It is truly with a heavy heart that I post this. Patty, the last surviving of the singing trio of Patty, LaVerne and Maxine - The Andrews Sisters - has passed away of natural causes at age 94, see:
http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=788243
She was the lead singer of this 1930-40s group that sold records in the tens, if not hundreds, of millions. They performed together as a group up through 1967, so I got to hear them often as I grew up. Of course, I, like many Americans, fell in love with them by way of not only their voices but their appearances in reruns of movies like Buck Privates in which they sang Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B. (If you have never seen Buck Privates, which was the first starring role for Abbot and Costello, I highly recommend it.)
Did you happen to notice the two guys who walked on stage just as the song ended, yep Bud Abbot and Lou Costello.
Also in Buck Privates, they sang: Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (and yes that is Shemp Howard appearing with them on stage).
They were a big hit with the military services during WWII and certainly did a lot to raise the moral of thousands of our troops and of the folks back home.
Their career took off with their first hit Bei mir bistu shein (original Yiddish spelling).
Shit, tears are flowing and I am actually slobbering as I write and as I listen to Bei mir bistu shein! What voices! To think those the last of those voices is now with the angels and with those of her sisters. Enough...except to say they were magnificent.
All the best,
Glenn B
