The Boswell Sisters~Connee (L), Vet (C)standing, and Martha (R) on piano began their careers in New Orleans where they had a daily singing program on a local radio station. Connee was paralyzed from a childhood accident and always had to perform seated. The sisters could do more than sing-Martha was an accomplished pianist, Helvetia (Vet) played the violin, banjo and guitar, and Connee played cello, sax, and guitar. 1930 found the sisters in Los Angeles where they recorded 4 sides for OKEH and their careers took off. They soon moved to NY to make nationwide radio broadcasts on the CBS network, signed with Brunswick Records in '33 and were one of America's hottest groups from 1933-36. The sisters made movies, recorded with the Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, and Bunny Berrigan to name just a few. They were national network regulars until 1936 when Vet and Martha decided to retire. Connee continued solo well into the 1950s with shows on ABC, NBC, and CBS and was a favorite singing partner of Bing Crosby.
The trumpet backing the sisters in this movie clip is Bunny Berigan. The clip is from the movie The Big Broadcast of 1932.