Monday, March 31, 2014

All-Girl Bands of the 1900s

THE DARLING SAXOPHONE FOUR
This all-female saxophone quartet was managed by Eva Darling. Like the Schuster Sisters, they played and endorsed C.G. Conn Ltd. horns. A 1920 advertisement for Conn showed them with Arthur Pryor and described them as, "A quartet of talented and charming young ladies who appear in high class Vaudeville and concert with four of the latest Conn Ltd. Saxophones of which they are justly proud." Also performed as the Four Harmony Maids.

The Darling Saxophone Four c. 1919
Photo by F.J. Lee of Tacoma, WA
THE SCHUSTER SISTERS SAXOPHONE QUARTETTE
Comprised of Adrienne, Genevieve, Imogene and Chloris "Honeybird" Schuster, these sisters were endorsing C.G. Conn saxophones as early as 1915.


SOPHIE TUCKER'S FIVE KINGS OF SYNCOPATION
First jazz band led by a woman pre-1920s.