Jinny Osborn
Jinny Osborn | |
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 Osborn in 1959 | |
| Born | Virginia A. Cole April 25, 1927 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | May 19, 2003 (aged 76) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
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| Musical career | |
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| Years active | 1946–1961 |
| Labels | |
Jinny Osborn (born Virginia Cole; April 25, 1927 – May 19, 2003)[1] was an American popular music singer. She founded the group the Chordettes with three friends in 1946, which became one of the longest-lasting American vocal groups of the mid-20th century.[2] Her final departure in 1961 led to the group's dissolution.[2]
Early life and education
Osborn was born to Orlan H. "King" Cole and Katherine Flack in Seattle and grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.[2] Her father was president of the Barbershop Harmony Society,[2][3] and is also remembered today as the founder of the "Clipper City Chordsmen" of Manitowoc.[4] He was also the president of the Kingsbury Breweries Company.[5]
Osborn attended
Musical career
Osborn and three friends (Janet Ertel, Alice Mae Buschmann Spielvogel, and Dorothy Schwartz) formed the Chordettes in 1946, with Osborn singing tenor.[7] Alice Spielvogel was replaced by Carol Buschmann, her sister-in-law, in 1947. In 1952, Lynn Evans (née Hargate; May 2, 1924 – February 6, 2020) 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.
Initially they did principally folk music in the
In the same year, Osborn left the group to have a daughter, thereby missing appearing on the recording of "
Osborn did however appear on several of the group's subsequent major hits, including "Born to be With You" (1956), "Just Between You and Me" (1957) and "Lollipop" (1958).[8] She also appeared in the group's appearance on the very first episode of American Bandstand in 1957.[1]
Later life and legacy
After the breakup of The Chordettes, Osborn lived in southern California and largely avoided public life.[1][8] However, she continued to sing in informal barbershop quartet groups, including annual gatherings in Chicago.[8]
She died of cancer on May 19, 2003, in Palm Springs.[1]
Works cited
- "Jinny Osborn". Radio and Television Mirror: 47 & 84. July 1950.
- Averill, Gage (2003). Four Parts, No Waiting : A Social History of American Barbershop Quartet. Oxford University Press. p. 225. ISBN 9780195328936.
References
- ^ ISBN 9780857121172.
- ^ a b c d e f Unterberger, Richie. "The Chordettes". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ a b Mirror 1950, p. 84.
- ^ "About Us". Clipper City Chordsmen. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ Averill 2003, p. 140.
- ^ "Frances Shimer Group To Present Program At Stockton Tuesday". Freeport Journal Standard. February 3, 1945.
- ^ Mirror 1950, p. 46.
- ^ a b c d Pinchot, Joe (October 18, 2001). "Chordettes struck a chord with fans of Godfrey show". The Herald. Sharon, Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 2, 2015.