The Andrews Sisters not only represented the voice of World War II, but they were the voice of a generation. They were one of the most successful singing groups of all time, and sadly there is only one Andrew Sister left - Patty Andrews, now 94, who was the main sister in the successful trio. After being a group since the 1930s, the act broke up in 1951 when Patty wanted to be a solo artist. With the change in music, it did not work out and the trio reunited in 1956. They signed a new recording contract with Capitol Records (for whom Patty had become a featured soloist) and released a dozen singles through 1959, some rock-and-roll flavored and not very well received, and three hi-fi albums, including a vibrant LP of songs from the dancing 1920s with Billy May's orchestra. In 1962, they signed with Dot Records and recorded a series of stereo albums over five years, both re-recordings of earlier hits, as well as new material, including "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" and "Puff the Magic Dragon".
The act came to an abrupt end in 1967 when eldest sister LaVerne died of cancer after a year-long bout with the illness, during which she was replaced by singer Joyce DeYoung. LaVerne had founded the original group, and often acted as the peacemaker among the three during the sisters' lives, more often siding with her parents, to whom the girls were extremely devoted, than with either of her sisters. Once LaVerne was dead, Maxene saw no need to continue as a duo (she taught acting, drama, and speech at a Lake Tahoe college and worked with troubled teens), and Patty was once again eager to be a soloist.
Maxene and Patty reunited for a short lived broadway show called "Over There" in 1974, and they were seen together in 1987 when they got a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. In the inner circle of the Andrews Sisters, it was widely known that Patty Andrews' husband Wally Weschler, who was also her manager, caused much of the rift between the sisters. He alienated Patty from many close friends and family members throughout their marriage.
Maxene Andrews died on October 21, 1995. Patty continued to give interviews, but her appearances were less and less. Wally Weschler, her husband of 60 years, died on August 28, 2010, at the age of 88. After his death, Patty was reunited with many of her friends. However, at the age of 94, her health is not that good anymore. It got so poor that earlier this year she was placed in hospice care. Her memory is fading so she does not remember many of the moments in her life that brought her joy like singing and entertaining. However, hopefully Patty Andrews has realized the millions of people her and her sisters gave joy to throughout the years from soldiers going over seas to families enjoying great music. The Andrews Sisters and Patty Andrews are not just a part of entertainment history, they were/are three icons who gave their all in everything they did...
0 Yorumlar