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The Chi-Lites (, ) are an American R&B/soul vocal
quartet In music, a quartet or quartette (, , , , ) is an ensemble of four singers or instrumental performers; or a musical composition for four voices and instruments. Classical String quartet In classical music, one of the most common combinations o ...
from Chicago, Illinois, United States. Forming at Chicago's Hyde Park High School in 1959, The group's original lineup consisted of singers Robert Lester,
Eugene Record Eugene Booker Record (December 23, 1940 – July 22, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was best known as the lead vocalist of the Chicago-based vocal group The Chi-Lites from their formation in 1959 u ...
, Creadel Jones, Clarence Johnson, Burt Bowen, Eddie Reed and
Marshall Thompson James Marshall Thompson (November 27, 1925 – May 18, 1992) was an American film and television actor. Early years Thompson was born in Peoria, Illinois. He and his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Laurence B. Thompson, moved to California when he was a ...
. The Chi-Lites' greatest fame came during the late 1960s through the early 1970s (with members Record, Jones, Lester and Thompson), scoring eleven Top Ten R&B
hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...
s from 1969 until 1974. The group also charted 21 songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart, and had chart hits in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, as well as in the U.S.


History


Forming and early career

The original members were lead singer Eugene Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, Clarence Johnson, Burt Bowen, and Eddie Reed of the Chanteurs. The group was formed at Hyde Park Academy High School where majority of the members attended (Record attended Englewood High School and Thompson would later transfer to DuSable High School in his senior year and study music under Walter Dyett ) in Chicago in 1959. The group performed at their High School "Senior Varieties" talent show. Soon after, they released a single entitled, "You've Got a Great Love" written by Johnson. Bowen left the group and was replaced by Sollie McElroy of the Flamingos, who was soon replaced by
Marshall Thompson James Marshall Thompson (November 27, 1925 – May 18, 1992) was an American film and television actor. Early years Thompson was born in Peoria, Illinois. He and his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Laurence B. Thompson, moved to California when he was a ...
of the Desideros. In 1960, Reed died and Thompson brought in Creadel "Red" Jones who was a member of the Desideros to replace him. In early 1964 the group changed their name to the Hi-Lites and released a song entitled, "I'm So Jealous" with Record on lead. Noting that the name Hi-lites was already in use and wanting to honor their home town they changed their name to Marshall & the Chi-Lites in 1964. Under their new name they recorded four songs entitled, "Pretty Girl" written by Record, who also was on lead, "Love Bandit" written by Jones with Thompson on lead, "Price of Love" and "Baby It's Time". Clarence Johnson left he group later that year, and their name was subsequently shortened to the Chi-Lites. Eugene Record was the musical group's sole songwriter and lead singer. Record never collaborated with members outside his singing group. In 1968, the group meet with record producer Carl Davis and signed a contract with Brunswick Records out of Chicago. The Chi-Lites with members Record, Thompson, Lester and Jones recorded their first charting song, "Give It Away" written by Davis and Record. The single became a top ten ''Billboard'' R&B hit spending nine weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 10 on March 15, 1969.


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 May 27, 1972. Each sold over one million copies and was awarded a
gold disc Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
by the
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/ ...
. Other transatlantic
chart A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A chart can represent ...
hits followed, although their output became more fragmented as the group's personnel came and went.
Bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...
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.


1980–1999

In 1980, Thompson, Jones, and Lester re-formed the group. Lester was the lead singer. The new group continued using the Chi-Lites established name. 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 Robbie Vincent (born 9 June 1947) is an English radio broadcaster and DJ. As a champion of jazz, funk and soul music in the UK during the late 1970s he made an important contribution both live in clubs and on radio. In 1995 he was voted Independ ...
. An edited version of "Changing for You" entered the UK Charts and reached No. 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. On December 13, 1999, BMI named The Chi-Lites, "Oh Girl" No. 36 of the top 100 songs of the century (1900-1999).


1999–present

In 2003, the Chi-Lites 1970 hit "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" was sampled by Beyonce in her song "
Crazy in Love "Crazy in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, featuring a rap verse and ad-libs from her future husband Jay-Z from her debut solo studio album ''Dangerously in Love'' (2003). The song was released as her official debut single a ...
," and their 1974 song "That's How Long" was used as the backdrop for one of the tracks on
Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one o ...
's '' Black Album''. In March 2004, the group reunited with former lead Eugene Record for a PBS Soul Music special. Record died in July 2005 following a long battle with cancer. Marshall Thompson and Squirrel Lester, along with more recent addition Frank Reed and the group's first female member, wife Tara Thompson, continued as the Chi-Lites, recording and touring over the last two decades with other soul groups such as
the Stylistics The Stylistics are an American, Philadelphia soul group that achieved their greatest chart success in the 1970s. They formed in 1968, with a lineup of singers Russell Thompkins Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith and James Dunn. All ...
and
Ray, Goodman & Brown Ray, Goodman & Brown is an American R&B vocal group. The group originated as The Moments, who formed in the mid-1960s and whose greatest successes came in the 1970s with hits including " Love on a Two-Way Street", "Sexy Mama", and " Look at Me ...
. In 2005 the group released the single "Mother Love". Lester died in January 2010, leaving Thompson the sole remaining founding member of the group. Lester was replaced by Fred Simon (formerly of the Lost Generation). In February 2014, Reed died after an illness. The Chi-Lites were among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the
2008 Universal fire On June 1, 2008, a fire broke out on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood, an American film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. The fire began when a worker used a blowtorch to warm asph ...
. As of 2020, Thompson is continuing the Chi-Lites' legacy as the last surviving member. On June 17, 2020,
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...
announced their Class of 2021 to receive stars on
Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...
, and the Chi-Lites were named as one of the honorees.


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. On September 30, 2021, the Chi-Lites received the 2,702 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the City of Los Angeles. The Award presenters were Sirius XM radio personality Jeff Foxx from New York and Jimmy Walker best known for his role as J.J. On Good Times. Joining Marshall Thompson was the current group of wife Tara Thompson, Fred Simon, Warren Tipton and Mack Miller. Former original Chi-Lites, now deceased, Eugene Record, Robert Squirrel Lester, and Creadel Red Jones will also be remembered.


Personnel

;Current members *Marshall Thompson – 1959–present (born August 24, 1942, Chicago) Current sidemen *Tara Thompson – 1998–present (born June 29, 1971, Chicago) *Fred Simon – 2010–present (born May 29, 1951, 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 Eugene Booker Record (December 23, 1940 – July 22, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was best known as the lead vocalist of the Chicago-based vocal group The Chi-Lites from their formation in 1959 u ...
– 1959–1973, 1980–1988 (born December 23, 1940, Chicago; died July 22, 2005, Chicago) *Creadel "Red" Jones – 1959–1973, 1980–1982 (born September 26, 1940, St. Louis, Missouri; died August 25, 1994
Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from 191,719 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth-larges ...
) *Clarence Johnson – 1959–1964 Sidemen only *Stanley Anderson – 1973 *Willie Kinsey – 1973 *David "Doc" Roberson – 1973 *David Scott – 1976–1980 *Danny Johnson – 1976–1977 *Vandy Hampton – 1976–1980 * Frank Reed – 1988, 1990–1993, 1996–1998, 2001–2014 (born September 16, 1954,
Omaha Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest c ...
, Nebraska; died February 26, 2014) * Anthony Reynard Watson – 1988–1990, 1993–1996, 1998–2002 (born Mobile, Alabama) *Marzette Griffin- 2015–2018 Chicago, IL


Discography


Filmography

* 1996 – ''
Original Gangstas ''Original Gangstas'' is a 1996 action-gangster film filmed and set in urban Gary, Indiana starring Blaxploitation film stars such as Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Jim Brown, and Richard Roundtree. It is the final film directed by Larry Cohen ...
'', as themselves * 2002 – ''Only The Strong Survive'', as themselves


Television appearances

''
Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series ...
'' *December 18, 1971 / Season 1 Episode No. 12 *March 18, 1972 / Season 1 Episode No. 25 *March 31, 1973 / Season 2 Episode No. 24 *October 19, 1974 / Season 4 Episode No. 7 *February 28, 1976 / Season 5 Episode No. 28 *January 31, 1981 / Season 10 Episode No. 16 *April 17, 1982 / Season 11 Episode No. 20 ''
American Bandstand ''American Bandstand'', abbreviated ''AB'', is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the pr ...
'' *January 13, 1973 / Season 16 Episode No. 12 *April 6, 1974 / Season 17 Episode No. 31 *January 18, 1975 / Season 1 Episode No. 12 ''The Sammy Davis Jr. Show'' *January 10, 1976 / Season 2 Episode No. 15 '' Midnight Special'' *September 21, 1973 / Season 2 Episode No. 2 ''
Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves ...
'' Eugene Record performed "Have You Seen Her" on April 8, 1978. ''Into The Night'' *October 29, 1990 / Season 1 Episode No. 75


References


External links

*https://walkoffame.com/thechilites/ *
The Chi-Lites interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' June 1990 (republished March 2010)Chi-Lites
st ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
''
Marshall Thompson Tells Tom the History of The Chi-Lites.
YouTube interview with Tom Meros, September 9, 2017. {{DEFAULTSORT:Chi-Lites, The African-American musical groups American funk musical groups American soul musical groups Musical groups from Chicago Vocal quartets 20th-century American guitarists Revue Records artists Hyde Park Academy High School alumni 1959 establishments in Illinois