Patty Andrews biography

Synopsis

Family Background and Early Life

Patricia Marie Andrews, better known as Patty Andrews, was born on February 16, 1918, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the youngest of three sisters, following LaVerne (born in 1911) and Maxene (born in 1916). The girls' father, Peter, had emigrated from Greece and their mother, Olga, had been born in Norway.

Patty and her sisters all showed early musical talent and began performing together as children. As teenagers the three girls were inspired by the Boswell Sisters, a group from New Orleans; they began calling themselves the Andrews Sisters and singing in harmony. They started making appearances at school dances and local talent competitions. Patty, a soprano, was the lead singer of the trio.

The Andrews Sisters

The Andrews Sisters joined bandleader Larry Rich's troupe in 1932 and toured the national vaudeville circuit, singing boogie-woogie and swing tunes in their signature style of close harmony and bold, brassy tonality.

Patti and her sisters received their big break when a recording executive heard them on a radio broadcast and offered them a contract with Decca Records. Their first single, "Why Talk About Love," was released in 1937. Their second single, released later that year, was "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (Means That You're Grand)." It was the first million-seller by a female group and it made the Andrews Sisters famous.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Andrews Sisters recorded hit after hit, including "Hold Tight, Hold Tight," "The Beer Barrel Polka," "I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." They performed live and on radio broadcasts, sometimes working with other musical stars such as singer Bing Crosby and orchestra leader Glenn Miller. Under contract with Universal Pictures, they appeared in several movies with the comedians Abbott and Costello.

The War Years

Patti, Maxene and LaVerne became known as "America's Wartime Sweethearts" after the United States entered World War II in December 1941. Their upbeat style appealed to audiences at home and on the front, and optimistic tunes like "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," "Rum and Coca Cola" and "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" became some of their best-loved recordings.

The Andrews Sisters performed for the troops at home and abroad with the USO (United Service Organizations) through the war years. They also starred in musical-comedy films such as Private Buckaroo and Swingtime Johnny during this time.

Solo Career

In 1949 Patty began moving toward a solo career, recording "I Can Dream, Can't I?" and "I Wanna Be Loved" with her sisters singing backup.