The Andrews Sisters the group was formed, and 12 when they won first prize at a talent contest at the local Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, where LaVerne played piano accompaniment for the silent film showings in exchange for free dancing lessons for herself and her sisters. Following the collapse of their father's Minneapolis restaurant, the sisters went on the road to support the family. They started their career as imitators of an earlier successful singing group, the Boswell Sisters, who were popular in the 1930s. After singing with various dance bands and touring in vaudeville with the likes of Leon Belasco (and his
The Jones Sisters Trio the family moved to Liberia, in 1960 The Jones Sisters Trio began singing for the Billy Graham crusade in Monrovia, which they did over the next few years, "to an enthusiastic response." Before leaving Africa to return home to Cleveland, Graham officially dedicated the Jones's home to the work God had called them to in Liberia; the 300 guests at the ceremony, included Liberian President William V.S. Tubman and Vice President William Tolbert. In 1966, having already recorded two albums for World Records, the Trio (now 21, 19, and 17) played as part of the week-long Harlem Crusade Association rally