Anita Boyer

Photo of Anita Boyer

Vocalist Anita Boyer became a staple on the 1940s swing scene, working with a number of name bands. Respected and talented, Boyer also appeared regularly on radio and wrote a column for Down Beat magazine. When in between band jobs, she kept busy with solo work and often filled in for other vocalists who were out ill. In the 1950s, Boyer added songwriting to her list of talents. She continued singing throughout the 1950s.

The daughter of an Army surgeon, Boyer began her career at age 14 on radio station WMSK in Dayton, Ohio, before moving to Chicago, where she studied voice at Northwestern University. While still in college, she signed with bandleader Frankie Masters as a regular on the NBC Jamboree. She soon began appearing on other radio shows for that network and later for Mutual, including Funnybone Follies and Broadway Cinderella. She also sang on the New York theater circuit.

In 1934, Boyer, variously described as a redhead and a brunette, married trumpet player Dick Barrie and in April 1936 left her singing job on Chicago radio station WGN to join his new band, which had launched in February, when it opened at the Jefferson Hotel in St. Louis. Boyer recorded several sides with her husband’s orchestra in 1938 and was featured on their radio program, where she often announced the numbers. She stayed with the band through the summer of 1939, when she quit during an engagement in Pittsburgh. The couple subsequently separated, divorcing in late 1941.

In October 1939, Boyer signed with Tommy Dorsey, replacing Edythe Wright. Boyer auditioned for Dorsey in New York when he returned for a record date after several one-nighters, and she left with the band to open in Atlanta the next day. She stayed with Dorsey only two months, leaving in January 1940. Reports at the time indicated Paramount wanted her for a screen test, and in July the studio announced Boyer’s name as among those signed to do musical short subjects for the 1940-1941 season.

In April 1940, Boyer was rehearsing with a new band being put together under Nat Shilkret’s name but by July was singing with Leo Reisman. She joined Artie Shaw in September, saying at the time that she was through “bouncing around” from one band to another and intended to “stay put” in Shaw’s group. Shaw disbanded his outfit in early 1941, however, and she went back to Reisman again before concentrating on work as a single in the latter half of the year. On her own, she appeared on CBS and NBC radio and cut several sides for Columbia’s Okeh subsidiary in the fall.

In December 1941, Boyer recorded a failed attempt at adding the Pepsi jingle to jukeboxes. Backed by Johnny Fosdick’s orchestra, the disc, released on the fictitious Nocturne label, featured an original tune, “Get Hep,” on the A-side, while the B-side featured a non-branded version of the company’s current commercial tune, called “Swinging the Jingle.” Both songs surreptitiously included mentions of Pepsi in the lyrics. Machine operators saw through the blatant attempt at promotion and refused to order the disk.

Also in December 1941, Boyer began touring on a bill headlined by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, spending Christmas with them at the Strand Theater in Syracuse, New York. In January 1942, Boyer filmed a soundie under her own name for Minoco in which she sang a very patriotic version of “Hi, Neighbor.” By April, she had finished touring with the Casa Loma Orchestra and joined Shaw imitator Jerry Wald. While with Wald in October of that year, she became the victim of theft at the Hotel Carter in Cleveland. Thieves stole $1800 in jewelry, $100 in war bonds, and two bankbooks from her suitcase. None of the articles were insured.

Boyer left Wald at the beginning of 1943 to focus on radio and recordings. In February, New York station WOR signed her for a regular singing spot on its Keep Ahead show, with Ray Block and his band providing music. Reports at that time also had her signing with the newly-announced Lion label, though her manager indicated in Down Beat magazine that she was still under contract to Columbia. Early that year as well, she appeared in another soundie for Minoco, “He’s 1-A in the Army and He’s A-1 in My Heart.”

Boyer was the consummate professional. From late 1942 into 1944, she wrote a series of columns for Down Beat called “Boyer’s Browsings” in which she gave advice on such topics as how to get started as a singer and how to have a happy marriage in the music business. She also hinted at gossip and opined about various events happening within the world of big bands. Boyer wasn’t shy about calling out those who needed to be called out, especially bandleaders who mistreated their musicians and vocalists. In addition, she offered constructive criticism to other vocalists, sometimes by name, giving them such advice as not to hide their faces behind the microphone when singing or not to wear gaudy dresses.

In May 1943, Boyer did temporary vocal duties for Bobby Sherwood’s orchestra when it was called to fill in for one week at the Paramount Theater in New York. In July of that year, she began appearing on CBS but then married sax player Bob Dukoff, whom she had met while they both were members of Wald’s group.[1] The couple tied the knot in Toledo, and Boyer retired from singing. She returned to the stage briefly in October, filling in temporarily as vocalist for Hal McIntyre’s orchestra when Helen Ward went out ill and did not return to the band.[2]

1944 and Beyond

In mid-1944, Boyer came out of retirement to join her husband in Jimmy Dorsey’s band. The couple both left Dorsey in November, settling on the West Coast where Dukoff planned to organize a small band and Boyer wanted to focus on recordings and radio work. In mid-1945, she sang and recorded with Hoagy Carmichael’s orchestra and then joined Harry James in November, replacing the departing Kitty Kallen. She stayed only a month-and-a-half, leaving in January 1946 when James announced a six-week vacation.

Shortly after leaving James, Boyer recorded, along with Peggy Lee, promotional platters for the new Walt Disney animated feature Make Mine Music. In March 1946, she sang for Opie Cates’ new dance band and recorded with Red Nichols. Boyer retired from singing again soon after, giving birth to a daughter on May 17, 1947. She made a return to activity in mid-1948 when she signed with Tempo Records, recording several numbers on the label.

Boyer began a new career as a songwriter in the 1950s, working with her husband and others. Dukoff’s orchestra recorded one of their numbers in conjunction with Ray Charles. Country music star Grandpa Jones recorded another of Boyer’s songs.

Boyer was singing on the night club circuit in 1951. She had her own radio program on the Mutual network in 1952 and 1953, and in 1953 she recorded with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra. As the mid-50s rolled around, she began to sing more blues-oriented tunes. In 1955, she released two R&B styled songs on Columbia and was touring the night club circuit with husband Dukoff’s band as late as 1958.

Anita Boyer passed away in 1985 at age 69.

Notes

  1. Dukoff at the time was with Abe Lyman. ↩︎

  2. Boyer and McIntyre shared the same personal manager, George Moffett. ↩︎

Sources

  1. Simon, George T. The Big Bands. 4th ed. New York: Schirmer, 1981.
  2. Walker, Leo. The Wonderful Era of the Great Dance Bands. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1972.
  3. “Anita Boyer.” OTRRpedia. Accessed 10 Nov. 2015.
  4. The Online Discographical Project. Accessed 10 Nov. 2015.
  5. Martin, Darrell V. “Lost! Six Precious Seconds.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 29 Feb 1936: 9.
  6. “Club Chatter.” Billboard 28 Mar. 1936: 12.
  7. Martin, Darrell V. “Young Band Is Lauded Highly.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 6 Jun 1936: n.p.
  8. “All-Bachelor Band Leaves The 'Den'.” Down Beat Dec. 1937: 39.
  9. Richman, Daniel. “Music in the Air.” Billboard 28 Jan. 1939: 15.
  10. Hillman, Charles. “Anita Boyer Has Big Yen For Hospital Life.” Down Beat Feb. 1939: 26.
  11. “Dick Barrie Opening at Kennywood Monday.” The Pittsburgh Press 14 Jul. 1939: 17.
  12. “Barrie Band, Albanis at Kennywood Park.” The Pittsburgh Press 21 Jul. 1939: 17.
  13. Richman, Daniel. “Music in the Air.” Billboard 29 Jul. 1939: 13.
  14. Cohen, Harold W. “The Drama Desk.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 5 Oct. 1939: 26.
  15. “Anita Boyer With TD.” Billboard 7 Oct. 1939: 12.
  16. “Edythe Wright Out.” Down Beat 15 Oct. 1939: 3.
  17. Goff, Warren. “Swing Shots” The Cavalier Daily [University of Virginia] 24 Jan. 1940: 2.
  18. “Anita Boyer Out of Tommy Dorsey Band.” Down Beat 1 Feb. 1940: 2.
  19. “Shilkret to Have a New 'Star' Band.” Down Beat 1 May 1940: 4.
  20. Gum, Coburn. “On the Record.” St. Petersburg Times [St. Petersburgh, Florida] 26 May 1940: 36.
  21. “Night Club Reviews: Ben Marden's Riviera, Fort Lee, New Jersey.” Billboard 27 Jul. 1940: 18.
  22. “Schedule of Film Shorts To Use Vaude Talent Next Season Is Set By Warners, Para and Universal.” Billboard 27 Jul. 1940: 21.
  23. Egan, Jack. “Got to Play Ball Now to Join a Band.” Down Beat 1 Aug. 1940: 5.
  24. “Anita Boyer Goes West To Join Shaw.” Down Beat 1 Sep. 1940: 3.
  25. “Stops 'Bouncing'.” Down Beat 15 Sep. 1940: 18.
  26. Cohen, Harold W. “The Drama Desk.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 23 Sep. 1940: 26.
  27. “On the Records: Leo Reisman.” Billboard 15 Mar. 1941: 68.
  28. Egan, Jack. “Take Heart, Gals; the Best Chirps Are From Plainville.” Down Beat 15 Mar. 1941: 10.
  29. “On the Records: Leo Reisman.” Billboard 17 May 1941: 71.
  30. “Anita Boyer Now Recording on Own.” Down Beat 15 Oct. 1941: 18.
  31. “Chords and Discords.” Down Beat 15 Nov. 1941: 10.
  32. “Vaudeville Notes.” Billboard 20 Dec. 1941: 21.
  33. Treat, Ray. “Vincent Combo Seeks 88er for Extended Tour.” Down Beat 15 Jan. 1942: 12.
  34. “Eastern Flashes.” Billboard 31 Jan. 1942: 97.
  35. “Movie Machine Reviews.” Billboard 14 Feb. 1942: 56.
  36. KBND Program Schedule. The Bend Bulletin [Bend, Oregon] 31 Mar. 1942: 2.
  37. “Anita Boyer Joins Jerry.” Down Beat 15 May 1942: 1.
  38. “Wald Proves Office Can Develop Band.” Down Beat 1 Aug. 1942: 3.
  39. “Vaudeville Reviews: RKO-Boston - Boston.” Billboard 24 Oct. 1942: 17.
  40. “Wald to Take Thornhill Spot.” Down Beat 1 Nov. 1942: 13.
  41. “Anita Boyer Loses Jewels.” Down Beat 15 Nov. 1942: 5.
  42. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 15 Nov. 1942: 9.
  43. “Orchestra Notes.” Billboard 12 Dec. 1942: 23.
  44. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 1 Jan. 1943: 16.
  45. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 15 Feb. 1943: 11.
  46. No title. Down Beat 15 Feb. 1943: 13.
  47. Grennard, Elliot. “Outlook for Turntable Talent.” Billboard 27 Feb. 1943: 97.
  48. “Roundup.” Billboard 27 Feb. 1943: 7.
  49. “Anita Boyer Has New Manager.” Down Beat 1 Mar. 1943: 12.
  50. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 1 Mar. 1943: 14.
  51. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 15 Mar. 1943: 8.
  52. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 15 Apr. 1943: 13.
  53. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 15 May 1943: 8.
  54. “Vaudeville Reviews: Paramount, New York.” Billboard 29 May. 1943: 16.
  55. “Sherwood Ork Getting Breaks After Scuffle.” Down Beat 1 Jun. 1943: 1.
  56. “Anita Boyer at Belmont Plaza.” Down Beat 1 Jun. 1943: 4.
  57. “Singing Wives Discuss Wedlock.” Down Beat 15 Jun. 1943: 9.
  58. “Strictly Ad Lib.” Down Beat 1 Jul. 1943: 13.
  59. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 1 Jul. 1943: 23.
  60. Cohen, Harold V. “The Drama Desk.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 15 Jul. 1943: 14.
  61. “Dukoff Weds Anita Boyer.” Down Beat 1 Aug. 1943: 1.
  62. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 1 Aug. 1943: 19.
  63. “On the Stand: Hal McIntyre.” Billboard 9 Oct. 1943: 16.
  64. “Helen Ward to Join BG, Rumor.” Down Beat 15 Oct. 1943: 1.
  65. “Boyer's Browsings.” Down Beat 15 Feb. 1944: 10.
  66. “On the Stand: Jimmy Dorsey.” Billboard 12 Aug. 1944: 20.
  67. “Los Angeles Band Briefs.” Down Beat 15 Aug. 1944: 6.
  68. “Jimmy Dorsey Opens At NYC's Capitol.” Down Beat 15 Nov. 1944: 1.
  69. “Jimmy Dorsey Hits a Weak Philly 25G.” Billboard 18 Nov. 1944: 23.
  70. “Dukoffs Leave Dorsey's Band.” Down Beat 1 Jan. 1945: 1.
  71. “Rum and Coke Clicks But Ops Still Say Nix.” Billboard 3 Mar. 1945: 89.
  72. “Advanced Record Releases.” Billboard 9 Jun. 1945: 27.
  73. “Strictly Ad Lib.” Down Beat 1 Nov. 1945: 1.
  74. “Anita Boyer Now H. James' Thrush.” Billboard 3 Nov. 1945: 17.
  75. “James Takes Long Vacation.” Down Beat 1 Jan. 1946: 2.
  76. “Here's News Capsule of Music World for 1945.” Down Beat 1 Jan. 1946: 3.
  77. “Walt Disney Uses Singing Stars.” Down Beat 14 Jan. 1946: 7.
  78. “James Inks Powell.” Billboard 28 Jan. 1946: 23.
  79. “James' Anita Boyer Now With Opie Cates.” Down Beat 25 Mar. 1946: 2.
  80. “On the Stand: Opie Cates.” Billboard 20 Apr. 1946: 22.
  81. Advertisement. Billboard 26 Oct. 1946: 33.
  82. “New Numbers.” Down Beat 4 Jun. 1947: 8.
  83. “Here's Summary of Music World Doings Since January, 1947.” Down Beat 31 Dec. 1947: 3.
  84. “Honor Roll of Hits.” Billboard 31 Jan. 1948: 22.
  85. “Famous Grabs 'Blossom' in Sleeper Race.” Billboard 8 May 1948: 24.
  86. “Strictly Ad Lib.” Down Beat 16 Jun. 1948: 5.
  87. “On the Sunset Vine.” Down Beat 28 Jul. 1948: 9.
  88. “The Greatest Songwriters and Records of Their Songs.” Billboard 7 Oct. 1950: 90.
  89. “Troc Folds; No Business.” Down Beat 1 Jun. 1951: 1.
  90. WHKP Radio Schedule. The Hendersonville Times-News [Hendersonville, North Carolina] 2 Dec. 1952: 2.
  91. WHKP Radio Schedule. The Hendersonville Times-News [Hendersonville, North Carolina] 4 Mar. 1953: 2.
  92. “Popular Record Reviews.” Billboard 28 Mar. 1953: 45.
  93. “Down Beat Record Reviews.” Down Beat 6 May 1953: 13.
  94. “Reviews of New Popular Records.” Billboard 12 Mar. 1955: 42.
  95. Advertisement. The Miami News [Miami, Florida] 10 Feb. 1958: 6B.
  96. “Illinois Births and Christenings, 1824-1940,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H9Y9-V9ZM : 13 February 2020), Anita Blanche Boyer, 1915.
  97. “United States Social Security Death Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VSXL-9Z5 : 7 January 2021), Anita Boyer, Mar 1985; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  98. “United States Census, 1920,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJZQ-QC4 : Fri Dec 08 06:57:56 UTC 2023), Entry for James A Boyer and Nellie B Boyer, 1920.
  99. “United States Census, 1930,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4HK-64S : Fri Oct 06 18:35:30 UTC 2023), Entry for James A Boyer and Nellie B Boyer, 1930.
  100. “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q46-LKH : Wed Oct 18 17:18:03 UTC 2023), Entry for Robert C Dukoff and Anita B Boyer Barrie, 09 Jul 1943.