The Heathertones vocal quartet took form in 1946 with members Nancy Swain Overton

Nancy Overton

Nancy Swain Overton was an American singer.Overton first formed a singing group with her sister Jean Swain and two college friends, Bix Brent and Pauli Skindlov in 1946...

, her sister Jean Swain

Jean Swain

Jean Adair Swain was born in New York City and grew up in Port Washington, Long Island, where she graduated from high school at age 16. Her musical talents included playing the cello in orchestras and chamber music groups, arranging, composing and teaching...

, Bix Brent

Bix Brent

Bix Brent was a founding member of The Heathertones who sang on many recordings in the early 1950s...

 and Pauli Skindlov. Jean and Bix were both graduates of Smith College

Smith College

Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...

, while Nancy and Pauli had completed their studies at Juilliard. Pauli was replaced by Ellie Decker whose lead spot was eventually filled by Marianne McCormick for six of the seven years the group was together.

They wrote all their own vocal arrangements and band lead sheets. Among their many recordings were those with Benny Goodman

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...

, Buddy Greco

Buddy Greco

-Biography:He was born Armando Greco in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Greco began playing piano at the age of four. His first professional work was playing with Benny Goodman's band. Most of Greco's work has been in the jazz and pop genres...

 and Tommy Dorsey

Tommy Dorsey

Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...

. They appeared regularly on network TV with Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...

, Bert Parks

Bert Parks

Bert Parks, born Bertram Jacobson , was an American actor, singer, and radio and television announcer, best known for hosting the annual Miss America telecast from 1955 to 1979....

 and others, always involved with the skits, live commercials, etc. typical of TV shows of that era. The group disbanded in 1953.

Three recordings they made on October 27, 1949 with Buddy Greco and the Benny Goodman orchestra are available on a cd recording "Benny Goodman: 1949-1951". The songs are "Brother Bill", "Spin a Record" and "You're Always There".

Information based on interviews with Nancy Overton.