Did you know the Andrews Sisters were Greek?

Honoring International Women’s Day on March 8, the National Hellenic Museum highlighted the famed musical group, The Andrews Sisters. LaVerne Sophia, Maxene Anglyn, and Patricia “Patty” Marie were the three daughters of Peter Andreas, a Greek immigrant, and his wife Olga Sollie. Patty, the youngest, was only seven years old when the three sisters formed their musical act, using their adopted Anglicized name, “Andrews”: The Andrews Sisters.

The Andrews Sisters: Maxene, Patty and Laverne
Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In the years just following and during World War II, The Andrews Sisters were one of the leading musical acts in America, recording a number of hits including, “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else But Me)”, “Boogiewoogie Bugle Boy,” and “Rum and Coca Cola.” They also toured extensively, as part of the USO Tours.

Following the War, the Andrew Sisters pursued other ventures, marrying, having children, divorcing, putting on solo acts. They enjoyed a resurgence, however, after Betty Midler covered their hit song “Rum and Coca Cola” in 1973, inspiring Patty and Maxene to stage the WWII-inspired Broadway musical Over Here! In 1974.

The Andrew Sisters are one of the highest-selling and most influential musical acts of all time and the first commercially successful “girls group” in popular music.

If you would like to learn about amazing people like The Andrews Sisters, you can follow the National Hellenic Museum on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. NHM often shares things from their collection and the stories of people who have contributed to the Hellenic Legacy across social media.