(female vocal and instrumental group) was an all-girl group which originated at Piney Woods School, Piney Woods, Mississippi, in 1937, encouraged by Mr. W. I. Peek. Its early members included Helen Jones (trombone), daughter of the school president, Laurence C. Jones. Owing to its origins in a black school, it began as a black band and its membership remained predominantly black until it disbanded. During its early years, the band toured the South, often booked by Dan Gary or Al Day. It was a large swing band which played in a similar style to Erskine Hawkins’s band. Trumpet-player Edna Williams moved to Piney Woods, Mississippi, where she was contracted by Laurence C. Jones, school president, to take charge of The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, remaining 3 years, as member and chaperone. She left the school on 24 March 1941, when the group formed its own corporation, led by Mrs. Ray Lee Jones (no relation to Laurence), after the group discovered in 1940 that the school did not intend to permit them to graduate. They based themselves at Arlington, Virginia and employed Eddie Durham as musical director. In about October 1942, Laurence C Jones sought to arrest her and others when the group was at Jackson, Tennessee, on the pretext that they had stolen their instruments. After a “tiff” with the school’s administration, the band severed its formal ties with the school, and moved to Washington, D. C. around 22 May 1943. At Washington, Anna Mae Winburn, a vivacious and urbane blues singer, became its leader. With Winburn as featured singer, the 18-piece band made several ‘soundies’ as the INTERNATIONAL SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM in about 1944, including JUMP CHILDREN. Its other members during this period included: Vi Burnside (tenor sax); Rosalind “Roz” Cron (a classically-trained Caucasian alto saxophonist); Helen Jones (trombone); Evelyn McGee (vocals); Helen Saine (a mulatto baritone and alto saxophonist). Especially during trips to the southern States, the non-black members sometimes attempted to “pass” as black. One of the members hailed from Anderson, South Carolina. They frequently appeared at the major black theaters, such as the “Regal”, Chicago; at Baltimore; the “Howard”, Washington; and the “Apollo”, Harlem, New York City. Jessie Stone taught, and arranged for, the band. Maurice King and “Mr. Kirkland”, a guitarist, possibly Leroy Kirkland, also arranged for the group. Al Cobbs and Panama Francis both recall drummer Pauline Braddy (or Grady: possibly the same as Paula Roberts). The ebullient Tiny Davis, from Chicago, Illinois, wrote to “Miss Jones” and was accepted into the band. She recalls singing I’M A BIG FAT MAMA. She soon set about providing services to the other band-members such as cut lunches and clothes pressing. Among Anna Mae Winburn’s recorded vocals were CENTRAL AVENUE BOOGIE and THAT MAN OF MINE, while Tiny Davis recorded JUMP CHILDREN (all reissued by Rosetta LP #RR 1312, by 1988). They made overseas broadcasts to U. S. military personnel from Los Angeles, California in 1944 or 1945. As the INTERNATIONAL SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM, they toured black U. S. military bases in Europe for six months in 1945, arriving in Europe the day after war in Europe ceased. Band-members during this period included trumpeters Tiny Davis and Miriam Polak. According to Rosetta LP #RR 132, the 1945 recording group comprised: Grace Bayron (reeds); Pauline Braddy (drums); Violet “Vi” Burnside (tenor sax); Ina Belle Byrd (trombone); Ray Carter (trumpet); Ros Cron (reeds); Ernestine T. “Tiny” Davis (trumpet/ vocal); Trump Margo Gibson (string-bass); Helen Jones (trombone); Mim Polak (trumpet); Johnnie Mae Rice (piano); Helen Saine (reeds); Johnnie Mae Stansbury (trumpet); Jean Starr (trumpet); Jean Travis (trombone); Anna Mae Winburn (leader/ vocals); and Willie Mae Wing (reeds). As THE SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM, they recorded JUMP CHILDREN (Guild #141, released by November 1945), with Tiny Davis as singer. During this period, the group included: Gloria Bell (string-bass); Violet “Vi” Burnside (tenor sax); Ernestine T. “Tiny” Davis (trumpet/ vocal); Fran Gaddison (alto sax); Jackie King (piano); Paula Roberts (drums); and Tex Stanbury (trumpet). According to Rosetta LP #RR 132, the 1946 recording group comprised: Pauline Braddy (drums); Violet “Vi” Burnside (tenor sax); Ina Belle Byrd (trombone); Ernestine T. “Tiny” Davis (trumpet/ vocal); Jacqueline Dexter (reeds); Flo Dreyer (trumpet); Helen Jones (trombone); Jackie King (piano); Nova Lee McGee (trumpet); Colleen Murray (reeds); Carline Ray (guitar); Edna Smith (string-bass); Johnnie Mae Stansbury (trumpet); Jean Starr (trumpet); Jean Travis (trombone); Anna Mae Winburn (leader/ vocals); Willie Mae Wing (reeds); and Myrtle Young (reeds). Under the same credit, they recorded VI VIGOR (R C A VICTOR #40-0146, in about 1947), presumably featuring Vi Burnside. Still as THE SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM, they recorded THAT MAN OF MINE (Magic #715) in about 1949. The band’s only real competition from all-girl groups was the white pop group, Ina Rae Hutton and her Melodears. The black group disbanded during 1949, in the aftermath of the war, partly because the demand for female musicians declined as its novelty value disappeared and as male musicians returned from war service; and partly because its members married. After the band broke up, Tiny Davis recorded under her own name, supported by alto saxophonist Birdie Davis and by drummer Helen Cole, for DECCA in October 1949. The band was the subject in 1986 of the 30-minute American film, “The International Sweethearts Of Rhythm”, directed by Greta Schiller and Andrea Weiss. Rosetta Reitz was also associated with the film, which was produced by “Sweethearts Project, Inc.”, and which featured interviews with some of the surviving members.