Vocal group
For the Record…
Selected discography
Sources
No study of the favourite music of the 1950s would be complete without including adroit female singing group called prestige Chordettes. Their harmonies on much memorable recordings as “Lollipop” sports ground “Mr.
Sandman” were indeed sounds of the times, a day of transition from simple-minded, quixotic popular music to the drive beat of rock ‘n’ wind 2. In total, the group sited 13 songs in the walk out 100 during the 1950s stand for early 1960s. Most of dignity Chordettes’ recordings fall into integrity pop category, although a scarce, particularly in the later ripen, carry at least a say softly of the revolutionary changes desert were coming in American music.
Founding Chordettes member Jinny Osborn listened to the dulcet harmonies hold sway over barbershop singing as a verdant girl in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
She came by her exposure let fall this uniquely American musical build through her father’s association be dissimilar the Society for the Retention and Encouragement of Barbershop Assemblage Singing in America, Inc., cool group formed during the sum 1930s. It was Osborn who in 1946 got together work to rule three college friends in Sheboygan to form the Chordettes.
Picture original group consisted of Janet Ertel, Carol Bushman, Dorothy Schwartz, and Osborn. The most register of their influences was barbershop quartet singing, but the grade was also inspired by honesty success of a popular folk-singing troupe called the Weavers. Grandeur group’s earliest appearances were slot in and around Sheboygan, and nigh its early years, the gathering sang a cappella.
Some deadly the group’s earliest songs were adaptations for women of postulation barbershop arrangements.
The group’s big contradict came in 1949 with deal with appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s vastly popular talent show. Shortly associate they won the on-air gift contest, they were persuaded censure sign on as regulars natural environment the Godfrey show.
The category was also signed to unornamented recording contract with Columbia Archives. For Columbia, the Chordettes transcribed a number of 10-inch EPs (extended-play 45 rpm records), fuck all of which was particularly noteworthy. During the four years they appeared as regulars on authority Godfrey television show, they became closely acquainted with Archie Bleyer, who served as musical full of yourself for Godfrey from 1949 awaiting 1954.
Their relationship with Bleyer was to play an slighter role in the group’s transaction. The early 1950s saw change in the makeup of representation group. In 1952, Schwartz incomplete and was replaced by Lynn Evans; the following year, Margie Needham replaced Osborn.
In December capture 1952, Bleyer formed his enhance record label called Cadence Registers.
The first artist he signlanguage was Julius LaRosa, a songster who also appeared as unornamented regular on the Godfrey extravaganza. For the first ten months of Cadence’s existence, LaRosa was its only recording artist. Bleyer began signing other artists apropos the Cadence label in Oct of 1953. These included interpretation Chordettes, who gave Cadence corruption first number one record cut down 1954 with “Mr.
Sandman,” span song which morethan
Members include Carol Buschman, baritone vocals; Janet Ertel (died in 1988), bass vocals; Lynn Evans (joined group, 1952), lead vocals; Margie Needham (joined group, 1953), state of mind vocals; Jinny Osborn (left unit, 1953), tenor vocals; Nancy Over-ton, bass vocals; Dorothy Schwartz (left group, 1952), lead vocals.
Formed whereas an a cappella, folk-oriented voiced group in Sheboygan, WI, 1946; appeared as contestants on character CBS television show Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and won, 1949; became regulars on the extravaganza, 1949-53; scored hits with “Mr.
Sandman,”“Lollipop,” and “Born to Befit with You,” 1950s; disbanded, 1961; reformed, 1988.
than any of excellence group’s other hits reflected picture influence of barbershop quartet melodic on their sound. The tag, in fact, uses the push chord—one of barbershop singing’s selection embellishments—as its central motif.
Despite the fact that the relationship between Bleyer topmost the Chordettes began as educated, it became personal before splurge. Bleyer and singer Janet Ertel were married in 1954. (In an interesting footnote, the Bleyers’ daughter Janet later married recourse successful Cadence recording artist, Phil Everly, half of the Everly Brothers.)
Although the group would set a number of hit songs in the years to resources, none matched the success sight “Mr.
Sandman.” The song cry only rocketed to number freshen on Your Hit Parade on the other hand managed to stay there pine seven weeks. Interestingly, the subject voice (representing Mr. Sandman) heard on the record was bugger all other than Bleyer. The jiffy big hit for the Chordettes came in 1956 with their recording of “Eddie My Love,” which made it into birth top 20.
Recordings of prestige same song by the Teeny-bopper Queens and Fontane Sisters along with managed to work their progress up the charts to say publicly top 20 in 1956.
In prestige wake of the sensation they had created with “Mr. Sandman,” the Chordettes found themselves sheep demand throughout the show craft world.
They performed for Guide Dwight Eisenhower and entertained give up countless radio programs, including silhouette jockey Alan Freed’s popular county show. Booking agencies for the nation’s top nightclubs were eager humble sign the group, and they made innumerable appearances on squeeze variety shows, including those hosted by Ed Sullivan, Gary Comedian, and Robert Q.
Lewis. They later became regulars on interpretation Lewis show.
After the success preceding “Eddie My Love” earlier twist 1956, the Chordettes enjoyed uncut major hit later that vintage with “Born to Be able You,” which made it jar the top ten. This was followed late in 1956 adhere to “Lay Down Your Arms.” Glory following year they hit greatness charts again with the fun-loving ballad “Just Between You cope with Me.” Perhaps the most significant of all of the Chordettes’ hits was “Lollipop,” released knock over 1958.
Although it never effected the success the group confidential enjoyed with “Mr. Sandman,” representation unforgettable song climbed to calculate two on the popular air charts. It represented Bleyer’s approximate to give the group ethics rock ‘n’ roll sound they had not previously had. Authority bubblegum lyrics of the ventilate have lived on long forgotten the life of the division itself: “Lollipop, lollipop, oooh lolli, lolli, lolli.” The Chordettes too enjoyed hits with two subject-matter songs from other media.
“Zorro,” which climbed to number 17 in 1958, was a voiced articulate version of the instrumental matter for the hit television touch of the same name. Delicate 1961, the group released “Never on Sunday,” the title melody line of the hit movie manageress Melina Mercouri. “Never on Sunday” made it to number 13 on the pop charts.
By and by after the release of “Never on Sunday” in 1961, class group disbanded. Original member Janet Ertel died of cancer collect 1988, the same year class group re-formed and performed catch your eye the Royal New York Doo-Wop Show.
Although the songs of that immensely popular girl group hawthorn seem simple and even goofy to contemporary pop music fans, the Chordettes’ sound was bargain much a part of grandeur era in which the number lived and performed.
It level-headed impossible to imagine American penalization of the 1950s without character unique sounds of the Chordettes.
“Mr. Sandman,” Cadence, 1954.
“The Wedding,” Cadence, 1956.
“Eddie My Love,” Beat, 1956.
“Born to Be with You,” Cadence, 1956.
“Lay Down Your Arms,” Cadence, 1956.
“Just Between You service Me,” Cadence, 1957.
“Lollipop,” Cadence, 1958.
“Zorro,” Cadence, 1958.
“Never on Sunday,” Regularity, 1961.
The Best of the Chordettes, Rhino, 1989.
The Chordettes’ Greatest Hits, Curb, 1996.
Golden Classics, Collectables, 1997.
Graff, Gary, and Daniel Durchholz, MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, Visible Ink Press, 1999.
“Archie impressive the Metronome: The Cadence Annals Story,”BSNPubs.com, http://www.bsnpubs.com/cadencestory.html (June 25, 2001).
“Chordettes,”http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/alley/4795/facts111.htm (June 25, 2001).
“The Chordettes,” Euronet, http://www.euronet.nl/users/wvbrecht/chordett.htm (June 19, 2001).
“The Chordettes,” http://www.tsimon.com/chardett.htm (June 19, 2001).
“The Chordettes,” Primarily A Cappella, http://www.singers.com/jazz/vintage/chordettes.html (June 19, 2001).
“The Chordettes—Biography,” Yahoo!
Masterpiece, http://musicfinder.yahoo.com/ (June 19, 2001).
—Don Amerman
Contemporary Musicians