Jean Chapel & Salty Holmes

Opal Jean Amburgey (Jean Chapel aka. "Mattie" O'Neil-Holmes-Calogne) was born on March 6, 1925, the youngest of three girls, born in Letcher country, Ky. She also had three brothers, Conley, Glen, and Don.

At the age of 10, Jean wanted to pick and play like her father and grandfather. Her first instrument was the mandolin. "She tuned that mandolin to make it sound like a banjo," Minnie says, "and with your eyes closed you have thought it was a banjo." The banjo was a favorite instrument for Jean, but money to buy one with was in short supply during the depression era. Her father made a considerable sacrifice by selling some of his carpentry tools to get money for a banjo.

In 1936, at age 11, Jean began her singing career with her two older sisters in the Sunshine Sister Band. After two years of daily practice and countless public performances, the highly polished Sunshine Sisters were in great demand.

At age 13, Jean would leave home with older sister, Minnie, 18; and sister, Martha,17; to perform daily at WLAP radio in Lexington, Kentucky. They would stay with the station for almost a year. Even at this young age, "She was the star," says older sister, Minnie. "She sang lead on most of our songs; she had quite the personality."

At age 15, Jean had already performed at literally hundreds of shows, appeared daily on radio stations, sang on barn dances, became a member of the Coon Creek Girls, and was about to begin what she would be most remembered for--WRITING SONGS!

When Jean passed away in 1995, she had written well over 400 songs with more than 170 songs recorded and released by major artists such as: George Jones, Jerry Wallace, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, George Morgan, Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Connie Smith, Roy Rogers, and Sonny James, just to mention a few.

The Country Music Association would nominate Jean's 1973 hit "To Get To You" as one of the top five songs in the country that year. Jean held seven BMI song writing awards for her song writing abilities.

However, her song writing should not be overshadow the rest of her amazing career. As music historian, Robert Oermann, says "her saga encompasses virtually every major development in country music's history - string bands, radio barn dances, television, rockabilly, and the Nashville Sound."

At age 15, "Jean could play anything with strings," remembers Minnie. The three sisters would move to WSB Radio in Atlanta to set up a barn dance program under the direction of John Lair. Here, Lair would change the Sunshine Sisters' names to Minnie, Mattie, and Marthy. Jean would take the name "Mattie" and use this name on and off throughout her singing and song writing career. For the next 10 years, Jean would move around from WSB in Atlanta, to WLW in Cincinnati, to the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, to the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1947, Jean would marry Salty (Floyd) Holmes, an original Prarie Rambler Band member, and truly great entertainer of his day. The two would appear numerous times on the Grand Ole Opry as "Mattie and Salty" throughout their career.

In the early 50's, Jean would record solo for Hickory Records under the name Opal Jean; record with her two sisters for the King label in 1951 as the Sunshine Sisters; and officially become, Jean Chapel, in 1956 when signing with Sun Records to sing rockabilly. In addition to these labels, Jean recorded for Capitol, London, Challenge, Smash, and RCA Records.

She was billed "the female Elivs Presley" by Sun Records, which released her song "Welcome to the Club" on the flip side of an Elvis Presley release. Historian Robert Oermann says, "the finest rockabilly performance by a woman at Sun Records was unquestionably, 'Welcome to the Club' by Jean Chapel."

A divorce, in 1956, from Salty Holmes would lead Jean to slow her recording career and begin more concentration on writing throughout the 60's. Before long, dozens of Nashville artists were recording her works.

1966 would find Jean becoming close friends with Virgina Pugh, later to be Tammy Wynette. Tammy would move into the same trailer court as Jean in Nashville. Don, Jean's little brother, was dating Tammy at that time and thought that his sister could give Tammy some pointers in the music business. Concerning this time, Tammy Wynette would write, "I loved his sister Jean and her daughter Lana, and I spent most of my social time with them. Jean fascinated me because she knew so much more about the music business than I did....Jean already had a number of her songs on records, she was always willing to answer my questions or give me advice." From the book Stand by your Man.

Jean would ask Tammy to "demo" a couple of her songs for other artists to hear. Tammy would record three songs written by Jean, "Hungry Eyes", "I Know My Limitations" and a duet with Jean singing lead "Crazy Me."

The 1970's would find Jean excelling as a songwriter and writing some of her biggest hits. Daughter Lana would also become a song writer with songs like, "Sweet Marilyn" recorded by Eddy Arnold; "Hemp Hill KY." recorded by Hensen Cargill; "Kentucky Ridge Runner" cut by Lester Flatt; and "It's For My Dad" recorded by Nancy Sinatra.

Jean passed away in 1995. She had two children, Kenny Woodruff and Lana Holmes (Chapel). Her songs are still remembered by countless people, click here to see a list.

Special mention needs to be given to Floyd "Salty" Holmes, Jean's former husband and partner on the Grand Ole Opry. Together, these two entertained thousands across television, radio, and personal concert appearances.

Individually, Salty had a long illustrious past of his own in the entertainment field. Born on March 6, 1909 in Glasgow, Kentucky, Salty was a harmonica "virtuoso" but could also play the jug and the guitar with great talent.

His band, the Kentucky Ramblers, were legendary forming back in 1930. By 1933 The band was playing over WLS Chicago under the name "The Prairie Ramblers." They hired a new girl, Patsy Montana, to sing with them. Historian, Robert Oermann says about the band, "one of the hottest, jazziest, most accomplished string bands in the history of country music."

At WLS in Chicago, Salty would become good friends with Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, and Red Foley. 1936 would find Salty and Gene Autry heading for Hollywood to make movies, and then a return trip in 1944. Salty would appear in several B-western movies such as: Arizona Days with Tex Ritter; Sagebrush Hero with Charles Starret; and Saddle Leather Law with Charles Starret.

From 1933-40, The Prairie Ramblers would cut over 100 sessions for Gene Autry and Patsy Montana. They appeared throughout the country with Patsy performing daily at many matinees.

Floyd's photo with the Prairie Ramblers can be seen in the "Cowboy Music Exhibit" at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. Salty is also listed in the harmonica Hall of Fame in Holland.

Salty and Jean Chapel were married in 1947 until 1956. His career in radio carried him from Chicago, to New York, to Davenport, to Cincinnati, to the Grand Old Opry. During the late 50's, Salty appeared in Las Vegas at the Showboat and the Sahara club in Reno, Nevada.

Floyd passed away in 1971 at Elwood, Indiana.

Listen to "What Am I Gonna Do", Recorded in 1951 by Jean Chapel and
Salty Holmes for the King Label.

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