreciate my music? I want to share it and teach it to others.
Humming to myself!
I'm still humming to myself, nobody to share my music with.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERBERT MAGIDSON, MONTY SIEGEL, SAMMY FAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RoryVanucchi
Talented woman.. overcoming the odds.. great jazz singer
@jamesklima771
Never heard this one before from the wonderful Connee!
@robertschwartz4810
I didn't know that she recorded solo so early in her career. Love her and the sisters.
@kinescope-zr8lh
She recorded a song called crying blues in 1925. Their debut is on the other side of the record
@antoniocfilho-lr5uy
que orquestras e cantores maravilhosos uma orquestra e cantores melhor que os outros omortais para sempre a todos voçes do youtube mundial um felis ano novo e natal parabéns alt567alt936@gmail
@miccawootten5290
Please stop putting in the words that aren’t the words to these old songs!!!!
@hulado
Micca Wootten
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