Andrews Sisters were a singing trio that became popular on radio and in motion pictures, especially during the 1940’s. The three sisters were Patty, Maxene, and Laverne.
The Andrews sisters were all born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. LaVerne Sophie Andrews was born on July 6, 1911, and died on May 8, 1967. Maxine Angelyn Andrews, who later changed the spelling of her first name to Maxene, was born on Jan. 3, 1916, and died on Oct. 21, 1995. Patricia Marie Andrews was born on Feb. 16, 1918, and died on Jan. 30, 2013. They formed a trio in 1932 and won a few amateur contests before earning national popularity with their recording of “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” (1937). They gained success with their close harmony singing on the radio and then became popular movie stars in light musicals and comedies. The trio recorded many hits from the late 1930’s to the mid–1940’s, including “Beer Barrel Polka” (1939), “In Apple Blossom Time” (1940), “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” (1941), “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” (1942), and “Rum and Coca-Cola” (1944).
The sisters made their motion-picture debut in Argentine Nights (1940) and made 14 more films through 1947. They usually played themselves in their films. The sisters appeared in the comedies Buck Privates (1941) and Hold That Ghost (1941), both starring the team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Their other films included Swingtime Johnny (1943), Follow the Boys (1944), Hollywood Canteen (1944), and Road to Rio (1947).
