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Full Biography of
Chordettes

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.