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
Eddie My Love
The Chordettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How I've waited for you you'll never know
Please Eddie, don't make me wait to long.
Eddie please write me one line
Tell me your love is still only mine
Please Eddie don't make me wait too long
But all I do is cry myself to sleep, Eddie since you've been gone
Eddie my love I'm sick in bed
The very next day might be my last
Please Eddie don't make me wait too long
Please Eddie don't make me wait too long.
The Chordettes's song Eddie My Love is a beautiful ballad that expresses the heartfelt longing and affection of a young girl for her lover, Eddie. The singer, who is deeply in love with Eddie, has been waiting for him to return to her for a long time. She asks Eddie to write her one line to assure her that his love for her is still strong and asks him not to make her wait too long. The song paints a picture of a girl who is sick in bed, fearful that the next day may be her last, and she desires Eddie's love to come to her rescue.
The song's lyrics evoke a sense of vulnerability, isolation, and urgency. The chorus, "Please Eddie don't make me wait too long," is an emotional plea repeated throughout the song, and it portrays the singer as someone who is helpless and dependent on Eddie's love. The song's melancholic undertones are further reinforced by the line, "But all I do is cry myself to sleep, Eddie since you've been gone."
Eddie My Love is a touching love ballad that resonates with listeners of all ages. Its soulful melody and emotional lyrics have made it one of the most enduring love songs of all time. The song's message of undying love has struck a chord with millions of people and has helped it become a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Eddie my love, I love you so
I have a strong affection for you, Eddie, and I want you to know that.
How I've waited for you you'll never know
I have been longing for your love and companionship, Eddie, and it feels like a long time since we last saw each other.
Please Eddie, don't make me wait too long.
I'm anxious to be with you, Eddie, so please come to me as soon as you can.
Eddie please write me one line
I long to hear from you, Eddie, and just a single message from you will be enough to make me happy.
Tell me your love is still only mine
I want to know that I'm the only one in your heart, Eddie, and that you still care for me deeply.
Please Eddie don't make me wait too long
I'm eager to hear back from you, Eddie, so please don't keep me waiting for too long.
You left me last September to return to me before long
You left me several months ago, Eddie, but promised to return soon. However, I still feel sad and lonely without you.
But all I do is cry myself to sleep, Eddie since you've been gone
The pain of missing you is too much for me, Eddie, and I often cry myself to sleep at night because I miss you so much.
Eddie my love I'm sick in bed
I'm feeling very ill, Eddie, and I really need your love and support right now.
The very next day might be my last
I'm seriously ill, Eddie, and I fear that I might not make it through another day.
Please Eddie don't make me wait too long
I need you to be by my side, Eddie, so please hurry back to me so we can spend whatever time we have left together.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Aaron Collins, Maxwell Davis, Saul Bihari
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind