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.
You Are My Lucky Star
Connee Boswell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw you from afar
Two lovely eyes at me they were gleaming
Beaming I was star struck
You're all my lucky charms I'm lucky in your arms
You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal
You are my lucky star
I saw you from afar
If Garbo is a glamorous creature
You're a four star feature
Though you are never seen
Up on a movie screen
You are my Shearer, Crawford, Hepburn, Harlow and my Garbo
You are my lucky star
In Connee Boswell's song You Are My Lucky Star, the lyrics tell a story of how the singer feels lucky to have found someone who they consider to be their "lucky star." The singer describes how they first saw this person from afar, and how they were immediately drawn to them. The person's eyes were gleaming and the singer was star struck. The singer then goes on to describe how they feel lucky to be in this person's arms, and how being with them feels like opening the doors to heaven on earth. The song continues with the singer comparing this person to famous Hollywood actresses such as Shearer, Crawford, Hepburn, Harlow, and Garbo, ultimately proclaiming them to be their lucky star.
The lyrics of You Are My Lucky Star are emotive and nostalgic, expressing a profound sense of admiration and affection. The song is a testament to the power of unconditional love and the glory of finding one's soulmate. The glamour and mystique of old Hollywood are evoked through the references to famous actresses of the era, adding to the romantic imagery of the song. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of hope, joy, and delight, making it an uplifting and timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
You are my lucky star
You are the source of my good fortune
I saw you from afar
I noticed you from a distance
Two lovely eyes at me they were gleaming
Your eyes shone beautifully as they looked at me
Beaming I was star struck
I was dazzled because of you
You're all my lucky charms I'm lucky in your arms
Being with you brings good luck to me
You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal
You have made my life on earth feel like heaven
If Garbo is a glamorous creature
If Greta Garbo is viewed as glamorous
You're a four star feature
You are even better than a movie star
Though you are never seen
Even if you are not famous like a movie star
Up on a movie screen
Appearing on a cinema display
You are my Shearer, Crawford, Hepburn, Harlow and my Garbo
You are everything I could hope for in a movie star and more
You are my lucky star
You are the source of my good fortune
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RoryVanucchi
Connie one of the great jazz singers and a great career. A certified legend and master at phrasing who Ella Fitzgerald highly admired
@jameskogler1504
Beautiful, I totally love this music and I always will no matter how old it gets? Year after year. Thank you so much for posting all your wonderful music. I'm sure we all greatly appreciate it keeping this music alive for the Next Generation listen to.
@the78prof72
It's our pleasure....so glad that you're enjoying the presentation.
@jameskogler1504
@the78prof you're very welcome.
@michaeltuz608
What a great disc! Both the A & B sides are gems!
Was this the start of Connee Boswell's solo career?
@Trombonology
Connee had been making solo records as early as '31, when the Boswell Sisters were just hitting it big. The group would not officially fold until '36, but Connee's solo career had already kicked into high gear.
@dcjimr1
Pure heaven.
@libertytree3209
I love Connie Boswell, but I'll be frank, this isn't my favorite that she does. She changes the melody very slightly in a way that I keep waiting for different notes. I think the version I enjoy more is the Archie Bleyer/Russ Morgan you just uploaded. It's a singer's perogative, to interpret, and who knows, maybe those are the notes Arthur Freed actually wrote! But I like the octave swoop Russ does on "You - are"
@EngTecher
Wonder what happened to the singers and the bands of this time, what happened to them, where did they go after their era, and where did they end up?
@JitterbugBerlin
Brunswick A-9857 is a German pressing (or czech) made by Deutsche Grammophon/Polydor from the original stampers. British Bruswick series do not have the prefix "A"="Ausland".