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
Carolina Moon
The Chordettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining on the one who waits for me
Carolina moon I'm pining
Pining for the place I long to be
How I'm hoping tonight you'll go
Go to the right window
Scatter your light, say I'm alright
Tell her that I'm blue and lonely
Dreamy Carolina moon
Keep shining on the one who waits for me
I'm pining for the place I long to be
How I'm hoping tonight you'll go
Go to the right window
Scatter your light, say I'm alright
Please do
Tell her that I'm blue and lonely
Dreamy Carolina moon
The Chordettes’s song Carolina Moon is a classic romantic tune that expresses the longing and pining of the singer for their significant other. The song focuses on the moon as a symbol of hope and comfort as it shines on the person waiting for their lover. Throughout the song, the singer speaks to the moon, pleading with it to shine on their beloved and convey a message of love from them. They are hoping that the moon is listening to their prayers and will bring them back together with the person they miss so much.
The lyrics reflect a sense of nostalgia for a place that the singer longs to be, which is likely a reference to a specific location in the state of North Carolina. The track paints a picture of someone who is deeply in love and feels a strong connection to the moon and the person they miss. The vocals are soft, sweet, and wistful at times, adding to the emotional depth of the song, making it a heartfelt rendition of love lost and found.
Overall, Carolina Moon is a beautifully crafted piece of music that captures the essence of love and heartbreak in a simple yet profound way. It’s a testament to the enduring power of music to touch the heart and soul and convey emotions that are difficult to put into words.
Line by Line Meaning
Carolina moon keep shining
The singer asks the Carolina moon to keep shining as it represents the hope that the singer's lover will return to them.
Shining on the one who waits for me
The singer asks the moon to shine on the person who is waiting for the singer.
Carolina moon I'm pining
The singer admits to longing deeply for a place that is represented by the Carolina moon.
Pining for the place I long to be
The singer is expressing how deeply they long to be in a specific place, represented by the Carolina moon.
How I'm hoping tonight you'll go
The singer is expressing hope that the Carolina moon will bring a message to their lover.
Go to the right window
The singer is directing the Carolina moon to go to a specific window and deliver their message.
Scatter your light, say I'm alright
The singer is asking the Carolina moon to shine its light to convey that the singer is okay.
Please do
The singer is expressing a plea to the Carolina moon to deliver their message.
Tell her that I'm blue and lonely
The message that the singer wants the Carolina moon to deliver is that they are unhappy and feel alone without their lover.
Dreamy Carolina moon
The word 'dreamy' is a descriptor of the Carolina moon, conveying the singer's affection towards it and the place it represents.
Contributed by Kaitlyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.