Connee Boswell

American female vocalist born in Kansas City but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Born December 3, 1907, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Died October 11, 1976, New York, USA. Along with her sisters Martha Boswell and Helvetia Boswell, they attained national prominence as The Boswell Sisters in the USA in the 1930s. They became a highly influential singing group during this period via recordings and radio. Connee herself is widely considered one of the greatest jazz female vocalists and was a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald who said, "My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it....I tried so hard to sound just like her." In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).