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IN 1953 I WAS A UNITED AIRLINES STEWARDESS FLYING OUT OF CHICAGO AND LIVING AT HOME IN BERWYN, ILLINOIS. 1 was singing in a barbershop quartet with my mother. I had been a music major at DePauw University for two years. My mother and I used to go to a place called, "The Ship's Café" on Rush Street in Chicago where the barbershoppers congregated. The owner loved barbershop harmony and didn't mind having people singing in the comers of his tavern I learned the tenor parts of many of the standard barbershop songs from several good friends named Bob Haeger, Buzz Haeger and Lyle Pilcher, all big names in the barbershop organization.
On a Wednesday in late June 1953,1 received a call from Bob Haeger who asked, "How would you like to sing with the Chordettes?" I replied, "Are you kidding?" I was a big fan of the group that had been "regulars" until March 1953 on the Arthur Godfrey show. At the same time he was talking with me, the Chordettes were on the other line calling from Pittsburgh where they were appearing in a nightclub. They were looking for a replacement (not just a temporary substitute as some uninformed people write) for their tenor and founder, Jinny Osborn Lockard who was going to have a baby. I agreed to fly to Pittsburgh to audition on Thursday after my return flight from Moline, Illinois.
I met with the Chordettes in their hotel room. We chatted, and I sight read through a couple of songs with them. One of the songs was Side by Side which had been arranged by Walter Latzko (more about Walter later). I was invited to join them and asked how soon I could begin rehearsing I said that I had a flight to Los Angeles on Friday, would return Sunday and could join them Monday in Cleveland where they had a nightclub engagement. They said that would be fine. So I quit my job, packed my worldly belongings, and on Monday, July 1st I was performing. In 10 days I learned 16 songs and their nightclub act, and was outfitted with the Chordettes' wardrobe (formal and informal). 1 made my debut with them at the Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota