Jean Chapel

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Jean Chapel (born May 6, 1925 as Opal Jean Amburgey in Letcher County , Kentucky , † 1995 ) was an American country and rockabilly singer. In her career she recorded for many different record companies and wrote over 400 songs.

Life

Beginnings

Jean Chapel was one of six children. At the age of eleven she learned to play the guitar and the banjo . At that time she was already performing publicly with her sisters. At 13, her sisters and Chapel left home to perform on the WLAP radio station and moved to Lexington , Kentucky . They performed under the name The Sunshine Sister Band . Later the sisters also performed in Atlanta at the WSB Barn Dance . In 1944, Chapel became a member of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance , also a popular radio show. Her sister Irene later made a career at Capitol Records under the name Martha Carson .

Career

After the WSB Barn Dance was canceled in 1950, she switched to the WLS National Barn Dance in Chicago , followed by the most famous and successful radio show, the Grand Ole Opry . At WLS she met the young country singer Salty Holmes, whom she later married. With him she recorded a few records for MGM Records , but also released titles as a solo artist. After Chapel was signed to various record labels, she moved to the legendary Sun Records in Memphis , Tennessee in 1956 . There she recorded her most famous tracks, Welcome To The Club and I Won't Be Rockin 'Tonight . As usual with Sun, the titles were rockabilly, which was very popular in the southern states at the time . The record sold well and contributed significantly to its success. She has appeared on various television shows and continues to appear on the radio.

In the early 1960s, Chapel focused on her songwriting career. She moved to Nashville , where she became a neighbor of Tammy Wynette , who had some success with her songs. Stars like Eddy Arnold , Carl Smith and Dean Martin also recorded their titles. She performed in public until her death.

Discography

year title Record company
1956 Welcome To The Club / I Won't Be Rockin 'Tonight Sun Records
1956 Welcome To The Club / I Won't Be Rockin 'Tonight RCA Victor 20-6681
1957 Oo-Ba La Baby / I Had A Dream RCA Victor 20-6892
1959 The Little Martian / Waiting Cleff-Tone Records
1962 It Hurts Me / Turn Around And Walk Away Crest Records
1963 Don't Let Go / Your Tender Love Smash Records
  • Tell It Like It Is
 not published

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Chapel, Jean
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Amburgey, Opal Jean (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American country and rockabilly singer
DATE OF BIRTH May 6, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH Letcher County , Kentucky
DATE OF DEATH 1995