Years active c.1942–1948 | Active until 1948 | |
 | ||
Genres Vocal group, acrobats, contortionists Past members Betsy Ann aka Dorothy Jean Ross ("Aggie")
Veda Victoria aka Eva Vicki Ross ("Maggie")
Dixie Jewell aka Veda Victoria Ross ("Elmira") Members Dixie Ross, Betsy Ann Ross, Veda Victoria Ross Similar Dickie Henderson, Cluster Sisters, The Andrews Sisters, Nancy Walker, Ginny Simms | ||
Ross sisters
The Ross Sisters were a trio of American singers and dancers comprising Betsy Ann Ross (1926–1996), Veda Victoria "Vicki" Ross (1927–2002), and Dixie Jewell Ross (1929–1963), who used the stage names Aggie, Maggie, and Elmira. They performed as a three-part harmony trio, who also danced and have become particularly noted for their acrobatics and contortionism. Their careers peaked during the 1940s, when they featured prominently in the 1944 film Broadway Rhythm, footage from which appeared in the 1994 compilation film That's Entertainment! III, and later online.
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Early life and performing careers
The Ross sisters were born in West Texas, to Veda Cordelia Lipham and her husband Charles Adolphus Ross. Their performances were first reviewed in Billboard in September 1942, when they appeared in Boston in the show Count Me In. The reviewer wrote, "The acrobatic antics of the Ross Sisters stop the show on two occasions. These kids are fresh, and their work is sensational." In May 1943 they appeared in Post War Revue, presented by Billy Rose at the Diamond Horseshoe nightclub in New York City, where a review praised their "amazing acro contortion work".
After performing a "grand acrobatic dance" in the 1944 MGM musical film Broadway Rhythm, to the song "Solid Potato Salad" co-written by Don Raye, Gene de Paul and Hughie Prince, they appeared regularly in nightclub shows around the United States. In May 1944, a reviewer noted that: "Girls are weak in the voice department but go over on the contortion stuff. Trick back bends with hanky pick-ups raise a flock of oohs and aahs from customers. Gals walk off to a good hand." In October 1944 it was reported that the sisters were resuming their school work.
However, they soon left to perform in Europe. The sisters arrived in Southampton, on the Queen Mary in September 1946. Several weeks later, they performed before King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the 1946 Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium. They were featured in Piccadilly Hayride, a London stage revue starring comedian Sid Field, that ran from 1946 to 1948, and performed the song "Five Minutes More," a song by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, which was a hit for Frank Sinatra.
By 1950, the sisters had all married, and there are no records of later public performances.
Biographical details
Published sources and some official records conflict on the names and dates of the sisters, as they apparently used each other's names at different times. When Broadway Rhythm was filmed, birth records indicate that the sisters were between about 14 and 17 years old. It has been suggested that in order to perform in London in 1946, the two younger sisters assumed the identity of their next oldest sister to make them appear to be older than their true age. The oldest of the three used the identity of an older sister who had died as an infant. They were recorded on the Queen Mary passenger list as Dorothy (aged 21), Eva (20) and Victoria (18), though their real names and ages were Betsy Ann (20), Veda Victoria (18), and Dixie (17). Each sister also used a different stage name.
After their father's death in 1955, their mother remarried and was known as Veda Matteson; she died, aged 94, in 2000.