Biography
Born Eva Nadauld in Rexburg, Idaho, the vocalist who would later perform as Karen Chandler first gained notice as pop chanteuse Eve Young. While enrolled at Brigham Young University she launched her professional singing career, and the institution’s name evidently prompted her to adopt the stage moniker Eve Young by the time she stepped onto the national stage. On 8 July 1946 she appeared on bandleader Benny Goodman’s NBC radio program, delivering “I Don’t Know Why,” and remained the orchestra’s featured vocalist through the close of the year. Her first commercial recording, “For You, for Me, for Evermore,” was cut during this period. On New Year’s Day 1947 Jeanne McKeon succeeded her in Goodman’s lineup; Young then joined the cast of the television program Musical Merry-Go-Round and entered into a solo contract with RCA Victor. Roughly a year afterward she placed “Cuanto la Gusta” on the charts, and Drugstore Cowboys singer Jack Lathrop joined her for the successful follow-up “My Darling, My Darling.” Later RCA releases such as “Laughing Boy” and “It's Me” failed to register, prompting the label to drop her in 1950.
By late 1952 the now-blonde artist had adopted the name Karen Chandler and secured a Coral Records deal; her husband, staff arranger and conductor Jack Pleis, contributed to the sessions. The debut single “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” exceeded a million copies and reached number five on the Billboard pop survey. Its successor, “I Hear the Music Now,” stalled, yet “Goodbye Charlie, Goodbye” returned her to the Top 40 in spring 1953. Subsequent efforts “Rosebud” and “Transfer” made no impression, and her last solo chart entry, “Why?,” appeared in early 1954. “Positively No Dancing” and “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” likewise vanished, but a 1956 duet with country artist Jimmy Wakely, “Tonight You Belong to Me,” restored her to the hit parade. Another pairing, “As Far as I’m Concerned” with Eddie Reardon, surfaced at year’s end. With rock & roll ascendant, Chandler’s 1957 Decca sides “Love Is the $64,000 Question” and “Free Little Bird” attracted scant attention, bringing her recording activity to a close.
By late 1952 the now-blonde artist had adopted the name Karen Chandler and secured a Coral Records deal; her husband, staff arranger and conductor Jack Pleis, contributed to the sessions. The debut single “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” exceeded a million copies and reached number five on the Billboard pop survey. Its successor, “I Hear the Music Now,” stalled, yet “Goodbye Charlie, Goodbye” returned her to the Top 40 in spring 1953. Subsequent efforts “Rosebud” and “Transfer” made no impression, and her last solo chart entry, “Why?,” appeared in early 1954. “Positively No Dancing” and “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” likewise vanished, but a 1956 duet with country artist Jimmy Wakely, “Tonight You Belong to Me,” restored her to the hit parade. Another pairing, “As Far as I’m Concerned” with Eddie Reardon, surfaced at year’s end. With rock & roll ascendant, Chandler’s 1957 Decca sides “Love Is the $64,000 Question” and “Free Little Bird” attracted scant attention, bringing her recording activity to a close.