The Chordettes were one of the longest-lived vocal groups with roots in the 
mainstream pop and vocal harmonies of the 1940s and early 1950s. Although 
the four women's arrangements owed more to the Andrews Sisters than doo wop, 
they did, unlike many of their peers, prove fairly adaptable to the rock 
era. First establishing themselves with the huge, non-rock, pop hit, "Mr. 
Sandman," in 1954. They continued to chart in the last half of the 1950s and 
the early 1960s, often with covers of rock and R&B songs. The #2, 1958, hit 
"Lollipop," was the biggest of these. Although they sounded (at least in 
retrospect), among the whitest and squarest of rock artists, they introduced 
enough rock into their repertoire and production to sound more contemporary 
than they had on earlier records.

Jinny Osborn, born Virginia Cole, was exposed to harmony singing via her 
father, O.H. Cole, who was president of The Society for the Preservation 
and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America In 1946, she 
formed the quartet with three friends from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They 
started out singing folk music in the style of The Weavers, 1 but changed 
to the harmonizing style of the barbershop quartet or or close harmony. More 
than likely, this change was influenced by Osborn's father.

The original members of the group were Janet Ertel (September 21, 
1913-November 4, 1988), Carol Buschmann, Dorothy Schwartz (Buschmann's 
sister-in-law, dates unknown) 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.

In 1949, the Chordettes became regulars on the Arthur Godfrey's television 
show, where the group sang a cappella in the barbershop style. They also 
recorded a cappella for Columbia Records.

Godfrey's musical director, Archie Bleyer, married Janet Ertel in 1954, 
around the same time he began his record label, Cadence Records. On the 
Cadence label, the group began to record with musical backing, though the 
barbershop elements were still very prominent on "Mr. Sandman." Ertel's 
daughter, Jackie, married another Cadence recording star, Phil Everly of The 
Everly Brothers. She died of cancer in 1988.

The Chordettes biggest hit was "Mr. Sandman," and Bleyer appeared on that 
recording, where he voiced the deep-toned "Yes?" representing the Sandman. 
The record reached #1 for seven weeks and sold over one million copies.

In the mid-1950s, as early rock'n'roll began to take over mainstream 
audiences, the Chordettes covered rock and R&B songs for the pop market. In 
so doing they managed to split sales with the Teen Queens on the early doo 
wop classic "Eddie My Love," which made the Top Twenty by both groups. They 
also covered a song by Ronald & Ruby, "Lollipop," complete with popping 
sounds. This was their best rock, or at least rock-ish, tune.

On August 5, 1957, the Chordettes appeared on American Bandstand, the first 
episode of that show to be broadcast nationally on the ABC Television 
network.

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 Shoelaces." They even did some recordings with King Curtis on 
sax. After "Lollipop," there were a few more hits, "Zorro," "No Other Arms, 
No Other Lips," and "Never on Sunday." However, in 1961, when Jinny Osborn 
left and the group couldn't find a replacement with whom they were happy, 
they disbanded shortly after "Never on Sunday" made the Top Twenty.

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.

The Chordettes had an enormous fan club led by Jody Destefano, president of 
their International Fan Club, who organized thousands of Chordettes fans 
from her home in Union City, New Jersey. A monthly newsletter was sent to 
the many chapter presidents all over the world, keeping them informed of 
upcoming appearances and events.

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; she sang "Lollipop."

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

Group members:
* Jinny Osborn (formed group, original member)
* Janet Ertel (original member)
* Carol Bushmann (original member)
* Dorothy Schwartz (original member)
* Lynn Evans (replaced Schwarts in 1953)
* Margie Needham (replaced Osborn until her return in 1955)
* Nancy Overton  (1990s)
* Jean Swain (1990s)
* Doris Alberti (1990s)

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)

Albums:
* Harmony Time, Vol. 1 (1950), Columbia Records
* Harmony Time, Vol. 2 (1951), CBS (Columbia) Records
* Harmony Encores (1953), Columbia Records
* The Chordettes Sing Your Requests (1954), Columbia Records
* Listen (1954), Sony Music Distribution
* The Chordettes (1957), Cadence Records
* Never on Sunday (1962), Cadence Records
* The Fabulous Chordettes (1991), Ace Records


 Written by: Richie Unterberger (edited by bri4daz)