Nancy Overton

Nancy Swain Overton formed a singing group with sister Jean Swain and two college friends, Bix Brent and Pauli Skindlov in 1946. The group toured with orchestra leader Tommy Tucker for 6 months on the road, known as Tommy Tucker's Two Timers recording "Maybe You'll Be There" with Tommy and his lead singer Don Brown. Pauli left the group and was replaced by Ellie Decker who had sung with The Meltones (Mel Torme's quartet). They also sang with singer and band leader Ray Heatherton (father of actress Joey Heatherton) from whom they got the name The Heathertones. After Ellie left the group to get married, she was replaced as lead singer by Marianne McCormick. The Heathertones disbanded in 1953.

Related Topics:
Jean Swain - Bix Brent - 1946 - Mel Torme - Joey Heatherton - The Heathertones - 1953

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Nancy, married to jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and arranger Hall Overton, sang "Nobody's Heart" with the Teddy Charles Quartet in 1954.

Related Topics:
Hall Overton - Teddy Charles - 1954

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In 1957, Janet Ertel of The Chordettes, though still recording with the group, didn't want to tour any longer. Janet was married to Archie Bleyer, owner of Cadence Records, the group's label. Nancy was invited to appear with The Chordettes for live appearances and did so until the group broke up in the early 60s. She didn't record with The Chordettes on their label, Cadence Records, however she did appear on some "Stars For Defense" programs.

Related Topics:
1957 - Janet Ertel - The Chordettes - Archie Bleyer - Cadence Records - 60s

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After her husband Hall Overton died in 1972, she retired from show business and worked for Prentice-Hall Publishers as an editorial assistant. Isaac Asimov used to drop in occasionally and help out.

Related Topics:
1972 - Prentice-Hall Publishers - Isaac Asimov

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In the early 1990s, The Chordettes regrouped with original member Lynn Evans, Nancy and her sister Jean Swain, and Doris Alberti doing shows ranging from a doo wop concert to touring with Eddy Arnold. A live cassette of a concert in Branson, Missouri was recorded. In 2005, Lynn Evans appeared on a PBS tv special with other 50s pop icons singing "Lollipop".

Related Topics:
1990 - Lynn Evans - Eddy Arnold - Branson, Missouri - 2005 - PBS tv - 50s

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Rick Overton, comic, actor and writer, is the son of Hall and Nancy Overton.

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