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The Chi-Lites

The Chi-Lites

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Chi-Lites (/ˈʃlts/ "shy lights") are an American R&B/soul vocal quartet from Chicago, Illinois, United States.

The group's greatest fame came during the early 1970s. They were led by Eugene Record, and scored eleven Top Ten R&B hits from 1969 to 1974.They also charted 21 songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart, and had chart hits in Australia, the UK, Ireland, and Canada, as well as in the U.S.

History

Early career (1959–1970)

The group was formed at Hyde Park High School in Chicago in the late 1950s as the Chanteurs (Eugene Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, and Clarence Johnson). They later teamed up with Marshall Thompson and Creadel "Red" Jones of the Desideros to form the Hi-lites.[1] Noting that the name Hi-lites was already in use, and wishing to add a tribute to their home town of Chicago, they changed their name to "The Chi-Lites" in 1964. Clarence Johnson left later that year, and their name was subsequently shortened to the Chi-Lites.[1] Eugene Record was the musical group's primary songwriter and lead singer, though he frequently collaborated with others, including Barbara Acklin.[1]

1971–1979

Their major hits came in 1971 and 1972, "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl", the latter becoming a #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 on 27 May 1972. Each sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[1] Other transatlantic chart hits followed, although their output became more fragmented as the group's personnel came and went. Bass singer Jones left in 1973, and was replaced in quick succession by Stanley Anderson, Willie Kinsey, and then Doc Roberson. Shortly thereafter, Eugene Record left, and David Scott and Danny Johnson entered. More personnel changes ensued, when Johnson was replaced by Vandy Hampton in 1977. The Chi-lites cut some tracks for the Inphasion label in 1979, which appeared on an obscure album for the Excello label.

1980–1997

In 1980, the mid-1960s quartet of Record, Thompson, Jones, and Lester re-formed the Chi-lites. Creadel Jones left for a second time in 1982, and the group would remain a trio. In 1983, the group released the critically acclaimed Bottoms Up album and achieved notable club and R&B chart success with the title track and "Changing For You." Released on LARC Records, the album was also released in the UK on the R&B label under the distribution wing of PRT. "Changing For You" album version was released in the UK as a 12" single which became popular in London clubs including Flicks in Dartford and The Goldmine in Canvey Island. "Changing For You" also remained on the Caister Weekender playlist for two years. "Changing For You" and the title track "Bottoms Up" were heavily played and promoted by UK Jazz Funk Soul DJ Robbie Vincent. An edited version of "Changing For You" entered the UK Charts and reached #61. Record left again in 1988, and new lead Frank Reed joined to replace him. Singer Anthony Reynard Watson replaced Reed later that year and the duty of lead vocals would alternate between Reed and Watson over the course of the next decade. (Lester took over singing lead on "Oh Girl", while Watson led on their other songs).

In 1997, while returning home from a concert in Pennsylvania, the Chi-Lites were involved in a serious car crash which resulted in both Reed and Thompson's wife Constance being ejected from the vehicle. Constance died from her injuries and Reed had to have a metal plate inserted in his back. "Hold On to Your Dreams" was included on the Help Wanted (Heroes are in Short Supply) album in Constance's honor. Reed was subsequently replaced once again by Watson until Watson's permanent departure in 2002.

Honors

The group was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2000 and Record appeared with the group on stage to perform and accept the award. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005, and were honored with an induction into the R&B Music Hall of Fame on August 17, 2013 at the Waetejen Auditorium in Cleveland.

Personnel

Current members
  • Marshall Thompson - 1959–present (born August 24, 1942, Chicago)

Current Side Men

  • Tara Thompson - 1998–present (born June 29, 1971, Chicago)
  • Fred Simon - 2010–present (born May 29, 1951, Chicago)
  • Marzette Griffith- 2015–present (born October 2, 1953, Chicago)
  • Mack Miller - 2014–present (born May 1, 1955, Chicago)
  • Warren Tipton - 2018-present (born June 12, 1958, Gary, Indiana)
Former members
  • Robert "Squirrel" Lester - 1959-2010 (born August 16, 1942, McComb, Mississippi; died January 21, 2010, Chicago)
  • Eugene Record - 1959-1973, 1980-1988 (born December 23, 1940, Chicago; died July 22, 2005, Chicago[2])
  • Creadel "Red" Jones - 1959-1973, 1980-1982 (born September 26, 1940, Chicago; died August 25, 1994)
  • Clarence Johnson - 1959-1964

(Side Men) Only

  • Stanley Anderson - 1973
  • Willie Kinsey - 1973
  • David "Doc" Roberson - 1973
  • David Scott - 1973-1980
  • Danny Johnson - 1973-1977
  • Vandy Hampton - 1977-1980
  • Frank Reed - 1988, 1990-1993, 1996-1998, 2001-2014 (born September 16, 1954, Omaha, Nebraska; died February 26, 2014)[3]
  • Anthony Reynard Watson - 1988-1990, 1993-1996, 1998-2002 (born Mobile, Alabama)

Discography

Filmography

  • 1996 - Original Gangstas, as themselves
  • 2002 - Only The Strong Survive, as themselves[4]
  • 2016 - Finding Dory

References

  1. ^ a b c d Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 290 & 309. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. 
  2. ^ Sisario, Ben (July 23, 2005). "Eugene Record, 64, Singer and Writer for Chi-Lites, Dies". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2011-11-02. 
  3. ^ "January to June 2014". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2014-03-06. 
  4. ^ The Chi-Lites on IMDb

External links


This page was last modified 22.07.2018 20:36:46

This article uses material from the article The Chi-Lites from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.