LaVerne Andrews

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

LaVerne Andrews was born in Minneapolis in 1911 and was the eldest of the Andrews Sisters, an American close-harmony group from the swing and boogie-woogie era. She sang alto, her sister Maxene soprano and her sister Patty mezzo-soprano. Their father was Greek, their mother Norwegian. LaVerne played piano for silent films in exchange for dance lessons for the girls. When the sisters won a talent contest in Minneapolis, Patty was twelve. After their father's restaurant went bankrupt, they went on tour to support the family.

Music and breakthrough

The sisters began as imitators of the Boswell Sisters, and came to national attention in 1937 with Bei Mir Bist Du Schön, a big hit for Decca. Beer Barrel Polka followed in 1939, Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar in 1940, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in 1941, Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree in 1942 and Rum and Coca-Cola in 1945, which introduced American listeners to calypso. They are estimated to have sold eighty million records.

Influence

The tight three voices over a swinging rhythm became their trademark. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is regarded as an early example of jump blues. Later singers such as Patti Page, Bette Midler, the Pointer Sisters and Pentatonix took over their harmonies. LaVerne died in 1967. In 1998 the group was among the first inductees of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Listening