The Andrews Sisters- The WWII women

When we think of WWII imagery, we think of grainy film of soldiers covered in dirt. There were horrible pictures of the death and destruction. To make matters better for the soldiers and those on the homefront, we think of the USO. We also think of the Andrews Sisters. They were the popular singers with big hair, brown khaki dresses and smiles for the soldiers. 

Peter Andreos and his wife Olga changed their last name to Andrews because their Greek names were difficult to pronounce for the average American. They had three daughters, LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty. The daughters' singing careers began in the 1930s and they signed to Decca Records in 1937. LaVerne sang the low notes, Maxene sang the high harmonies, and Patty did lead vocals. 

In 1940, they signed a contract with Universal Pictures. They had bit parts in a dozen movies often singing their popular song of the time. 

When WWII started, the Andrews Sisters played for forces in America, Africa and Italy. They played war zones, hospitals and factories. They were part founders of the Hollywood Canteen. (If you would like more information on the Canteen, listen to podcast, You Must Remember This- Hollywood goes to War.) The Andrews recorded V-Discs. These were records sent to soldiers, not the general population. (If you’d like more information, please listen to podcast Music from 100 Years Ago.)

After the war, the sisters got married. LaVerne married Lou Rogers in 1948 and stayed married till her death in 1967. Maxene, married Lou Levy in 1947, but they divorced in 1949. Patty married Marty Melcher in 1947 and divorced in 1949. 

Unfortunetly for the sisters things started falling apart. Their mother, Olga died in 1948. Their father passed away in 1949. 

I didn’t read many books or articles before writing this, but Patty isn’t going to sound good from here out. 

Patty married band pianist Walter Weschler in 1951. She would also sue LaVerne for Patty's part of her parent’s estate. That broke up the act. They were able to put aside personal feelings and would re-unite in 1953. At this time, music changed and the Andrews were seen as relics of the last decade. Between the difficulty in booking clubs and the antagonism among the sisters, things weren’t the same as the war years. Maxene, attempted suicide in 1954 by swallowing sleeping pills. The act struggled along until 1967 when LaVerne died at 55 years old. The sisters tried to get another singer, but music styles and the public's reception of them were too different. The sisters broke up the band and became estranged. When their music would become popular again in nostalgia movies or music, the sisters would get together for the cameras, but that was all.

Maxene, died in 1995 at age 79. 

Walter Weschler is often seen as the catalyst that drove a wedge between Patty and her sisters. He would pass away in 2010 still married to Patty. 

Patty, the youngest sister would pass away in 2013 at age 94. 

The sisters would sell over 75 million records. They are seen as the image of the WWII woman, entertainer and fashionista. More importantly their music is still fun and enjoyable. 

This information came from www.nytimes.com wikipedia.