Eve Boswell
Encyclopedia
Eve Boswell was a successful pop
singer in Britain
in the 1950s.
parents who toured worldwide. Educated in Switzerland
, she studied piano
before joining her parents on tour as The Three Hugos. When World War II
was declared, the family left England
with the Boswell Circus. She married, and as Eve Boswell became a popular singing star
in South Africa.
In 1949, she was heard by bandleader
Geraldo (Gerald Bright
), who persuaded her to return to the United Kingdom
as a singer in his band
, which was widely heard on BBC Radio
. Boswell parted with Geraldo in 1952, and launched a solo
career. Her first hit record
came that year with "Sugar Bush
", partly sung in Afrikaans
. She appeared in the Royal Variety Performance
and toured widely with comedian
Derek Roy
, before getting her own radio show in 1954.
Her major chart
hit
came with "Pickin' a Chicken", a South African tune with new words, which rose to No 9 on the UK Singles Chart
at the start of 1956. Her first LP, Sugar and Spice, on which she sang 10 songs in nine different languages, followed later in the year. A continuous programme of radio work and tours followed, leading to more than one mental breakdown
.
She faded from public view as public tastes for pop music
changed through the late 1950s and 1960s, eventually returning to live in South Africa.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1950s.
Career
She was born in Hungary to professional musicianMusician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
parents who toured worldwide. Educated in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, she studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
before joining her parents on tour as The Three Hugos. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was declared, the family left England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with the Boswell Circus. She married, and as Eve Boswell became a popular singing star
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
in South Africa.
In 1949, she was heard by bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
Geraldo (Gerald Bright
Gerald Bright
Gerald Walcan Bright, better known as Geraldo was a British bandleader....
), who persuaded her to return to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a singer in his band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, which was widely heard on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
. Boswell parted with Geraldo in 1952, and launched a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career. Her first hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
came that year with "Sugar Bush
Sugar Bush (song)
"Sugar Bush" is a popular song written by Josef Marais.A version recorded as a duet by Doris Day and Frankie Laine was the best-known recording and is called the Sugarbush Polka, charting in 1952. Versions by Alma Cogan and Eve Boswell were recorded in the United Kingdom.The song is based on a...
", partly sung in Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
. She appeared in the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
and toured widely with comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Derek Roy
Derek Roy (comedian)
Derek Roy was a British comedian famous in the late 1940s and early 1950s.His BBC Radio show 'Hip Hip Hoo Roy" was written by amongst others Spike Milligan, and was the show where Milligan's Goon Show character Eccles first appeared...
, before getting her own radio show in 1954.
Her major chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
came with "Pickin' a Chicken", a South African tune with new words, which rose to No 9 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at the start of 1956. Her first LP, Sugar and Spice, on which she sang 10 songs in nine different languages, followed later in the year. A continuous programme of radio work and tours followed, leading to more than one mental breakdown
Mental breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
.
She faded from public view as public tastes for pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
changed through the late 1950s and 1960s, eventually returning to live in South Africa.