The Chordettes
The Chordettes were a female popular singing quartet, usually singing a cappella… Read Full Bio ↴The Chordettes were a female popular singing quartet, usually singing a cappella, and specializing in traditional pop music.
They were first organized in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in 1946. The original members of the group were Janet Ertel (1913-November 4, 1988), Carol Bushman (her sister-in-law), Dorothy Schwartz, and Jinny Osborn (or Lockard) (April 25, 1927-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. 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 SPEBSQSA), and Katherine Flack.
After performing locally in Sheboygan, they went on Arthur Godfrey's radio program, Talent Scouts in 1949.They went on to feature status on Godfrey's daily program, and then went on to make a number of recordings 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.
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 the top twenty with 1958's "Lollipop," and also charted with a vocal version of the themes from television's Zorro (1959) and the film Never on Sunday (1961). Other hits for the girls included "Eddie My Love," "Born to Be With You," and "Lay Down Your Arms" in 1956 and "Just Between You and Me" in 1957.
Janet 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.
The Chordettes appeared on American Bandstand August 5, 1957, kicking off the first episode of the show over 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.
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
Jinny Osborn (by that time Jinny Janis) died in 2003
They were first organized in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in 1946. The original members of the group were Janet Ertel (1913-November 4, 1988), Carol Bushman (her sister-in-law), Dorothy Schwartz, and Jinny Osborn (or Lockard) (April 25, 1927-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. 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 SPEBSQSA), and Katherine Flack.
After performing locally in Sheboygan, they went on Arthur Godfrey's radio program, Talent Scouts in 1949.They went on to feature status on Godfrey's daily program, and then went on to make a number of recordings 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.
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 the top twenty with 1958's "Lollipop," and also charted with a vocal version of the themes from television's Zorro (1959) and the film Never on Sunday (1961). Other hits for the girls included "Eddie My Love," "Born to Be With You," and "Lay Down Your Arms" in 1956 and "Just Between You and Me" in 1957.
Janet 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.
The Chordettes appeared on American Bandstand August 5, 1957, kicking off the first episode of the show over 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.
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
Jinny Osborn (by that time Jinny Janis) died in 2003
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
The Chordettes Lyrics
A Girl's Work Is Never Done A girl's work is never done You boys think we are…
A Girls Work Is Never Done A girl's work is never done You boys think we are…
Alice Blue Gown I once had a gown, it was almost new The daintiest…
Baby Come A Back A Baby come a back, come a back, come a back To…
Basin Street Blues Won't you come along with me To the Mississippi We'll take a…
Born to Be with You Born to be with you By your side, satisfied Through and thr…
Born to Be with You - Original Recording Remastered By your side, satisfied Through and through Cause I was born…
Born to Be With You Pt. 1 By your side, satisfied Through and through Cause I was bo…
Carolina Moon Carolina moon keep shining Shining on the one who waits for…
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny Carry me back to old Virginny, There's where the cotton and…
Chapel of Love Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married Goin' to…
Come Home to My Arms Ven a casa conmigo Ven a casa conmigo De vuelta a mis…
Down Among The Sheltering Palms Down among the sheltering palms Oh honey, wait for me Oh h…
Down By The Old Mill Stream My darling I am dreaming of the days gone by, When…
Eddie My Love Eddie my love, I love you so How I've waited for…
Faraway Star Star light, star bright First star I see tonight Faraway…
For Me and My Gal The bells are ringing for me and my gal. The birds…
From Me To You Sitting in the sand We were holding hands. You whispered…
Humming Bird (humming, humming, humming, humming) Humming bird, humming …
I Cried a Tear Cried a tear because of you I cried a tear because…
Just Between You and Me Sitting in the sand We were holding hands. You whispered…
Lay Down Your Arms My sweetheart is a soldier As handsome as can be But suddenl…
Let the Rest of the World Go By Is the struggle and strife we find in this life Really…
Lolipop Lollipop lollipop oh lolli lolli lolli lollipop lollipop..…
Lollipop Lollipop lollipop Oh lolli lolli lolli, lollipop, lollipop …
Lollypop Lollipop lollipop oh lolli lolli lolli lollipop lollipop..…
Lonely Boy Well I′m so above you And it's plain to see But I…
Lonely Lips I've got lonely lips On account of a broken heart On accou…
Love Is the Reason Love is the reason you were born Love was the gleam…
Love Never Changes Love never changes As time marches on Love never changes …
Love's Old Sweet Song Once in the dear dead days beyond recall. When on the…
Mister Sandman Mister Sandman, bring me a dream (Bung, bung, bung, bung) Ma…
Mo Other Arms No Other Lips No other arms, no other lips No other love but you We've…
Mr Sandman (Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung) (Bung, bung, bung…
Mr. Sandman - 1954 #1 Billboard chart hit Mister Sandman Bring me a dream Make him the cutest, that I'…
Mr. Sandman - Original Recording Remastered Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream Make him the cutest that…
Mr.Sandman (Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung) (Bung, bung, bung…
Mr.Sandman . (bung, bung, bung, bung" 26 bungs in all) Mr. Sandman, bring…
My Heart Stood Still I took one look at you That's all I meant to…
Never On A Sunday Oh, you can kiss me on a Monday A Monday, a…
No Other Arms No other arms, no other lips No other love but you We've…
No Other Arms No Other Lips No other arms, no other lips No other love but you We've…
Pink Shoe Laces Now I've got a guy and his name is Dooley He's…
Pink Shoelaces Now I've got a guy and his name is Dooley He's…
Runnin' Wild My gal and I, we had a fight And I'm…
Sentimental Journey Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Sh Boom Life Could Be a Dream Life could be a dream (sh-boom) Life could be a dream…
Soft Sands Now that you're gone I'm alone on the shore You're not walki…
Tall Paul Chalk on the sidewalk Writin′ on the wall Everybody knows it…
Teen Age Goodnight Goodnight, goodnight Goodnight, goodnight Our school dance …
Teenage Goodnight Goodnight, goodnight Goodnight, goodnight Our school dan…
The Wedding (Do you swear to Love me forever and ever) I do, I…
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise Down in the lazy west Rise the moon, One messy night in…
They Say It's Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so …
To Know Him Is To Love Him To know, know, know him Is to love, love, love him Just…
True Love Goes On And On True love goes on and on My Darling, I'll always love…
Wooden Heart Can′t you see, I love you? Please don't break my heart…
Zorro Sound of hoof beats Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zor…