Karen Chandler
Encyclopedia
Eva Nadauld known professionally as Karen Chandler, was an American singer of popular music
during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, best known for her 1952 hit, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
".
, she began her singing career under the name Eve Young while still a student at Brigham Young University
, and it is possible that the university's name influenced her choice of stage name. She used the name Young as it was her Mother's maiden name; the Young family was well known for their musical talents and locally called the "Singin' Swingin' Youngs".
She made her national debut on Benny Goodman's
NBC
radio showcase on July 8, 1946, singing "I Don't Know Why
," and became the Goodman Orchestra's featured vocalist for the remainder of that year.
By early 1947, she joined the cast of the television showcase Musical Merry-Go-Round
and was subsequently signed to RCA Victor as a solo artist. She made her chart debut a year later with "Cuanto la Gusta" before recording "My Darling, My Darling
" as a duet with the Drugstore Cowboys vocalist Jack Lathrop
. Although both of these records were hits, her subsequent releases, such as "Laughing Boy
" and "It's Me" achieved less success, and in 1950 RCA terminated her contract.
After signing a new contract with Coral Records
, she emerged again in late 1952 under the name Karen Chandler. Her debut for Coral was the song "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
," and it became an enormous hit. Selling over a million copies, it peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard charts
and was quickly followed by a second single, "The Old Sewing Machine" b/w "I Hear the Music Now," which did not enjoy the same success. Her third release, "Goodbye Charlie, Goodbye" in the spring of 1953, fared better, reaching the Top 40, but two follow-ups, "Rosebud" and "Transfer", failed to make an impact. Chandler's final solo hit, "Why?" reached the charts in 1954.
Two subsequent recordings, "Positively No Dancing" and "Why Didn't You Tell Me?" were also unsuccessful, and in 1956 she changed genres, teaming up with country singer Jimmy Wakely
for the duet "Tonight You Belong to Me". This was followed at the end of 1956 by another duet, "As Far as I'm Concerned," which this time paired Chandler with Eddie Reardon.
In 1957, she released two singles under the Decca
label, "Love Is the $64,000 Question" and "Free Little Bird", but with the rise in popularity of Rock and Roll
, these largely went unnoticed. Karen Chandler had a minor comeback in 1967-68 with a revival of Hoagy Carmichael's "I Get Along Without You Very Well" on Dot. It reached No. 19 on Billboard's easy listening chart. She did not chart in the US again.
She was married to arranger Jack Pleis. She died November 3, 2010, and is survived by her children Michelle Stirber, Jason Pleis and Damon Pleis.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, best known for her 1952 hit, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" was released as single from Gloria Estefan's fourth solo-credited studio album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.-Formats and track listings:Europe CD Maxi Single ...
".
Biography
Born September 1, 1923, in Rexburg, IdahoRexburg, Idaho
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,257 people, 4,274 households, and 2,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,534.4 people per square mile . There were 4,533 housing units at an average density of 928.4 per square mile...
, she began her singing career under the name Eve Young while still a student at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, and it is possible that the university's name influenced her choice of stage name. She used the name Young as it was her Mother's maiden name; the Young family was well known for their musical talents and locally called the "Singin' Swingin' Youngs".
She made her national debut on Benny Goodman's
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio showcase on July 8, 1946, singing "I Don't Know Why
I Don't Know Why
"I Don't Know Why" is a 1968 song by Stevie Wonder, from the album For Once in My Life...
," and became the Goodman Orchestra's featured vocalist for the remainder of that year.
By early 1947, she joined the cast of the television showcase Musical Merry-Go-Round
Musical Merry-Go-Round
Musical Merry-Go-Round was a NBC TV series which aired from 25 July 1947 to 1949. The series featured live music performances.-Production history:Each 30 minute episode was hosted by Jack Kilty. Little else is known about this early television series....
and was subsequently signed to RCA Victor as a solo artist. She made her chart debut a year later with "Cuanto la Gusta" before recording "My Darling, My Darling
My Darling, My Darling
"My Darling, My Darling" is a popular song.It was written by Frank Loesser. The song was published in 1948.It was originally introduced by Byron Palmer and Doretta Morrow in the Brodway musical Where's Charley?...
" as a duet with the Drugstore Cowboys vocalist Jack Lathrop
Jack Lathrop
Jack Lathrop was an American vocalist and guitarist who recorded for RCA Victor as “Jack Lathrop and his Drugstore Cowboys” and had a couple of minor hits, in part because of the Petrillo recording bans.-Career:...
. Although both of these records were hits, her subsequent releases, such as "Laughing Boy
Laughing Boy (song)
"Laughing Boy" is a song written and produced by Smokey Robinson and recorded and released as a single by early Motown star Mary Wells in 1963. The single is notable for being the song to break a consecutive streak of top ten hits Wells had scored between mid-1962 and early-1963.-Song...
" and "It's Me" achieved less success, and in 1950 RCA terminated her contract.
After signing a new contract with Coral Records
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
, she emerged again in late 1952 under the name Karen Chandler. Her debut for Coral was the song "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" was released as single from Gloria Estefan's fourth solo-credited studio album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.-Formats and track listings:Europe CD Maxi Single ...
," and it became an enormous hit. Selling over a million copies, it peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
and was quickly followed by a second single, "The Old Sewing Machine" b/w "I Hear the Music Now," which did not enjoy the same success. Her third release, "Goodbye Charlie, Goodbye" in the spring of 1953, fared better, reaching the Top 40, but two follow-ups, "Rosebud" and "Transfer", failed to make an impact. Chandler's final solo hit, "Why?" reached the charts in 1954.
Two subsequent recordings, "Positively No Dancing" and "Why Didn't You Tell Me?" were also unsuccessful, and in 1956 she changed genres, teaming up with country singer Jimmy Wakely
Jimmy Wakely
James Clarence Wakeley , better known as Jimmy Wakely, was an American country-Western singer and actor, one of the last crooning cowpokes following World War II...
for the duet "Tonight You Belong to Me". This was followed at the end of 1956 by another duet, "As Far as I'm Concerned," which this time paired Chandler with Eddie Reardon.
In 1957, she released two singles under the Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
label, "Love Is the $64,000 Question" and "Free Little Bird", but with the rise in popularity of Rock and Roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, these largely went unnoticed. Karen Chandler had a minor comeback in 1967-68 with a revival of Hoagy Carmichael's "I Get Along Without You Very Well" on Dot. It reached No. 19 on Billboard's easy listening chart. She did not chart in the US again.
She was married to arranger Jack Pleis. She died November 3, 2010, and is survived by her children Michelle Stirber, Jason Pleis and Damon Pleis.
External links
- Allmusic entry for Eve Young
- [ Allmusic entry for Karen Chandler]