Sisters Martha Boswell (1905-1958), Connie Boswell (December 3, 1907-October 11, 1976), and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell (May 20, 1911 - 1988) were born in a middle-class family on Camp Street in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana.

They came to be well known locally while still in their early teens, making appearances in New Orleans theaters and radio. They made their first recordings for Victor Records in 1925. They did not attain national attention, however, until they moved to New York City in 1930 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records throughout the 1930s.

The name of their song "Rock and Roll" is an early use of the term (though far from the first). It is not one of the sisters' hotter numbers; it refers to "the rolling rocking rhythm of the sea".

Connie Boswell continued to have a solo career as a singer after the sister act broke up. Connie changed the spelling of her name to Connee, reputedly because it made it easier to sign autographs.

The Andrews Sisters started out as Boswell Sisters imitators. Young Ella Fitzgerald loved the Boswell Sisters and in particular idolized Connie, after whose singing style she patterned her own.