The Chordettes were an American female popular singing quartet, usually singing a cappella, and specializing in traditional popular music. Career The group organized in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1946. The original members of the group were Janet Ertel, Carol Buschmann (her sister-in-law), Dorothy Schwartz, and Jinny Osborn/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), though Osborn later returned to the group. Nancy Overton 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 Osborns father.[citation needed] 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 SPEBSQSA), and Katherine Flack. After performing locally in Sheboygan, they won on Arthur Godfreys radio program Talent Scouts in 1949. They held feature status on Godfreys daily program, and then recorded for Columbia Records. In 1953, Godfreys 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. Their biggest hit was Mr. Sandman in 1954. Archie Bleyer himself is on that record along with the group, Bleyer stripping the sound down the better not to clutter the girls voices. They also hit No. 2 with 1958s Lollipop and also charted with a vocal version of the themes from Disneys Zorro (U.S. #17) (1959) and the film Never 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. Their cover of The White Rose Of Athens hit the Australian Top 15 in May, 1962. The US single In The Deep Blue Sea was a one-week Music Vendor entry four months later (#128). Janet Ertel married Bleyer in 1954. Her daughter Jackie married another Cadence recording star, Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers. 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, Jinny Osborn left the group, and they were unable to find a replacement with whom they were happy, leading to a breakup.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 05:43:30 +0000
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