The Boswell Sister, consisting of Connee (sometimes Connie), Helvetia (Vet), and Martha Boswell, grew up singing together, soaking up Southern gospel and blues through close contact with the Black community. They first performed at Vaudeville houses around the New Orleans area, and began appearing on local radio by 1925. At first, they played strictly instrumentals, with Connee on cello, saxophone, and guitar, Martha on piano, and Vet on violin, banjo, and guitar. The station began featuring them in a vocal setting as well, with Connee taking the lead on many songs (despite a childhood accident that had crippled her and left her in a wheelchair).

Word of their incredible vocal talents led to appearances in Chicago and New York, and the Boswell Sisters began recording in 1930 for Victor. By the following year, they’d moved to Brunswick and reached the Hit Parade with “When I Take My Sugar to Tea,”

The Boswell Sisters - When i take my sugar to tea

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Genius

When i take my sugar to tea Lyrics: I'm just a little "Jackie Horner" / Since I met my sugar cane / That gang of mine has been revealin' / That they're feelin' sore / I left the lamp light on the corner / For the

The trio continued to work with many of the best jazz men in the field, later appearing in the 1932 film, “The Big Broadcast” with Bing Crosby and Cab Calloway. The Boswell Sisters hit the top of the Hit Parade a second time in 1935 with “The Object of My Affection”

The Boswell Sisters - The Object of My Affection

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Genius

The Object of My Affection Lyrics: The object of my affection / Can change my complexion / From white to a rosy red / Anytime he holds my hand / And tells me that he's mine / There are many boys who can thrill me

from the film Times Square Lady. One year later, however, both Martha and Vet retired from the group in favor of married life.