Swing Canaries

The Swing Canaries--Bertielou, Vickie Lynn, and Violet Rae--are actually the women of the folk trio, Raison d'Etre: Roberta Schultz, Vickie Ellis and Violet Rae Downey. While Violet Rae and Roberta are siblings and have sung together for most of Violet's life, Vickie joined the musical family almost two decades ago, becoming a sister-in-song. And as Violet Rae always says, 'Mom likes her best!' The Swing Canaries were born on the 50th Anniversary of D Day celebration at the Cincinnati Museum Center's exhibit, 'Cincinnati Goes to War.' Learning the songs made popular by harmony groups such as the Andrews Sisters, the Dinning Sisters, the King Sisters and the Girls of the Golden West has given the women of this vocal trio a whole new sense about the way music weaves golden threads of memory into life's tapestry. So, if you once danced to these tunes, heard your mom sing them, or just love some good songs from a powerful era in music, the Swing Canaries invite you to take a 'sentimental journey' of your own. Roberta Schultz on vocals, guitar, 6 string mandolin and Martin acoustic bass. Vickie Ellis on vocals, keyboard, banjo and banjuke. Violet Rae Downey on vocals, guitar, and percussion. Bruce Ellis on snare. Chris Philpotts on soprano sax.