Collection Summary
Chordettes Collection of Musical Arrangements
1938-1995
(bulk 1954-1961)
1938-1995
(bulk 1954-1961)
ML31.C55
Chordettes (Musical group)
870 items
11 containers
3.0 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Music Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
The Chordettes was an American female vocal quartet popular during the 1950s and early 1960s. The collection contains orchestra and band arrangements for songs, medleys, and jingles, including their hits "Mr. Sandman" and "Lollipop." It also includes a small amount of photographs.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Bleyer, Archie.
Bresler, Jerry.
Kraus, Milton.
Matz, Peter, 1928-2002.
Robertson, Don, 1922-2015.
Tyler, Jim, 1929-2005.
Organizations
Chordettes (Musical group)
Chordettes (Musical group)
Chordettes (Musical group)--Photographs.
Subjects
Arrangers (Musicians)--United States.
Music--Manuscripts--United States.
Popular music--United States--1941-1950.
Popular music--United States--1951-1960.
Popular music--United States--1961-1970.
Form/Genre
Arrangements (Music)
Photographic prints.
Scores.
Provenance
Gift; Carolyn Evans Mand; 2018
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing History
The Chordettes Collection of Musical Arrangements was processed by Mark Horowitz in 2017. Nancy Seeger coded the finding aid for EAD format in 2018.
Copyright Status
Materials from the Chordettes Collection of Musical Arrangements are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
Access and Restrictions
The Chordettes Collection of Musical Arrangements is open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Chordettes Collection of Musical Arrangements, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
The Chordettes was a popular American female singing quartet of the 1950s and early 1960s, best known for their hit songs "Mr. Sandman" and "Lollipop." Jinny Osborn (1927-2003) formed the group in 1946 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with three college friends. Osborn's musical tastes were influenced by her father, who was president of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. In addition to Osborn, the original members of the group were: Janet Ertel (d. 1988), Alice Mae Buschmann Spielvogel, and Dorothy "Dottie" Hummitzsch Schwartz (d. 2016). In 1947, Carol Buschmann replaced Alice Mae Buschmann (they were sister-in-laws); Lynn Evans replaced Schwartz in 1952; and Marjorie Needham replaced Osborn in 1953 (Osborn later returned to the group). Nancy Overton (d. 2009) also was a member at a later time. The group disbanded in 1961 when they couldn't find a suitable replacement for Jinny Osborn, who had left the group for the last time.
The Chordettes began performing locally in Sheboygan singing folk music. After switching to a cappella singing in the close harmony (barbershop harmony) style, they won an audition on Arthur Godfrey's radio program
Talent Scouts
in 1949 and soon became regulars on the show. Around this time they recorded several EPs for Columbia Records.
In 1953, Archie Bleyer, Arthur Godfrey's music director and orchestra leader, founded Cadence Records and hired many of Godfrey's regulars for the label, including the Chordettes. Now featuring musical accompaniment, the group had several hits for Cadence, including their biggest, "Mr. Sandman," in 1954. After the success of "Mr. Sandman," the Chordettes performed in nightclubs, on radio and television, and even entertained for President Eisenhower. Other hits for the quartet included “Eddie My Love" (1956), "Born to Be with You" (1956), "Lay Down Your Arms" (1956), and "Just Between You and Me" (1957). Their song "Lollipop," which appealed to a rock and roll audience, rose to no. 2 in 1958. The group also charted with vocal versions of the themes from the Disney television program
Zorro
(1959) and the film
Never on Sunday
(1961).
The Chordettes was one of the longest-lived vocal groups of their time, adapting to the rock era with covers of rock and R&B songs for the pop market. They continued to alternate between pop songs and songs aimed for the rock market during the late 1950s and early 1960s with covers such as "Charlie Brown," "Lonely Boy," and "Pink Shoelaces." The group had fourteen chart records and four top tens in twenty-two releases.
Scope and Content Note
The collection chiefly contains musical arrangements for orchestra and small ensemble written for the female pop vocal quartet, The Chordettes. It spans the years 1938-1995, with the bulk of the material dating from 1954 to 1961. The arrangements consist of holograph or photocopied manuscript scores, instrumental parts, lyric sheets, and sketches. Only those songs with vocal or piano-vocal scores present contain the four-part harmonies and lyrics. The collection includes arrangements for many of their hit songs, including "Mr. Sandman" and "Lollipop," as well as medleys and jingles. Items may be represented by combinations of manuscript, printed music, photocopies or ozalids - sometimes multiples in different versions. The group worked with numerous arrangers, including the following individuals who are identified in the collection: Archie Bleyer, Jerry Bresler, Milton Kraus, Peter Matz, Don Robertson, and Jim Tyler. The collection also contains a small amount of photographs, chiefly personal snapshots of the singers' friends and families and several more formal portraits.
Organization of the Chordettes Collection of Musical Arrangements
The Collection is organized in two series:
-
[Music, 1938-1995](mus)
-
[Photographs, circa 1950-circa 1994](photo)
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/2014572574]
Container List
Container
Contents
1-11
Music, 1938-1995
1938-1995
Songs, 1940-1992
1940-1992
Chiefly scores and instrumental parts. Only titles with vocal scores or piano-vocal scores listed contain the four-part harmonies and lyrics.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
1/1-2
Alabama jubilee
Piano-conductor scores and instrumental parts
Arranged by Peter Matz.
1/3
Around the world
Full score and vocal score
1/4
Ballin' the jack
Piano-conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Milt Kraus.
1/5-6
Blues medley
Piano-conductor scores, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Milt Kraus.
1/7
Born to be with you, 1956
1956
Piano-vocal score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Written and arranged by Don Robertson.
1/8
But beautiful
Conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
2/1
Charlie Brown
Vocal score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
2/2-3
Community sing
Piano-conductor score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
2/4
Davy Crockett
Conductor score and instrumental parts
2/5
Dixie Danny, 1955
1955
Piano-conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
2/6
Don't take your love from me
Piano-conductor score and instrumental parts
2/7
Down at 33rd and 3rd
Instrumental parts
3/1
Echo of love
Instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
3/2
Eddie, my love
Conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
3/3
Exodus
Full score and vocal score
3/4
Fascination
Full score and vocal score
3/5-6
Friends, 1957
1957
Piano-conductor scores, vocal scores, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Milt Kraus.
3/7
Getting to know you medley
Piano-conductor scores
Arranged by Jim Tyler.
3/8
Golden slippers
Conductor score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jim Tyler.
3/9
Goody goody
Conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
3/10
Greensleeves
Conductor score and instrumental parts
4/1
Heart, 1955
1955
Piano-conductor scores, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
4/2
Hummin' bird
Conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
4/3
I cried a tear
Vocal score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
4/4-6
I enjoy being a girl, 1958
1958
Piano-conductor scores and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
5/1
I'm sitting on top of the world
Piano-conductor scores and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
5/2
It's you, it's you I love
Conductor score and instrumental parts
5/3
Just between you and me
Vocal score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
5/4
Lay down your arms
Conductor scores and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
5/5
Lay down your arms
Piano-conductor score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
5/6
Like a baby
Vocal score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
5/7
Little shoemaker
Conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
5/8
Lollipop
Piano-conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
5/9
Look who's in love
Piano-conductor scores and instrumental parts
5/10
Love never changes
Vocal score and instrumental parts
6/1
Medley
Conductor score and instrumental parts
Includes "Candy and cake."
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
6/2
Medley
Piano-conductor score
Includes "Just between me and you" and "Born to be with you."
6/3
Medley
Piano-conductor scores and instrumental parts
Includes "Mr. Sandman."
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
6/4-5
Mr. Sandman
Piano-conductor score, vocal scores, and instrumental parts
6/6
Moonglow
Conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
6/7
My heart stood still / My wonderful one,
1990
1990
Vocal scores
Score for second selection marked "Lynn" and is dated Nov. 17, 1990.
7/1
Never on Sunday
Piano-conductor scores, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
7/2-3
Never on Sunday medley
Piano-conductor score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jim Tyler.
7/4
No other arms--no other lips
Piano-conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
7/5
Old is in, 1992
1992
Vocal score
Arranged by Walter Latzko.
7/6-7
Personality (medley)
Piano-conductor scores, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jim Tyler.
7/8
Pink shoe laces
Vocal score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
8/1
Que sera sera
Full score and vocal score
8/2-4
Record medley
Piano-conductor scores and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
9/1
Relax, 1940
1940
Conductor score, piano-conductor score, vocal score, piano-vocal score, and instrumental parts
9/2
Soft sands
Vocal score and instrumental/vocal parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
9/3
Summer place
Conductor score, piano-conductor score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jim Tyler.
9/4
Tall Paul
Vocal score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
9/5-6
Tammy
Full score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
9/7
Teen age goodnite
Vocal score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Archie Bleyer.
9/8
They can't take that away from me
Conductor score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jim Tyler.
9/9-10
True love
Full score, conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
10/1
Up above my head
Conductor scores and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jim Tyler.
10/2
Viafore's
Vocal score
10/3
Way down yonder in New Orleans, 1955
1955
Conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
10/4
We love a melody (from the good old days)
Conductor score and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
10/5
Where is your heart
Full score and vocal score
Song from Moulin Rouge.
10/6
Whistlin' Willie
Vocal score and instrumental parts
10/7
White rose of Athens
Vocal score and instrumental parts
11/1-2
Zorro
Piano-conductor score, vocal score, and instrumental parts
Arranged by Jerry Bresler.
11/3
Unidentified
Piano-conductor score and sketches
Miscellaneous Music, 1938-1995
1938-1995
Jingles, sheet music, songbooks, and miscellaneous instrumental parts.
Arranged by type of material.
11/4
Jingles, 1952-1953, undated
1952-1953, undated
11/5
Sheet music, 1938-1990
1938-1990
11/6
Songbooks, 1954-1964
1954-1964
11/7
Guitar parts, 1994-1995, undated
1994-1995, undated
11/8
Tenor saxophone parts, 1995, undated
1995, undated
11
Photographs, circa 1950-circa 1994
circa 1950-circa 1994
11/9
Miscellany, circa 1950-circa 1994
circa 1950-circa 1994
Mostly candid, personal photographs of family members and friends. Includes several photographs of The Chordettes as a group.