The Chordettes

The Chordettes were a female popular singing quartet, usually singing a cappella, and specializing in traditional popular music. The Chordettes were one of the longest lived vocal groups with beginnings in the mainstream pop and vocal harmonies of the 1940s and early 1950s. Although the arrangements owed more to The Andrews Sisters than doo-wop, they did, unlike many of their peers, prove fairly adaptable to the rock and roll era. First establishing themselves with the huge hit record, "Mr. Sandman" in 1954, they continued to chart in the last half of the 1950s and the early 1960s, often with cover versions of rock and R&B songs. Their #2 1958 success "Lollipop" was the biggest of these. Although their sound was among the most conventional of rock artists, they introduced enough rock style into their repertoire and production, to sound more contemporary than they had on records such as "Mr. Sandman." They had an enormous fan club base led by Jody Destefano, president of their International Fan Club, who organized thousands of Chordettes fans from her home in Union City, N. J. A monthly newsletter was sent to the many chapter presidents all over the world, keeping them informed of the upcoming appearances of the famous group. The Chordettes always gave the fan club their personal attention.

Career

The group organized in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1946. The original members of the group were Janet Ertel (September 21, 1913 - November 4, 1988), Carol Buschmann (her sister-in-law), Dorothy Schwartz and Jinny Osborn (or Jinny Lockard) (April 25, 1928 - May 19, 2003). In 1952, Lynn Evans replaced Schwartz, and in 1953, Margie Needham replaced Osborn (who was having a baby), although Osborn later returned to the group. Nancy Overton (February 6, 1926 - April 5, 2009) also was a member of the group at a later time. Originally they sang folk music in the style of The Weavers, but eventually changed to a harmonizing style of the type known as barbershop harmony or close harmony. Part of this change seems to be influenced by Osborn's father.

Jinny Osborn was born in Seattle, Washington. She was born Virginia Cole, the daughter of O. H. "King" Cole, who was president of the Barbershop Harmony Society (then known as 'The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America Inc.'), and Katherine Flack.

After performing locally in Sheboygan, they won on Arthur Godfrey's radioTalent Scouts in 1949. They held feature status on Godfrey's daily program, and then recorded for Columbia Records. In 1953, Godfrey's music director and orchestra leader, Archie Bleyer, founded Cadence Records. He signed a number of Godfrey regulars and former regulars, including the Chordettes, who had a number of hit records for Cadence. Ertel married Bleyer in 1954. Her daughter Jackie married another Cadence recording star, Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers. She died of cancer in 1988. program

The Chordettes biggest hit was "Mr. Sandman" in 1954, and Bleyer appeared on that recording, along with the group. Originally a b-side for Vaughn Monroe, the bouncy, somewhat novelty-oriented tune (complete with a deep voiced "Yes?" from Bleyer representing "Mr. Sandman" at one point) made #1 for seven weeks. and reached #11 in the UK Singles Chart. The record sold over one million copies

They also hit #2 in 1958 with the million-seller "Lollipop", and also charted with a vocal version of the themes from television's Zorro (U.S. #17) (1959) and the filmNever on Sunday (U.S. #13) (1961). Other hits for the girls included "Eddie My Love" (U.S. #14), "Born to Be with You" (U.S. #5), "Lay Down Your Arms" in 1956, and "Just Between You and Me" (U.S. #8) in 1957.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Chordettes continued to alternate between pop songs and ones with an eye on the rock market, including covers of The Coasters' "Charlie Brown," Paul Anka's "Lonely Boy," and Dodie Stevens' "Pink Shoe Laces." They even did some recordings with King Curtis on saxophone.

The Chordettes appeared on American Bandstand on August 5, 1957, the first episode of that show to be broadcast nationally on the ABC Television network. In 1961, Osborn left the group, and they were unable to find a replacement with whom they were happy, leading to their break-up.

In the early 1990s, The Chordettes re-grouped with Lynn Evans, Nancy Overton and her sister Jean Swain, plus Doris Alberti, doing shows ranging from a doo-wop concert to touring with Eddy Arnold. A live cassette of a concert in Branson, Missouri was recorded.

The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

Jinny Osborn (by that time Jinny Janis) died in 2003. In 2005, Evans appeared on a PBS television special, with other 1950s pop icons, singing "Lollipop".

On April 5, 2009 Nancy Overton died after a long battle of esophageal cancer. Before her death, She as the longest living member.

Discography hit singles

• "Mr. Sandman" (1954)
• "Teenage Goodnight" (1956)
• "Lay Down Your Arms" (1956)
• "The Wedding" (1956)
• "Born to Be with You" (1956)
• "Eddie My Love" (1956)
• "Just Between You And Me" (1957)
• "Soft Sands" (1957)
• "Lollipop" (1958)
• "Zorro" (1958)
• "A Girl's Work Is Never Done" (1959)
• "No Other Arms, No Other Lips" (1959)
• "Faraway Star" (1961)
• "Never On Sunday" (1961)

Discography albums
The Chordettes Sing Your Requests (1954)