Boogie Woogie

The Andrew Sisters

Boogie Woogie

The Boogie Woogie Bugler Boy He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way He had a boogie style that no one else could play He was the top man at his craft But then his number came up and he was gone with the draft He´s in the army now, a-blowin´ reveille He´s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam It really brought him down because he couldn´t jam The captain seemed to understand Because the next day the cap´ went out and drafted a band And now the company jumps when he plays reveille He´s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B A-toot, a-toot, a-toot-diddelyada-toot He blows it eight-to-the-bar, in boogie rhythm He can´t blow a note unless the bass and guitar is playin´ with ´im He makes the company jump when he plays reveille He´s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B He was our boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B And when he plays boogie woogie bugle he was busy as a ´bzzz´ bee And when he plays he makes the company jump eight-to-the-bar He´s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B Toot-toot-toot, toot-diddelyada, toot-diddelyada Toot, toot, he blows it eight-to-the-bar He can´t blow a note if the bass and guitar isn´t with ´im A-a-a-and the company jumps when he plays reveille He´s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B (instrumental) He puts the boys asleep with boogie every night And wakes ´em up the same way in the early bright They clap their hands and stamp their feet Because they know how he plays when someone gives him a beat He really breaks it up when he plays reveille BR> He´s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B Da-dah-da-dah-da Da-dah-da-da-dah-da Da-dah-da-da-da A-a-a-and the company jumps when he plays reveille He´s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B! (Nominated for Best Song Academy Award for 1941 Popularized by The Andrews Sisters) Footnote: This was in my opinion one of the best tunes to come out of World War II - I still love to hear it!

Andrew Sisters

The Andrew Sisters are mostly remembered for their music that was rich in sweetness, optimism and harmony. The three sisters were born in Minneapolis, Minnosota and began their careers while still in their teens. Patty, Maxene and LaVerne recorded more than 1,800 songs and sold over 90 million records. They were very popular with the troops during World War II. In the old Panama Canal Zone the GI's would listen and dance to ther music for hours. Here are some of my favorites: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy South American Way Pistol packin' Mama Rum and Coca-cola Along the Navajo Trail Ac-cent-tchu-atte the Positive Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! Apple Blossom Time Is you Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby Oh, there were so many other great hits from the Andrew Sisters that we use to listen to on the jukebox in the Clubhouses located in the numerous town sites located throughout the old Canal Zone. It was a very tense time during the war years and the big band swing and boogie woogie music of the Andrew Sisters made it somewhat easier to survive the hardships of the war. In apprecation the troops made them the "America's Wartime Sweethearts."

A Ship locking through at night at Miraflores Locks. The USS Manley DD-940 set a record transit through the Panama Canal of 3 hours and 20 minutes... "I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'" President John F. Kennedy, 1 August 1963, in Bancroft Hall at the U. S. Naval Academy. (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, Containing the Public Messages, Speeches, and Statements of the President, January 1 to November 22, 1963 [Washington: Government Printing Office, 1964] The Andrew Sisters music was very popular on the jukeboxes throughout the old Canal Zone during the war years. Aha... the country of Panama, a lost paradise, located just 9 degrees above the Equator. On Saturday nights the dsnce halls would rock! Yes, Panama a place of dreams and fabulous memories. You can be part of it all...Come to Panama... it is more than a canal. Escape to Panama... a lost tropical paradise at 9 degrees above the equator… Panama at the cross roads of world commerce in the heart of the universe… Maybe you were stationed in the Old Canal Zone during the war. Remember the air barrage balloons above the Panama Canal. Then there were the searchlights and anti-aircraft emplacements. But one thing I really recall was the sign on the fences that read: No Trespassing-US Government Property-Military Reservation-No cameras-Keep Out! There must have been thousands of GI's on a little bit of land called the Canal Zone...Yes the good old days... great music, great times and much more, you can still capture some this with a visit to Panama... Panama more than just a canal… What a place to get away from it all... Just do it... you will be glad you did!!! Now hear this... US Navy in Panama Enlist in the United States Navy... Escape to a lost paradise... Panama beer numero uno...

Go to page 2... BHS Class of 1957... Any Comments... E-mail Me Picture credits: Author, US Navy archives, Old Music Archives and Naval Historical Society Tivoli Hotel your home away from home