“Patty Andrews, the lead singer of the Andrews sisters group was born in Mound, Minnesota on February 16, 1918 in a house that occupied the property where The Gillespie Center stands today.
During the 1920’s Laverne, Maxene and Patty Andrews spent their summers in Mound, living with their parents in a house across the street from the grocery store that was owned by Pete and Ed Sollie, bachelor uncles of the three girls. (Today, Green T Accounting occupies the Sollie grocery store building and The Gillespie Center is on the land where the Andrews Sisters’ house once stood.)” - From a commentary by Tom Rockvam that appeared in The Laker Newspaper during 2005.
They started their career as imitators of an earlier successful singing group, the Boswell Sisters. After singing with various dance bands and touring on Vaudeville, they first came to national attention with their recordings and radio broadcasts in 1937. Their music entertained Allied troops worldwide during World War II, sold war bonds, appeared in several films (including a few Abbott and Costello features), and performed for soldiers serving overseas. Their first film with Abbott and Costello, the pre-war comedy Buck Privates, introduced their best-known recording, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" which would win Best Song at the Academy Awards.
They also recorded many songs with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and other popular artists of the era. Their popularity was such that after the war they discovered that some of their records had actually been smuggled into Germany after the labels had been changed to read "Hitler's Marching Songs."
After a brief hiatus after the war, the sisters regrouped, performing in clubs throughout the United States and Europe. They broke up in 1953, with Patty's choice to go solo. Their last appearance together was in 1962 on The Dean Martin Show. Laverne, who had cancer, retired soon after; she died five years later, in 1967 at the age of 55.
After a long silence, the two surviving sisters had something of a comeback when Bette Midler recorded a cover of their song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Maxene and Patty appeared both together and separately throughout the 1970s, with Maxene releasing a solo album in 1986. Their most notable comeback; however, was in the Sherman Brothers' nostalgic World War II musical: "Over Here!" which premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1974. The musical featured the two then living sisters (Maxene and Patty) and was written with them in mind for the leads. It launched the careers of many, now notable theater and film icons (John Travolta, Marilu Henner, Ann Reinking, et al). Ironically it was the last major hurrah of the sisters and was cut short due to a frivolous lawsuit initiated by Patty's husband to the show's producers.
Throughout their long career, the sisters had sold over 60 million records. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
The last of the three sisters Patty Andrews died of natural causes at her home in Northridge, California on January 30, 2013, just 17 days before her 95th birthday. The sisters were interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, close to their parents.
Charley My Boy
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To most everyone but Flo, his Flo
She's convinced that Charley
Is a very extraordinary beau, some beau
And everything in the dim light
She has a way of putting him right.
Charley by boy, oh Charley my boy
You've got the kind of, sort of, wonderful ways
That makes me, takes me, tell me what shall I say?
When we dance I read in your glance
Whole pages and ages of love and romance
They tell me that Romeo was some lover too
But boy he should have taken lessons from you
You seem to start where others get through
Oh Charley, my boy.
Charley, my boy, oh Charley, my boy
You thrill me, you kill me with shiver of joy
You've got the kind of, sort of, wonderful ways
That makes me , takes me, tell me what shall I say?
When we dance I read in your glance
Whole pages and ages of love and romance
They tell me that Romeo was some lover too
But boy he should have taken lessons from you
You seem to start where others get through,
Oh Charley, my boy.
And when we dance, I read in your glance
Just oodles and noodles of love and romance
I have a millionarie proposing to me
I think I'll marry him, though he's eighty-three
Think what wealthy widow I'll be
Oh Charley, my boy.
The Andrews Sisters’ song “Charley My Boy” is a joyful tune about the singer’s admiration for Charley. The lyrics describe Charley as an ordinary fellow, except for his lover, Flo, who believes Charley is an exceptional beau. The song is a tribute to Charley's outstanding personality traits, which make him stand out from the crowd. The lyrics are packed with energy and exuberance, and they convey the joy of being in love. Flo confesses that when she is with Charley, she feels an indescribable shiver of joy that thrills and kills her at once.
The lyrics paint the picture of a passionate relationship, and when they dance together, Flo reads whole pages and ages of love and romance. Flo compares Charley’s lovemaking to that of Romeo, the legendary star-crossed lover, but concludes that Charley’s talents surpass those of Romeo. Charley’s way of putting things right in the dim light enchants Flo more than anyone else's. The song ends comically, with Flo casually mentioning that a millionaire proposed marriage to her, but she still wants to marry Charley.
Line by Line Meaning
Charley is an ordinary fellow
Charley is just like any other person
To most everyone but Flo, his Flo
Except for Flo, most people don't see Charley as special
She's convinced that Charley
Flo believes that Charley
Is a very extraordinary beau, some beau
Is an exceptionally wonderful boyfriend
And everything in the dim light
In low light, everything
She has a way of putting him right.
Flo has a way of making Charley look perfect.
Charley my boy, oh Charley my boy
Charley, my dear
You thrill me, you kill me with shiver of joy
You excite and enthrall me, making me tremble with pleasure
You've got the kind of, sort of, wonderful ways
You have a certain exquisiteness about you
That makes me, takes me, tell me what shall I say?
That makes me feel incredible; I can't find the right words to describe it.
When we dance I read in your glance
When we dance, I can tell by your look
Whole pages and ages of love and romance
So much love and passion being conveyed through your eyes
They tell me that Romeo was some lover too
People praise Romeo for his romance
Then boy he should have taken lessons from you
But Romeo should have learned how to love from you
You seem to start where others get through
You love beyond what others are capable of
And when we dance, I read in your glance
Similarly, when we dance
Just oodles and noodles of love and romance
I see and feel amazing amounts of love and passion
I have a millionaire proposing to me
I received a marriage proposal from a rich man
I think I'll marry him, though he's eighty-three
I'm considering marrying him despite his old age
Think what wealthy widow I'll be
Just imagine the wealth I'll inherit when he passes away
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GUS KAHN, TED FIORITO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cherylosborne8857
My mom sang this to my dad, Charles. in the 50s when I was little.
@njpubadjuster3710
My dad loved playing this song over and over until his sister couldn't take it anymore, took the record off the victrola and shattered it on his head.
@jonsanderssanders2798
love that song from summer of 1950. another song was Rain or shone that girl on my mind. I can't locate anywhere?
@lawrencejohnstone5721
Muted trombone sounds like Russ Morgan's trademark
@dusterstar1920
Truly does! I thought that same thing