Three X Sisters
Encyclopedia
The Three X Sisters were an American
all-girl harmony singing trio, initially known as The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce. They were on stage singing together as early as 1922, and formed their trio in 1924, which was composed of Pearl Santos (née Hamilton) (1900-1978), Violet Hamilton (1908-1983) , and Jessie Fordyce (1905-2000).
The trio started out on Broadway
and in vaudeville
, with Helen Kane
(aka Helen Schroeder), the original Boop-boop-a-Doop Girl. The trio did various song and dance acts, eventually settling for close harmony
(associated with three-part harmony singing.) In 1925 they were touring in vaudeville, backed by the Raymond Fagan Orchestra. Pearl Hamilton met Ed Santos, who played trumpet with Raymond Fagan's band, and a year later they married in Rochester, New York
. In 1926, the trio toured with another popular all-girl act, Jerry and her Baby Grands and they appeared together at the Palace Theater in New York. They also toured together in Canada.
Santos began her career on Broadway, as early as 1917, she was a high kick dancer, model, and had some walk-on or cameo parts in silent films with Paramount film studios; she linked up with her sister Violet, and friend Jessie Fordyce in 1921 with the 'All Jazz Revue' showcase.
The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce started to gain success. During 1927, after departing from a "Stars of the Future" entertainment showcase, their management, fronted by Ed Wolfe, had them tour Europe, and specifically the UK
. They travelled with New York's Savoy Orpheans
musical unit. In the UK, they met up with Richard Rodgers
and Lorenz Hart
. Various recordings were made on HMV
, Columbia, and RCA
labels. Some popular tunes were the "Blue Room", "My Heart Stood Still" and "Someone to Watch Over Me".
Their real success started when the trio appeared in publicity photographs wearing eye masks, and capitilized on the new popularity of radio. A CBS
sponsor hired the trio, and they took a new stage name, the Three X Sisters. In October 1932, the sisters made one record with the band of Isham Jones
(another popular CBS artist) for RCA Victor. Also In 1932, they teamed up with Eddy Duchin
and releasd at least one tune "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By" (as the Hamilton Sisters). They also sang, and did voice work for the popular Fleischer Cartoons (associated with Paramount Film Studio's).By 1933 they had a regular time-slot with NBC
radio
which remained until 1938. A Three X Sisters reunion in 1941 with Graham McNamee on his Behind the Mike program, reintroduced their harmony singing. In 1935 the Radio Guide magazine ran a full page story about Mary Small, radio singer, and Small said about her singing career ... "There are three lovely ladies to whom I owe a great deal. They are
Vi and Pearl Hamilton, and Jessie Fordyce, whom you hear on the radio
as the Three X Sisters. It was they who heard me in Baltimore when I was
eleven years old and really got me started," she wrote. (October 5, 1935)
They became popular Palace Theater headliners, as well as performing regularly on vaudeville stages throughout the United States and Canada. Comparative female trios of the day were the Boswell Sisters
, Pickens Sisters, and the Andrews Sisters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
all-girl harmony singing trio, initially known as The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce. They were on stage singing together as early as 1922, and formed their trio in 1924, which was composed of Pearl Santos (née Hamilton) (1900-1978), Violet Hamilton (1908-1983) , and Jessie Fordyce (1905-2000).
The trio started out on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, with Helen Kane
Helen Kane
Helen Kane was an American popular singer; her signature song was "I Wanna Be Loved By You". Kane's voice and appearance were a likely source for Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick when creating Betty Boop, although It-girl Clara Bow is another possible influence.-Early life:Born as Helen...
(aka Helen Schroeder), the original Boop-boop-a-Doop Girl. The trio did various song and dance acts, eventually settling for close harmony
Close harmony
Close harmony is an arrangement of the notes of chords within a narrow range. It is different from open harmony or voicing in that it uses each part on the closest harmonizing note , while the open voicing uses a broader pitch array expanding the harmonic range past the octave...
(associated with three-part harmony singing.) In 1925 they were touring in vaudeville, backed by the Raymond Fagan Orchestra. Pearl Hamilton met Ed Santos, who played trumpet with Raymond Fagan's band, and a year later they married in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. In 1926, the trio toured with another popular all-girl act, Jerry and her Baby Grands and they appeared together at the Palace Theater in New York. They also toured together in Canada.
Santos began her career on Broadway, as early as 1917, she was a high kick dancer, model, and had some walk-on or cameo parts in silent films with Paramount film studios; she linked up with her sister Violet, and friend Jessie Fordyce in 1921 with the 'All Jazz Revue' showcase.
The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce started to gain success. During 1927, after departing from a "Stars of the Future" entertainment showcase, their management, fronted by Ed Wolfe, had them tour Europe, and specifically the UK
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...
. They travelled with New York's Savoy Orpheans
Savoy Orpheans
The Savoy Orpheans were a British dance band of the 1920s. They were resident at the Savoy Hotel, London, between 1923 and 1927.The band was formed by Debroy Somers, an ex-army bandmaster, in 1923. Both the Orpheans and the Savoy Havana Band were under the management of Wilfred de Mornys...
musical unit. In the UK, they met up with Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
and Lorenz Hart
Lorenz Hart
Lorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...
. Various recordings were made on HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
, Columbia, and RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
labels. Some popular tunes were the "Blue Room", "My Heart Stood Still" and "Someone to Watch Over Me".
Their real success started when the trio appeared in publicity photographs wearing eye masks, and capitilized on the new popularity of radio. A CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sponsor hired the trio, and they took a new stage name, the Three X Sisters. In October 1932, the sisters made one record with the band of Isham Jones
Isham Jones
Isham Jones was a United States bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter.-Career:Jones was born in Coalton, Ohio, to a musical and mining family, and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, where he started his first band...
(another popular CBS artist) for RCA Victor. Also In 1932, they teamed up with Eddy Duchin
Eddy Duchin
Eddy Duchin was an American popular pianist and bandleader of the 1930s and 1940s, famous for his engaging onstage personality, his elegant piano style, and his fight against leukemia.-Early career:...
and releasd at least one tune "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By" (as the Hamilton Sisters). They also sang, and did voice work for the popular Fleischer Cartoons (associated with Paramount Film Studio's).By 1933 they had a regular time-slot with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
which remained until 1938. A Three X Sisters reunion in 1941 with Graham McNamee on his Behind the Mike program, reintroduced their harmony singing. In 1935 the Radio Guide magazine ran a full page story about Mary Small, radio singer, and Small said about her singing career ... "There are three lovely ladies to whom I owe a great deal. They are
Vi and Pearl Hamilton, and Jessie Fordyce, whom you hear on the radio
as the Three X Sisters. It was they who heard me in Baltimore when I was
eleven years old and really got me started," she wrote. (October 5, 1935)
They became popular Palace Theater headliners, as well as performing regularly on vaudeville stages throughout the United States and Canada. Comparative female trios of the day were the Boswell Sisters
Boswell Sisters
The Boswell Sisters were a close harmony singing group, consisting of sisters Martha Boswell , Connee Boswell , and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell , noted for intricate harmonies and rhythmic experimentation...
, Pickens Sisters, and the Andrews Sisters.