Chris Noel Born:  July 2, 1941 AFRS Armed Forces Radio Service, US

About The Artist Born Sandra Louise Noel in West Palm Beach, Florida, the attractive blonde became a model in her middle teens and appeared on the cover of Good Housekeeping at age sixteen. After high school, she continued following a modeling career in New York. This led to her move to Hollywood where she had major roles in such films as Get Yourself a College Girl, Beach Ball, and Wild, Wild Winter. After a career in Hollywood as an actress in several films aimed at the youth market and a stint as a deejay for the Armed Forces Radio Network, Chris Noel had a brief career as a "modern" country singer. Having a soft spot in her heart for Vietnam vets, she eventually began to devote much of her life to those who fought in that conflict and helping them with their numerous problems. In her singing career she did turn out a long play album. Nashville Impact, and a veterans' tribute song, "Forgotten Man." Her timing when she took the position with AFRN was not good as she also made to trips to Viet Nam to entertain troops as the anti-war movement gained considerable strength in Hollywood and damaged her film career. Noel always took the position that she never supported the war, but only supported the soldiers who appreciated her "voice from home" broadcasts. She was known for her program, "A Date With Chris." Her show was seen as opposing the "Hanoi Hannah" broadcasts out of North Vietnam. Tragedy befell her as she had married a military officer named Clyde "Ty" Herrington in January 1969 who had mental problems and subsequently took his own life that December. He had recorded a single for the Monument label in 1968 ("A Gun Don't Make A Man" b/w "The Green Berets Come Home"). In May of 1968, Chris had signed with Monument Records as well and was to be produced by Fred Foster. Chris named such Nashville figures as Monument Records head Fred Foster and the song writing team of Boudeleaux and Felice Bryant as helping her through this difficult time. In June of 1968, she signed a recording contract with the Stop record label. After some time, she initiated a singing career in Austin, but abandoned it when she married an affluent Texan named Roger Hanks, an accident-prone heavy drinker. Billboard reported the wedding in August 1974 and reported the couple spent their honeymoon in Saudi Arabia. During this time she did re-enter the Hollywood scene appearing in a few films such as Detour to Terror which was largely filmed in New Mexico and starred O. J. Simpson and Anne Francis. After her marriage to Hanks ended, Noel returned to Florida and eventually found her purpose as founder and head of Vetsville Cease Fire House which provided assistance to homeless Vietnam veterans. In 1987, her book was published by Branden in Boston which covered some of her entertainment and Vietnam experiences. Retired but still involved, Noel resides in Florida. She also wrote "Vietnam and Me" (2011) and Chris Noel: Confessions Of A Pin-Up Girl (2011) Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe, author of Mountaineer Jamboree — Country Music in West Virginia and other books that can be found on Amazon.com and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist. Singer's Mate Dies; December 21, 1969; The Kansas City Star; Kansas City, MO Nashville Scene; Bill Williams; August 10, 1974; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH Signings; May 11, 1968; The Billboard; Cincinnati, OH Hanks-Noel Marriage Announced; August 8, 1974; Wichita Falls Times; Wichita Falls, TX

Printer Friendly Version

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Countrystock Rec. No. Side Song Title   U-19773 A I'm An American   U-19773 B (This side by Joe Stocks)   Monument Rec. No. Side Song Title   45-1114 A Doll House   45-1114 B Mr. And Mrs. Smith   Tom & Jerry Records Rec. No. Side Song Title   SC-08261 A Matter Of Survival   SC-08261 A Forgotten Man   SC-08261 B Hungry Eyes   SC-08261 B What Room Was The Holiday In?