Bugles are like trumpets, but they have no valves, and so can play only some notes.

The Andrews Sisters were one of the most energetic vocal groups of the swing era. Their music bounced like champagne bubbles through radios, dance halls, and wartime barracks. Here are ten fascinating facts about them.

1. They sold an enormous number of records

The trio sold over 75 million records, making them one of the best-selling female vocal groups of all time.

2. Their harmonies were famously tight

Their style was called “close harmony.” The sisters sang extremely tight vocal parts that locked together like gears in a clock, which became a defining sound of the swing era.

3. Their biggest hit was “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”

Their most famous song is Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, released during World War II.
It became an anthem for American troops and remains one of the most recognizable swing songs ever recorded.

4. They helped boost morale during World War II

During World War II, the sisters performed for U.S. troops around the world and recorded numerous patriotic songs. Their music was widely played on military radio broadcasts.

5. Their career began when they were teenagers

The trio began performing in Minneapolis in the 1920s, when the sisters were still very young. They originally imitated another famous group called The Boswell Sisters before developing their own style.

6. They appeared in many Hollywood films

The sisters didn’t just sing on records. They appeared in several movies in the 1940s, including Buck Privates, which starred the comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

7. Their real names were LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty

The trio consisted of the three Andrews sisters:

LaVerne Andrews

Maxene Andrews

Patty Andrews

Patty, the youngest, usually sang the lead.

8. They recorded songs in many languages

To reach soldiers and international audiences, the trio recorded songs in several languages, including Spanish, German, Italian, and Yiddish.

9. Their music influenced later pop groups

Their vocal style influenced many later harmony groups, including the The Pointer Sisters and even some rock and pop vocal arrangements.

10. They had one of the longest-running careers of the swing era

The group remained active from the late 1920s through the 1960s, surviving changing musical trends long after many big-band acts disappeared.

🎶 A fun historical note:
At the height of their fame in the 1940s, the Andrews Sisters were second only to Bing Crosby in record sales in the United States. That’s a pretty lofty perch in the musical skyline of the swing era.