They’re pretty. They’re vivacious. They’ve got Personality, And they can sing, too. That’s Norwood’s Sansone Sisters.
Our own photogenic version of the Andrew Sisters was one of the entertainment features of St Catherine’s Reunion at the Junior High School last Monday.
With that thought in mind and the fact that the girls have never been exactly deluged with the notoriety befitting their talents.
and with no other ulterior motive our roving reporter thought he’d interview them. It turned out to be a very pleasant assignment indeed.
You’re greeted at the door of West Street as it you were a lung-lost nylon salesman. Hardly a man is now alive who hasn t been a guest of the Sansones. Mrs. Sansone entertains more than Elsa Maxwell and besides has her own hostesses.
The feminine portion of the family was intact. Mrs. Sansone and the girls—Marie, Grace, and Jean —were all home. Dad hadn’t arrived home from his job at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Brother Leonard is with the Army in Manila. He’ll be glad to know that his esters are always thinking of him that he’s their “hobby”.
DEBUT AT REUNION
The girls are quite sentimental about the Reunion because it was at the 1943 event that they made their Professional debut.
Norwoods music-lovers really went for them and the encouragement they received started them on their way Since then they have sung at Army shows on the radio college dances and several other places but they get more of a kick out of Reunion performances than any others.
I asked the girls when they began singing. I told them the incoherent babble from their cribs didn’t count. Being very polite they laughed at that. Gracie, who is the self-appointed spokesman of the trio which didn’t grow in Brooklyn (Norwood) said, “We started singing when we were kids. When they are entertaining some people play cards, others drag out the family album. Instead, we sang to our guests.”
“It was usually ‘Home on the Range’ said Jean, who then reminded me that the first the of the song, “Oh, give me a nome,” is very timely these days. Being hungry, I laughed this time.
All this time, Marie, who is the most tacit of the group, was just sitting around and looking pretty, occasionally tickling the ivories of the piano. That’s her favorite pastime, Marie works at an investment office in Boston.
Grace must have played politics because she has a job as a secretary for Uncle Tony at his garage. Jean works part-time at the Music Nook.
HAVE A MANAGER
Most people aren’t aware of it, but the girls have a manager now. He is Johnny Graff, formerly with WEEI, and now the producer-director of the Danny O’Neil show in New York. He’s looking for opportunities for them all the time. At the present time they are rehearsing for a singing commercial for a new soap.
Graff is the first official manager the girls have had although there have been others who have given some “unofficial” but very helpful help. One is Father Sullivan of St. Catherine’s. The girls say he’s been a constant source of encouragement to them for a long time. Marie said, smiling, “All he asks is a 10 percent cut of what we make. I hope he won’t get tired of waiting.” I added that I hoped that no one would have to wait too long for the (gravy) train to come in. It was their turn to laugh. The girls pointed out that Molly McMahon has accompanied them at the piano on numerous occasions. Molly and Eddie McMahon, with their cheerful nature and helpful guidance, have furnished terrific boosts to their morale whenever they felt discouraged. “Swell friends to have,” Gracie added.
I was wondering who the girls like for singers besides Chiquita Banana. “Of course we all love Frankie,” Jean quickly piped up. I protested that Sinatra is so thin that when he drinks tomato juice he looks like a thermometer. They didn’t laugh this time. For girl vocalists, Marie favors Dinah Shore, Grace likes Imogene Lynn and Jean thinks Peggy Lee is tops. For “combos,” as the girls call them, Marie hails the Dinning Sisters, Gracie votes for the Sentimentalists and Jean likes Fred Allen’s DeMarco Sisters. At this point Mrs. Sansorie stepped Into the Music Hall to say a good word for the DeMarcos and announced that dinner would be ready in a minute.
SING FOR “FUN”
I figured it was about time I steered the conversation around to the inevitable question about their ambitions. Here the girls were surprisingly calm. One might have expected to hear some idealistic dreams of movies, the stage or some other big time enterprise. But these girls are just as solid about their ambitions as they are with their singing. They told me they sing “for the fun of it,” and while they would not pass up any good chances, they are having too good a time with their normal lives to worry their pretty heads about their future as singers.
There might be other factors involved, but discretion and the aroma from the table prompted me not to explore them. Attention, gossip lovers: It’s no secret that Dan Cupid has made considerable progress in this household and I don’t mean Mr. and Mrs. Sansone either. The bow-and-arrow lad has been known to disrupt the plans of some of the best organizations.
“Dinner’s ready,” called Mrs Sansone. That’s enough to break up a gathering, too. And with such delectable dishes on top of and around the table — Oh Brother!
By John Cook
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)
