Jean Chapel
Encyclopedia
Opal Jean Amburgey known professionally as Jean Chapel, was an American country
singer and songwriter. She recorded for several record label
s and wrote over 400 songs, more than 170 of which were published in her lifetime.
Amburgey was born into a family of six children in Neon, Kentucky. At the age of 11 she learned guitar and banjo, and performed with her sisters as the Sunshine Sister band. Together they left home when Jean was 13 and were hired to play daily on WKLP-AM
in Lexington, Kentucky
in 1938. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia
in 1940 to sing on WSB Barn Dance; she began using the nickname Mattie at this time. Her sister Irene would later record with Columbia Records
under the name Martha Carson
.
In 1947, she married Salty Holmes
and in 1950 they moved to Chicago, Illinois to appear on National Barn Dance
on WLS-AM
. Soon Jean began appearing on the Grand Ole Opry
opposite Holmes. In 1956, she recorded a few rockabilly
recordings under the name Jean Chapel with Sun Records
; one of the tunes, "Welcome to the Club", was issued as a B-side of a single by Elvis Presley
. Sun promoted her as the Female Elvis, but the nickname stuck more successfully to Janis Martin
.
After Chapel divorced Holmes in 1956, she moved to Nashville
and devoted herself primarily to songwriting. She befriended Tammy Wynette
, who would later briefly marry her brother, Don (shortly before her marriage to George Jones
). Wynette asked her to record the duet "Crazy Me".
Chapel's greatest success in the music industry was as a songwriter, penning "Lonely Again
", a number one song for Eddy Arnold
. She also wrote "Lay Some Happiness on Me", one of Dean Martin
's most successful records of the 1960s and in 1973 her song "To Get to You", a hit for Jerry Wallace
, was nominated for Song of the Year by the Country Music Association
. Among the other artists to record Chapel songs are Liz Anderson
, Nancy Sinatra
, Tommy Overstreet
, Charlie McCoy
, and Lorrie Morgan
.
Chapel died August 19, 1995 in Port Orange, Florida
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer and songwriter. She recorded for several record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s and wrote over 400 songs, more than 170 of which were published in her lifetime.
Amburgey was born into a family of six children in Neon, Kentucky. At the age of 11 she learned guitar and banjo, and performed with her sisters as the Sunshine Sister band. Together they left home when Jean was 13 and were hired to play daily on WKLP-AM
WKLP
WKLP is a Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Keyser, West Virginia, serving Keyser, West Virginia and Mineral County, West Virginia. WKLP is owned and operated by West Virginia Radio Corporation.-Format Flip:...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 1938. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in 1940 to sing on WSB Barn Dance; she began using the nickname Mattie at this time. Her sister Irene would later record with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
under the name Martha Carson
Martha Carson
Martha Carson , born Irene Amburgey, was an American gospel-country music singer most popular during the 1950s.-Early life and rise to fame:Ambergay was born in Neon, Kentucky...
.
In 1947, she married Salty Holmes
Salty Holmes
Floyd Holmes , better known as Salty Holmes, was an American country musician and Western B-movie actor....
and in 1950 they moved to Chicago, Illinois to appear on National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance, broadcast by WLS-AM in Chicago, Illinois starting in 1924, was one of the first American country music radio programs and a direct precursor of the Grand Ole Opry...
on WLS-AM
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
. Soon Jean began appearing on the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
opposite Holmes. In 1956, she recorded a few rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
recordings under the name Jean Chapel with Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
; one of the tunes, "Welcome to the Club", was issued as a B-side of a single by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. Sun promoted her as the Female Elvis, but the nickname stuck more successfully to Janis Martin
Janis Martin
Janis Darlene Martin was an American rockabilly and country music singer. She was one of the few women working in the male-dominated rock and roll music field during the 1950s and one of country music's early female innovators...
.
After Chapel divorced Holmes in 1956, she moved to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and devoted herself primarily to songwriting. She befriended Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
, who would later briefly marry her brother, Don (shortly before her marriage to George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
). Wynette asked her to record the duet "Crazy Me".
Chapel's greatest success in the music industry was as a songwriter, penning "Lonely Again
Lonely Again
"Lonely Again" is a 1967 single by Eddy Arnold. "Lonely Again" went to number one on the country charts for two weeks and spent a total of fifteen weeks on the country chart.-Chart performance:...
", a number one song for Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
. She also wrote "Lay Some Happiness on Me", one of Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
's most successful records of the 1960s and in 1973 her song "To Get to You", a hit for Jerry Wallace
Jerry Wallace
Jerry Wallace was an American country and pop singer. Between 1958 and 1964, Wallace charted nine hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the #8 "Primrose Lane." He made his debut on the country music charts in 1965, entering it thirty-five times between then and 1980. In that timespan, Wallace...
, was nominated for Song of the Year by the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
. Among the other artists to record Chapel songs are Liz Anderson
Liz Anderson
Liz Anderson was anAmerican country music singer/songwriter who was one of a wave of a new generation of female vocalists in the genre during the 1960's to write and record her own songs on a regular basis. Writing in The New York Times Bill Friskics-Warren noted, "Like her contemporary Loretta...
, Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
, Tommy Overstreet
Tommy Overstreet
Tommy Overstreet is an American country singer. Often known simply as "T.O." by fans and radio disc jockeys, Overstreet has five top five hit singles in the Billboard country charts and 11 top 10 singles. His popularity peaked in the 1970s.-Early life:Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Overstreet...
, Charlie McCoy
Charlie McCoy
Charles "Charlie" Ray McCoy is an American musician noted for his harmonica playing. In his career, McCoy has backed several notable musicians including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Astor, Elvis Presley and Ween. He has also recorded thirty-seven studio albums, including fourteen for Monument Records...
, and Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
.
Chapel died August 19, 1995 in Port Orange, Florida
Port Orange, Florida
Port Orange is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 52,793. The city is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area; the metropolitan area's 2006 population was estimated at...
.
Discography
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Records |
| 1957 | Oo-Ba La Baby / I Had A Dream | RCA Records |
| 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 |
|
not issued |