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.

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

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 groups 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.

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.

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.

She died on April 5, 2009, in Blairstown, New Jersey, aged 83, from esophageal cancer.

Promo photo of The Chordettes that made personal and television appearances in both the United States and overseas from 1957 until the group broke up in 1962. L-R: Jinny Lockhart, Nancy Overton, Lynn Evans, Carol Bushman



Below, The Chordettes who regrouped in the early 90s in Branson, Missouri. L-R: Lynn Evans, Nancy Overton, Jean Swain, Doris Alberti

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

(Article information provided by Nancy Overton.)

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