The Hearts aka The Jaynetts

(left to right) Rex Garvin, Theresa Chatman, Anna Barnhill, Justine Washington, Joyce Peterson
The Hearts enjoyed there time in the spotlight, over achieving outstanding individual imput to pioneer a dustinctive style and sound in female vocal group harmony.

Zell Sanders

The group’s story begins in 1954, when Louise Harris, a student at JHS 136, in New York was asked to join Joyce West, Hazel Crutchfield, and Forestine Barnes for rehearsals at the Bronx home of Zell Sanders a female songwriter attempting to break into the record business. Sanders  had started her own production company and was looking for an R&B group when she found the original Hearts, Hazel Crutchfield, Forestine Barnes, Joyce West, and later Louise Harris singing together at the Apollo Theatre.

Harris, a student at JHS 136, in New York was asked to join Joyce West, Hazel Crutchfield, and Forestine Barnes for rehearsals at the Bronx home of Zel Sanders. Accompanied by Sander's neighbor Rex Garin on piano, the quartet recorded Sanders' song "Lonely Nights" for Baton Records, a New York independent, and became one of the first girl groups to reach the R&B charts when "Lonely Nights" made #5 in 1955

The Hearts came together in 1954 when Louise Harris, a student at JHS 136, in New York was asked to join Joyce West, Hazel Crutchfield, and Forestine Barnes for rehearsals at the Bronx home of Zel Sanders a female songwriter attempting to break into the record business. Sanders’ tough attitude brought them to the attention of the small Baton Records label. There accompanied by Sander's neighbor Rex Garin on piano, the quartet recorded Sanders' song "Lonely Nights."

The song became a big hit on the R&B charts and is credited as being one of the first true girl group tunes. The group had some local success in New York with some follow-ups , but nothing came close to the chart power of "Lonely Nights." After a series of mild items on baton, the Hearts were moved to Zell’s own J&S Records, but the girls in the original group were dumped when Sanders felt they weren’t being serious enough about being recording stars.

Baby Washington

By 1957, the new group, which featured a young Baby Washington, in addition to Anna Barnhill, Theresa Chatman and Joyce Peterson, began recording. The first release "Dancing In A Dream World," kept the Hearts’ schedule busy, but the chart was still barren.

Over the next few years a dozen girls or more would filter in and out of the Hearts as Sanders picked who would be on what recording, hired and fired personnel at will, and created new group names to release her product. One such name was the Jaynetts, a combination of the J in J&S records, and Heart singer Lezli Valentine’s middle name, Anetta. In 1958 Sanders’ released "I Wanted To Be Free b/w Where Are You Tonight," to an indifferent audience.

Hearts 1962
Top - Theresa Chatman
Bottom L to R: Marie Hood, Cindy Maye and Louise Marray
Photo Courtesy Louise Murray

Meanwhile, various configurations of the Hearts kept releasing singles through 1961 without much more than regional interest. Sanders encountered some financial problems in the early 1960s and despite the creation of new labels like Tuff and Zell’s, couldn’t keep her business afloat. Executives at Chess Records still thought Sanders had something going for her, though, and helped to bankroll her next venture, a revamped version of the Jaynetts.

In 1963, Sanders, producer Abner Spector and his wife Lona Stevens, came together to create one of the most talked-about records of the 1960s. "Sally Go ‘Round The Roses," by The Jaynetts, a nursery rhyme turned pop hit was recorded during several sessions over for more than a week. Estimates now put the cost of this recording at well over $60,000, a huge cost for something that only lasted about 3 minutes and for a producer who hadn’t had a bonafide hit since 1955.

Below is current as of 2013:
Lezli, Marie and Louise would become members of the Jaynetts. Joyce West and Anna Barnhill settled in upstate New York where they raised their families. Theresa Chatman became a minister and has died. Justine "Baby" Washington was the most sucessful former Heart having many pop and R&B hits in the 60"s and 70s.