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)

The Chips

The Chips were a short-lived New York doo-wop vocal group consisting of teenage friends Charles Johnson (lead vocal), Nathaniel Epps (baritone), Paul Fulton (bass), Sammy Strain and Shedrick Lincoln (tenors). The group's first recording is their most enduring; "Rubber Biscuit" started life as Johnson's answer to the marching rhythms of the Warwick School For Delinquent Teenagers while he was an intern there.

When Josie Records heard the tune they signed the band and the record was issued in September 1956. Although it did not chart, "Rubber Biscuit" became an instant east coast radio favourite, and saw its performers touring alongside The Dells, Cadillacs and Bo Diddley, but the momentum gained by their debut single was waning and the group broke up at the end of 1957. Only Sammy Strain went on to success in the music industry, as a member of Little Anthony & The ImperialsThe O'Jays. Strain left the O'Jays in 1992 to return to The Imperials, where he remained until his retirement in 2004. from about 1961 to 1972 when he left to join

"Rubber Biscuit" was resurrected in 1973 in Martin Scorsese's film Mean Streets, about small-time gangsters, then later in the decade by the Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's SNL skit turned full-on band. That version is available on the Blues Brothers LP "Briefcase Full of Blues".

The Chiffons

The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.

The Chiffons’ sassy flair made them one of the top Girl Groups of the early ’60s. With their trademark tight harmonies, high-stepping confidence and the hit machine of Goffin and King writing songs such as “One Fine Day,” the Chiffons made music that helped define the Girl Group sound of the era.

The group was originally a trio comprising Judy Craig (lead singer), Patricia Bennett and Barbara Lee. They formed at James Monroe High School in The BronxSylvia Peterson was added to the group in 1962. Peterson had previously sung with Little Jimmy & The Tops in 1959 when she was fourteen years old. This group had a local hit with "Puppy Love" (V-Tone). Sylvia shared the lead with Jimmy on the single's B-Side, "Say You Love Me". Peterson would later lend her leads to Chiffons' "Why Am I So Shy", "Strange, Strange Feeling", "The Real Thing" and the pseudonym sides as The Four Pennies, "My Block" and "When The Boy's Happy". in 1960. At the suggestion of songwriter Ronnie Mack,

Another group from California also used the name "Chiffons" and recorded three singles, including a version of the Shirelles' "Tonight's The Night". According to Craig and Bennett, the New York Chiffons have no connection to the other group.

The group hit the number one spot in the United States with their first single "He's So Fine", written by Ronnie Mack, and released on Laurie. George Harrison's 1970 song "My Sweet Lord" was musically similar, prompting a copyright infringementplagiarized the earlier song. claim. The Chiffons went on to record "My Sweet Lord" in 1975. A judge later found that Harrison had unintentionally

Their first hit was followed by other notable tunes such as Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "One Fine Day", "Sweet Talkin' Guy" and "I Have A Boyfriend". Their Top 40 single "I Have A Boyfriend" was playing on Dallas station KLIF on November 22, 1963 and was interrupted by the first radio bulletins of the JFK assassination. The group also released two singles in 1963 as The Four Pennies on the Laurie subsidiary, Rust Label.

Craig left the Chiffons in 1968 and they continued as a trio. In 1992, Lee died from a heart attack the day before her 45th birthday, and Craig returned to the group. Peterson retired shortly thereafter and was replaced by Connie Harvey. Harvey has since left to pursue a solo career and Bennett has retired from the group.

Currently as of 2009, Judy Craig performs as The Chiffons with her daughter and her niece, appearing at select shows throughout the U.S. and Internationally.

Discography as the Four Pennies singles

• 1963 "My Block" (US #67)
• 1963 "When the Boy's Happy" (US #95)

Discography as the Chiffons standard albums

• 1963: He's So Fine (US #97)

1. "He's So Fine"
2. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
3. "Oh My Lover"
4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
5. "My Block"
6. "ABC-123"
7. "Lucky Me"
8. "Why Am I So Shy"
9. "See You in September"
10. "Wishing"
11. "Mystic Voice"
12. "When I Go to Sleep at Night"

• 1963: One Fine Day

1. "One Fine Day"
2. " It's My Party"
3. "The Loco-Motion"
4. "Tonight I Met an Angel"
5. "Only My Friend"
6. "Da Doo Ron Ron"
7. "I Wonder Why"
8. "Foolish Little Girl"
9. "I'm Going to Dry My Eyes"
10. "Did You Ever Go Steady"
11. "When Summer's Through"
12. "Love Is Like a Merry Go Round"
13. "My Boyfriend's Back," a cover of The Angels' hit (also covered by Martha and the Vandellas)

• 1966: Sweet Talkin' Guy (US #149)

1. "Sweet Talkin' Guy"
2. "Up On the Bridge"
3. "Nobody Knows What's Going On"
4. "Thumbs Down"
5. "Just a Boy"
6. "Down Down Down"
7. "Out of This World"
8. "My Boyfriend's Back"
9. "Open Your Eyes"
10. "March"
11. "Keep the Boy Happy"
12. "See You in September"

• 1970: My Secret Love

1. "Secret Love"
2. "You're The Love Of A Lifetime"
3. "Soul"
4. "I Don't Deserve A Boy Like You"
5. "Strange Strange Feeling"
6. "Now That You're My Baby"
7. "The First And Last"
8. "Remember Me Baby"
9. "It Hurts To Be Sixteen"
10. "Every Boy And Every Girl"

Discography as the Chiffons compilation albums

• 1974: Everything You Always Wanted to Hear by the Chiffons but Couldn't Get
• 1979: The Chiffons Sing the Hits of the 50's & 60's
• 2004: Absolutely The Best!

Discography as the Chiffons singles

• 1963: "He's So Fine"/"Oh My Lover" (US #1, UK #16)
• 1963: "Lucky Me"/"Why Am I So Shy"
• 1963: "One Fine Day"/"Why Am I So Shy" (US #5, UK #29)
• 1963: "A Love So Fine"/"Only My Friend" (US #40)
• 1963: "I Have a Boyfriend"/"I'm Gonna Dry My Eyes" (US #36)
• 1964: "Sailor Boy"/"When The Summer Is Through" (US #81)
• 1964: "Easy To Love"/"Tonight I Met An Angel"
• 1964: "What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)"/"Strange, Strange Feeling"
• 1965: "Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me)"/"Did You Ever Go Steady" (US #49)
• 1965: "Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me)"/"The Real Thing"
• 1965: "Tonight I'm Gonna Dream"/"Heavenly Place"
• 1966: "Out of This World"/"Just A Boy" (US #67)
• 1966: "Stop, Look and Listen"/"March" (US #85)
• 1966: "Sweet Talkin' Guy"/"Did You Ever Go Steady" (US #10, UK #31 (#4 (1972 re-issue))
• 1966: "My Boyfriend's Back"/"I Got Plenty Of Nuttin'"
• 1967: "If I Knew Then"/"Keep The Boy Happy"
• 1968: "Up on the Bridge"/"March"
• 1968: "Just For Tonight"/"Teach Me How"
• 1969: "Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me"/"Three Dips Of Ice Cream"
• 1970: "So Much in Love"/"Strange Strange Feeling"
• 1975: "My Sweet Lord"/"Main Nerve"
• 1976: "Dream Dream Dream"/"Oh My Love"

The Chevrons

The Chevrons were a United States pop group who recorded the hit record "Lullabye" in 1960. The band featured Terry Cashman.

The Chevrons formed in Washington Heights, Manhattan in New York City in 1959 and disbanded in 1961. The group consisted of lead singer Dennis Minogue (Cashman), first tenor Frank Williams, second tenor Marty Trautman, baritone Gary Giordan, and bass, Al Conde. Conde was formerly a member of The Spirals, who recorded "Little Girl" and "School Bells" for George Goldner's Gone record label.

The Chevrons' first recording on Bob Shad's Brent label was "That Comes With Love" b/w "Day After Forever", followed by "Lullabye" b/w "Don't Be Heartless". The success of "Lullabye" landed them an appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. "Lullabye" was followed by an album on Time Records called Sing-Along Rock N' Roll, which consisted of covers of twenty-four hit songs arranged in sing-a-long format. Several songs - including Little Star, Come Go With Me, and Little Darlin' - were released off the album as singles.

When The Chevrons disbanded, Conde went on to form another group called The Holidays, recording two songs he had written for the group,"New Orleans" and "Life" on the Sabina label, owned and produced by Dion and the Belmonts.

In 1967, Dennis Minogue (now Terry Cashman) teamed up with Gene Pistilli and Tommy West to form the pop-folk group Cashman, Pistilli and West. Their successful debut album, Bound to Happen (1967) included the Cashman and Pistilli composition "Sunday Will Never Be the Same", a summer 1967 hit for Spanky and Our Gang.

Cashman and West later recorded the album Tale of Two Cities (American City Suite) on Dunhill records, and produced several hits for Jim Croce.

Terry Cashman later achieved celebrity writing and recording baseball songs, notably "Talkin' Baseball".

The Chevrons reunited in 1989, and appeared on the Don K. Reed Show on WCBS-FM. In 1999, The Wop Ding A Ling collection of New York doo-wop from the late '50s and '60s included "Lullabye" and "Don't Be Heartless".

The Charts

The Charts were an American doo-wop group of the 1950s, most famous for their recording "Deserie".

The group formed as The Thrilltones in Harlem, New York in 1956, and comprised teenagers Joe Grier (lead), Stephen Brown (first tenor), Glenmore Jackson (second tenor), Leroy Binns (baritone), and Ross Buford (bass). They acquired a manager, Les Cooper, who had previously been a member of various R&B groups, and who changed their name to The Charts.

They were signed to the Everlast label, owned by Bobby Robinson's brother Danny, who released their first single "Deserie" in May 1957. The song's authorship was credited to Cooper and Johnson, although singer Joe Grier later claimed that he had written the song along with the group's other material. The record was a local hit, although it failed to make the national R&B charts, and was later featured on many compilations of doo-wop classics.

After a few more singles for Everlast, the original Charts disbanded in 1958 when Grier went into the service. On his return, he took up the saxophone, and featured on the 1962 instrumental hit by Les Cooper and his group the Soul Rockers, "Wiggle Wobble" (# 22 pop, # 12 R&B).

Brown and Binns kept the group's name going for several years with new members. They released an updated version of "Deserie" in 1967, retitled "Desiree", and continued touring and appearing at doowop revival concerts with various versions of The Charts until around 1983. Binns continued to perform with later versions of The Coasters and The Del Vikings.

"Deserie" was later recorded, as "Désiree", by Laura Nyro on her 1971 album Gonna Take a Miracle.

Otis Williams & the Charms

Otis Williams and the Charms were an American doo-wop vocal group in the 1950s, who were originally billed as The Charms. Williams is not related to Otis Williams of The Temptations.

Otis Williams (born June 2, 1936, Cincinnati, Ohio), attended Withrow High School in Cincinnati, and in 1952 joined an existing singing group in the school when one of its members was sick. The other original members were Bob Smith (tenor) (later replaced by Donald Peak), Rolland Bradley (tenor), Joe Penn (baritone/tenor), and Richard Parker (bass).

The group, who Williams named The Charms, appeared in a high school show in early 1953, and were drawn to the attention of Syd Nathan of King Records. Nathan only wanted to sign Williams, but Williams insisted on taking the rest of the group along. They signed to a subsidiary label, Rockin' Records, based in Florida and owned by Henry Stone (later of TK Records), Williams giving up a sports career to pursue singing instead.

The Charms first record in June 1953, "Heaven Only Knows", was not a hit, and after a couple more releases they moved to another King subsidiary label, DeLuxe, also run by Stone. They recorded several more times before, in 1954, "Hearts of Stone" gave them their first and biggest hit, reaching # 1 on the R&B charts for nine weeks at the end of the year. It also reached # 15 on the pop charts, with a cover version by the Fontane Sisters reaching # 1.

The group had further R&B chart success with "Ling, Ting, Tong" and "Two Hearts", and they toured with The Clovers, Big Joe Turner and others. However, in late 1955, Stone persuaded the other members of the group that they could succeed without Williams, and they left to join Stone’s new Chart label. After a court battle, Williams continued recording for DeLuxe, credited as Otis Williams and His Charms, and had another big hit in 1956 with "Ivory Tower" (# 5 R&B, # 11 pop).

Williams continued to record for DeLuxe in the late 1950s, but with less success. He also co-produced and arranged Hank Ballard's original version of "The Twist", and helped arrange Little Willie John's "Fever". Peak, Bradley, Penn, and Parker, the Chart Records Charms, had their last recordings released in 1956. These recordings were, however, re-releases of older recordings that featured Otis Williams. The group made no other recordings.

Williams was drafted in 1960, and recorded sporadically as his army leave permitted. This also marked the breakup of his Charms. He was discharged in 1962 and recorded solo for another year, before retiring in 1963. He returned in 1965, recording soul music for the Okeh label. He took a further break, becoming a barber, and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee , where he made a country music album, "Otis Williams and the Midnight Cowboys", produced by Pete Drake and released in 1971 (the album was the result of a bet between Drake and another individual, as to whether an Otis Williams country album would sell).

In the 1990s Williams returned to group harmony singing, touring internationally with a new Charms group, and, in 2001, being inducted to the United in Group Harmony Association Hall of Fame.

Williams performed in Cincinnati with The Coda Band on November 24, 2007.

The Chantels

The Chantels were the second black girl group to have nationwide success in the United States. The group was established in the early 1950s at St. Anthony of Padua school in the Bronx. The group consisted of Arlene Smith (lead), Sonia Goring, Rene Minus, Jackie Landry Jackson and Lois Harris. They got their name from a rival school, St. Frances de Chantal.

They were discovered by Richard Barrett, lead singer of The Valentines and eventually signed to End Records. Their first single was "He's Gone" (Pop #71) in August 1957. In January 1958 they released their second single, "Maybe" (#15 Billboard Hot 100; #2 R & B chart). Several other singles were released on End, though none as successful as "Maybe."

The group was dropped by End in 1959, and Arlene Smith decided to go solo. Harris left to pursue a college education. In 1960, Annette Smith (no relation) replaced Arlene Smith, and the group went to Carlton Records, where they had their second huge hit with "Look in My Eyes" (#14 pop, #6 R&B). Several other singles followed and the group switched record labels several times. Personnel changed throughout the 1960s, with their final single released in 1970.

Arlene Smith fronted a new group of Chantels in the 1970s which featured up and coming Disco diva Carol Douglas for oldies shows and continues to perform. The remaining original Chantels reformed as well and hired Noemi (Ami) Ortiz as their new lead singer. On the PBS special Doo Wop 50, Smith reunited with the surviving original members of the Chantels and dedicated "Maybe" to Jackie Landry, who died in 1997.

The Chantels were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2001, they made the final ballot for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but did not get enough votes for induction. Despite continued appearances since then on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballots by 1950s doo-wop groups, the Chantels didn't get enough votes to reach any subsequent ballot until September 2009 when it was revealed that they were one of twelve nominees to be inducted for the Hall next year.

Discography albums

• 1959: The Chantels EP
• 1961: The Chantels On Tour

Discography singles

• 1957: "He's Gone" (#71 US)
• 1958: "Maybe" (#15 US, #2 R&B)
• 1958: "Every Night (I Pray)" (#39 US, #16 R&B)
• 1958: "I Love You So" (#42 US, #12 R&B)
• 1959: "Summer's Love" (#93 US, #29 R&B)
• 1961: "Look in My Eyes" (#14 US, #6 R&B)
• 1961: "Well I Told You" (#29 US)
• 1961: "Eternally" (#77 US)

If you want to know more over the Chantels please visit their official website.