Download Free Andrews Sisters * Songs

Andrews Sisters music biography continued...

Patty Andrews were each born in Mound, Minnesota turned to singing as children, entertaining on local radio and in amateur revues. After touring with different bands from 1934-37, the sisters came to New York City, where they were signed by Decca Records and had their first big hit, 1937's "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," an Anglicized version of a song from the Yiddish theater. The tune established the trio, who began to make numerous radio and live appearances, turning out another hit in 1939's novelty tune, "Hold Tight, Hold Tight." In 1940, they scored a Top Ten hit on the Billboard chart with "Ferryboat Serenade (La Piccinina)." "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time," their Top Ten hit of 1941, was featured in their film Buck Privates. Also during the year, they reached the Top 20 with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." During war time, the sisters entertained the troops overseas and saw their popularity surge, scoring even more hit singles, often accompanied by Bing Crosby. The sisters premiered their own weekly network radio show, Eight-to-the-Bar Ranch, at the end of 1944 as the hits continued. By 1948, they were ranked as the top recording artists of the year, and continued to pump out hits. One U.S. source reported that between 1938-1951 the Andrews Sisters racked up 113 singles on the U.S. charts, making them the most successful female trio of all time.



The Andrews Sisters' last Top Ten hit was "Sparrow in the Tree Top," another pairing with Bing Crosby, in 1951. In the fall of 1966, LaVerne Andrews retired from performing due to illness and was replaced by Joyce de Young; she died of cancer the following spring. The Andrews Sisters made their final appearance as a trio in July 1968. Maxene and Patty appeared in the musical revue, Over Here!, which was brought to Broadway in 1974. At about the same time, Bette Midler revived "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" for a Top Ten hit, reviving interest in the sisters. Maxene and Patty would pursue solo careers for awhile, trying to recreate the magic that had once been The Andrews Sisters.