The Andrews Sisters were the most popular female vocal group in the U.S. during the first half century. One source lists 113 singles charts entries by the trio from 1938-1951, an average number of more than eight per years. Their exuberant, close harmony style was well-suited for cheery novelty songs. They also had intricate vocal arrangements that were in line with the sounds of the swing bands they fought. In a sense they were the only ones who had any competition. From the late ’30s through the early ’50s, when solo and big-band singers were dominant in popular music, no other female vocal group was as successful as them. Their success is even more remarkable considering that they were able to swim against current music trends and still seem effortless. The Andrews Sisters sang upbeat songs often borrowed from other cultures, and did not concentrate on romantic material. Although they were established by the time of World War II, their positive tenor made them ideal boosters for the war effort. In later years they also remained closely associated with the war years. They are remembered for wearing military uniforms and singing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” Patty Andrews, Maxene Andrews, Maxene Andrews, and LaVerne Andrews, all born in Mound (MN), were the daughters of a Norwegian immigrant mother and a Greek immigrant dad. As children, they began singing, performing on local radio and in amateur revues. Patty took the lead, Maxene sang high harmony and LaVerne low. The Boswell Sisters were a big inspiration to them, scoring a lot of hits in the early 1930s. Their first professional engagement was December 1932 at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre. They joined a vaudeville group for six months in November 1933 and traveled around the Midwest. Their parents closed down the restaurant and began to focus on their careers. They spent 1934-1937 touring with various bands. They went to New York in 1937 as part of Leon Belasco’s band. While there, they made their first recordings for Brunswick Records, though under Belasco’s name. They were signed to Decca Records after the Belasco group broke up in that summer. Decca had previously recorded the Boswell Sisters until their dissolution in 1935 and was looking for another group. The second Decca single by the Andrews Sisters, “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen”, was an Anglicized version from a Yiddish song and became a huge hit. It made its debut on Your Hit Parade on January 8, 1938 and reached number one just two weeks later. This hit established the trio and they began to receive extensive radio and personal appearance work. With their recording of “Hold Tight Hold Tight”, they returned to the hit parade in April 1939. They signed to Universal Pictures in 1940 and made the first of a series low-budget “B”, Argentine Nights, which was produced by Universal Pictures. Between 1940 and 1948, they appeared in 17 films. They also contributed voices to two Disney animated features. They scored a Top Ten hit with “Ferryboat Serenade” (La Piccinina) that year. Buck Privates featured their Top Ten hit 1941, “I’ll be with you in Apple Blossom Time”. They also reached the Top 20 that year with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. After the United States entered World War II, the Andrews Sisters started appearing on military bases. Later they traveled to the overseas battlefields to entertain troops. Their recording activity was limited by the 1942 musicians’ strike. However, “Strip Polka” was their second Top Ten hit. Decca signed a settlement with the union in 1943 and began a string of hits, many with Bing Crosby. In 1943-1944, the million-selling “Pistol-Packin’ Mama” was a double-sided hit that featured Crosby. Then in January 1944, they reached number one with their own “Shoo-Shoo Baby”. They and Crosby reached number one before the year ended with the double-sided hits “(There’ll be a) Hot Time (When the Yanks Come Marching In)” (with Crosby), “Is It or Is There Ain’t Ma’ Baby)” and Cole Porter’s “Don’t Fence Me in” (with Crosby). At the end of 1944, the Andrews Sisters launched Eight-to-the-Bar Ranch on radio. The hits continued with the calypso song Rum and Coca-Cola, which reached number one in February 1945 and became the biggest hit that year. The group also had Top Ten hits in 1945 with “Ac-Cent–Tchu-Ate the Positive”, “Along the Navajo Trail” (both with Crosby) and “The Blond Sailor”. 1946 saw them in the Top Ten along with “South America Take It Away”, “Rumors are Flying” (with guitarist Les Paul) and “Christmas Island”, (backed by Guy Lombardo).
