The Puppini Sisters are an English close harmony vocal trio composed of Italian-born singer Marcella Puppini and English singers Kate Mullins and Emma Smith. Although the three are not related, the name was chosen in tribute to The Andrews Sisters. Puppini first studied fashion design at Saint Martins School of Art, and later music at Trinity College of Music in London where she met Mullins and original member Rosanna Schura, who was later replaced by Stephanie O’Brien. After eight years with the group, O’Brien was replaced by Emma Smith. The trio are backed by a three-piece band featuring Martin Kolarides on guitar, Henrik Jensen on double bass and Peter Ibbetson on drums. The group is associated with a burlesque revival.
The group was founded in 2004 by Marcella Puppini after she was inspired by the animated film The Triplets of Belleville (2003). In 2005 they were signed by UCJ (Universal Classics and Jazz). The Puppini Sisters’ debut single, “Boggie Woggie Bugle Boy”, was a cover of the hit single by The Andrews Sisters. The Puppini Sisters won a Gold Disc for international sales of their first CD, Betcha Bottom Dollar, in 2007.
The Puppini Sisters’ second album,The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo includes original compositions by Puppini, Stephanie O’Brien and Kate Mullins. They appearanced on This Morning, Loose Women, The View, and 2011’s A Michael Buble Christmas on NBC and Graham Norton with Bublé in 2012. The group also appeared in the 2009 Jonathan Creek New Year’s special “The Grinning Man”, performing their 2007 single “Spooky”. The trio was also featured on the soundtracks for the US TV series Grey’s Anatomy and Chuck. In 2015 the Sisters also appeared on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The group performed at Glastonbury in 2009 as well as performing at Goodwood Vintage Festival in August of the same year. In June 2012, O’Brien announced via the group’s Facebook page that she was leaving the group. It was later revealed that Terrianne Passingham would replace O’Brien. However, Passingham also left the group and shortly thereafter Emma Smith took her place. The singer made her debut with The Puppini Sisters on The Graham Norton Show in November 2012.
According to Marcella Puppini, the group sings about modern and risqué subjects in a quaintly old-fashioned way. This comes from their interest in 1940s songs such as ‘Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama)’ that have sexual undertones despite their overtly innocent lyrics.
