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41-599: The sound of Chicago soul, like southern soul with its rich influence of black gospel music , also exhibited an unmistakable gospel sound, but was somewhat lighter and more delicate in its approach. Chicago vocal groups tended to feature laid-back sweet harmonies, while solo artists exhibited a highly melodic and somewhat pop approach to their songs. Accompaniment usually featured highly orchestrated arrangements, with horns and strings, by such notable arrangers as Johnny Pate (who largely worked with horns) and Riley Hampton (who specialized in strings). This kind of soul music

82-624: A Great Love". Bowen left the group and was replaced by Sollie McElroy of the Flamingos , who was soon replaced by Marshall Thompson 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, "I'm So Jealous", with Record on lead. Noting that

123-694: A Tail Feather "). The company also had dance hits with Alvin Cash and the Crawlers ("Twine Time"). The entire catalog has been purchased by Minneapolis-based Secret Stash Records. Constellation Records was formed in August 1963 by Ewart Abner , Bill "Bunky" Sheppard, and Art Sheridan. Abner was ousted from Vee-Jay, and took with him from Vee-Jay producer Bill "Bunky" Sheppard, and two Vee-Jay artists that were personally under contract to Abner, namely Gene Chandler and Dee Clark. Art Sheridan had run Chance Records in

164-592: 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 and Ray, Goodman & Brown . In 2005 the group released the single "Mother Love". Lester died in January 2010, leaving Thompson

205-539: A new vocal group of two men and two women. They recruited J. Blackfoot , together with Norman West, Anita Louis, and Shelbra Bennett, to form The Soul Children . Between 1968 and 1978, The Soul Children had 15 hits on the R&;B chart, including three that crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, and recorded seven albums. Another Memphis 1960s label Goldwax Records , featured James Carr , Spencer Wiggins , and

246-453: A strong influence in the rise of funk music. The terms "deep soul", "country soul", "downhome soul" and "hard soul" have been used synonymously with "Southern soul". See also: Some soul musicians were from southern states: these included Georgia natives Otis Redding and James Brown , Rufus Thomas and Bobby "Blue" Bland (from Tennessee ), Eddie Floyd (from Alabama), Johnnie Taylor, Al Green (from Arkansas ). Southern soul

287-562: A top ten Billboard R&B hit spending nine weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 10 on March 15, 1969. Their major hits came in 1971 and 1972, " Have You Seen Her " and " Oh Girl ", the latter becoming a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 27, 1972. Each sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA . Other transatlantic chart hits followed, although their output became more fragmented as

328-495: Is a type of soul and country music that emerged from the Southern United States . The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues (both 12 bar and jump ), country , early R&B , and a strong gospel influence that emanated from the sounds of Southern black churches . Bass guitar, drums, horn section, and gospel roots vocal are important to soul groove . This rhythmic force made it

369-485: Is sometimes called "soft soul", to distinguish it from the more harsh and gospel-like "hard soul" style. A variety of labels in the city during the 1960s and 1970s contributed to the Chicago soul sound, most notably Vee-Jay , Constellation Records , Chess Records , Mercury Records , OKeh , ABC-Paramount, One-derful, Brunswick and its Dakar Records subsidiary, and Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label. Vee-Jay Records

410-574: The Brunswick Records subsidiary, Dakar, in the early 1970s), Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign and Manchild. ABC-Paramount was based in New York , but it recorded a number of Chicago soul acts through its Chicago offices, most notably The Impressions , led by guitarist and songwriter Curtis Mayfield . The Impressions were best known for such hits as "Gypsy Woman" and " People Get Ready ." Another Chicago soul act that recorded for ABC-Paramount

451-500: The Excello label. 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,

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492-462: The "Muscle Shoals Sound" by distributing Percy Sledge 's " When a Man Loves a Woman ", recorded at Rick Hall 's FAME Studios . FAME becoming the studio of choice for new and experienced artists alike. Establishing the city of Muscle Shoals, Alabama as a major part of southern soul. Aretha Franklin credits FAME as the place her career turned around, and Etta James recorded hit album " Tell Mama " there. The Stax label's most successful artist of

533-520: The 1960s, Otis Redding , was influenced by fellow Georgia native Little Richard and the more cosmopolitan sounds of Mississippi -born Sam Cooke . Other Stax artists of note included Johnnie Taylor , Soul Children , the Dramatics (from Detroit), Eddie Floyd , the Staple Singers , Carla Thomas , and Isaac Hayes . Atlantic Records artists Sam & Dave 's records were released on

574-611: The Artistics ("Get My Hands on Some Lovin'"). Brunswick Records is a New York-based label, but under the aegis of producer and A&R man Carl Davis in Chicago, the company produced a large body of Chicago style soul, beginning in 1966, when Jackie Wilson started recording in Chicago. Wilson's biggest hit with Davis was " (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher ." Other Brunswick artists included The Chi-Lites (" Oh Girl "), The Artistics ("I'm Gonna Miss You"), Barbara Acklin ("Love Makes A Woman"), Tyrone Davis (" Turn Back

615-484: 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 written by Johnson, "You've Got

656-611: The Chi-Lites received the 2,702 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 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 his 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. On April 26, 2024, The Chi-Lites along with Dionne Warwick were inducted into

697-689: 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

738-724: The Chi-Lites were named as one of the honorees. 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,

779-507: The Gang, Kurtis Blow, Heaven & Earth and the Gap Band . The One-derful label complex (One-derful, M-Pac, Mar-V-lus, Midas, Halo, Toddlin' Town) represented mostly the harder gospelly style of Chicago soul music. Its most notable artists were Otis Clay ("That's How It Is"), Harold Burrage ("Got to Find A Way"), McKinley Mitchell ("The Town I Live In"), and The Five Du-Tones (" Shake

820-618: The Hands of Time "), and Gene Chandler ("The Girl Don't Care"). Brunswick was eventually acquired by Carl Davis, and the offices moved to the Record Row (South Michigan Avenue ). Another label active in Chicago in the mid-to-late 1970s was Chi-Sound Records, under the production aegis of Carl Davis. Chi-Sound, besides recording the Chi-Lites, Dells, and Gene Chandler, had a number of disco-soul acts between 1976 and 1982, including Windy City, Magnum Force, Sidney Joe Qualls (previously signed to

861-890: The Natural Four ("Can This Be Real"), and the Staple Singers (" Let's Do It Again "). Predating Curtom, Mayfield ran the labels Windy C (Five Stairsteps, Holly Maxwell, June Conquest), and Mayfield (Fascinations, The Mayfield Singers) (which featured two future soul stars: Donny Hathaway and Leroy Hutson , and Holly Maxwell). In 1980, Mayfield closed the Curtom office and moved to Atlanta, and not long afterwards Brunswick closed its office, which had by then moved to Chicago, as well. With these closings, and with disco and funk replacing traditional soul in popular appeal, Chicago soul music had effectively come to an end. Southern soul Southern soul , also called Country Soul

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902-1196: The Ovations. Al Green , Otis Clay , O.V. Wright, Don Bryant , Ann Peebles and Quiet Elegance recorded for Memphis's 70s label Hi Records , where they were produced by Willie Mitchell . Also influential was the "Muscle Shoals Sound", originating from Muscle Shoals, Alabama . The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section played on hits by many Stax artists during the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, and Atlantic Records artists Wilson Pickett , Percy Sledge , Joe Tex and Aretha Franklin . Producer and session guitarist Chips Moman produced Bobby Womack and Womack wrote R&B song "I'm in Love" for Wilson Pickett . Bobby Womack gained R&B hit "If You Think You're Lonely Now" in 1981. Malaco Records introduced Dorothy Moore, Bobby Bland , Johnnie Taylor, Denise Lasalle, Little Milton and others. In 1983, former Soul Children singer J. Blackfoot saw success on soul chart with his single "Taxi". In 1987, Marvin Sease gained an R&B hit with "Candy Licker". After 1990, southern soul music

943-579: The Shreveport-based Murco Records released "Losin' Boy" by Eddy Giles , which held a place on Cashbox magazine's Hot 100 for five weeks. Murco Records had soul chart success with its other artist included Reuben Bell . Other significant contributors were Stax Records with their house band Booker T. & the MGs as well as New York based Label Atlantic Records . Atlantic was Ray Charles 's home, and became an early exporter of

984-526: The Stax label and featured the MGs. Wilson Pickett launched his solo career through his collaboration with the Stax team, and Pickett gained big hit "Land of a Thousand Dances" with FAME Studios musicians in Muscle Shoals, Alabama . . After Sam & Dave moved from Stax to Atlantic Records , Stax producer David Porter and his songwriting and production partner Isaac Hayes decided to put together

1025-542: 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,

1066-812: 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

1107-465: The early 1950s, and had been an investor in Vee-Jay. Chandler prospered at Constellation, getting huge national hits for the next three years, notably "Just Be True" and "Nothing Can Stop Me," while Dee Clark got only local hits, notably "Warm Summer Breezes" and "Heartbreak." Another Constellation artists were Lee Dorsey, Billy 'The Kid' Emerson and others. Curtom was owned by Curtis Mayfield , and

1148-491: 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

1189-458: The label began recording Chicago soul talent in 1968. The label better represents the post-soul era in Chicago black music, as it specialized in funk and disco recordings, and became a notable producer of soundtracks for black films. Mayfield became a solo artist while at Curtom, and his Super Fly soundtrack (1972), with its funk style, represents the label's biggest seller. Other Curtom artists were disco singer Linda Clifford ("Runaway Love"),

1230-633: The late 1960s through the early 1970s (with members Record, Jones, Lester and Thompson), scoring eleven top-ten R&B chart hits 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. The original members were lead singer Eugene Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, Clarence Johnson, Burt Bowen, and Eddie Reed of

1271-399: 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: "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 the group later that year, and their name

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1312-550: The soft style (" At Last ") and the hard style (" Tell Mama "). OKeh Records was a subsidiary of Columbia Records , but it produced a number of hits by Chicago artists, produced by A&R director Carl Davis in the company's Chicago office. Most of the songs performed by OKeh artists came from the pen of Curtis Mayfield , and OKeh recordings best typified the distinctive sound of Chicago soul. Best known Chicago artists on OKeh were Major Lance (" The Monkey Time " ), Walter Jackson ("It's All Over"), Billy Butler ("Right Track"), and

1353-518: 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. In 2018, Warren Tipton, the father of rapper Freddie Gibbs , joined the group. As of 2020, Thompson is continuing the Chi-Lites' legacy as the last surviving member. On June 17, 2020, Hollywood Walk of Fame announced their Class of 2021 to receive stars on Hollywood Boulevard , and

1394-466: The top 100 songs of the century (1900-1999). In 2003, the Chi-Lites 1970 hit "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" was sampled by Beyonce in her song " Crazy in Love ," and their 1974 song "That's How Long" was used as the backdrop for one of the tracks on Jay-Z '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

1435-525: Was The Marvelows ("I Do"). In Chicago, Mercury Records was formed by Irving Green, Berle Adams, Arthur Talmadge and Ray Greenberg in 1945. The label released soul, R&B, doo-wop, blues, jazz, and pop music. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Mercury released records of musicians such as Jerry Butler , Phil Philips, the Platters, Brook Benton, Ohio Players , the Bar-Kays, Con Funk Shun , Cameo, Kool and

1476-624: Was Chicago's pioneer soul label. In 1958 it produced the first recognized soul hit in Chicago, Jerry Butler and The Impressions ' " For Your Precious Love ." The company, before it went bankrupt in 1966, produced under A&R director Calvin Carter , many notable soul acts in the Chicago soft soul idiom, notably Butler (best known for " He Will Break Your Heart "), Betty Everett (" The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) "), Dee Clark (" Raindrops "), and Gene Chandler (" Duke of Earl "). Vee Jay

1517-402: Was also the first American record label to sign and record The Beatles in the U.S in 1962. The label released several singles but were unsuccessful in scoring a major hit. In 1964 Vee-Jay released The Beatles ' first U.S. album titled Introducing... The Beatles . After having management issues at the label and a shortage of funds, the label could not promote the record and give it the push that

1558-482: Was at its peak through the 1960s, when Memphis soul and the Muscle Shoals sound were popular. In 1963, Stan Lewis founded Jewel Records in Shreveport, Louisiana, along with two subsidiary labels, Paula and Ronn. Lewis signed soul and blues artists such as Toissaint McCall , Bobby Rush , John Lee Hooker , Charles Brown , Buster Benton , Lightnin’ Hopkins , Ted Taylor and Little Johnny Taylor . In 1966,

1599-659: Was needed. So the label was forced to release the group. Chess Records , under A&R director and producer Roquel Billy Davis , featured such Chicago soul style acts as the vocal harmony groups The Dells (" Stay in My Corner ") and the Radiants ("Voice Your Choice"), female singers Jan Bradley ("Mama Didn't Lie"), Fontella Bass (" Rescue Me "), and Jackie Ross ("Selfish One"), and male vocalists such as Bo Diddley 's protégé Billy Stewart ("I Do Love You"). Chess' biggest female soul artist, Etta James , performed both in

1640-712: Was still recorded and performed by singers such as Sharon Jones , Charles Bradley , Peggy Scott-Adams , Trudy Lynn , Roy C , Sir Charles Jones , Barbara Carr , Willie Clayton , Bobby Rush , Denise LaSalle , Gwen McCrae , Johnnie Taylor , Omar Cunningham , and William Bell . The Chi-Lites The Chi-Lites ( / ˈ ʃ aɪ l aɪ t s / , SHY -lytes ) are an American R&B/Soul vocal quartet from Chicago. Forming at Chicago's Hyde Park High School in 1959, The group's original lineup consisted of singers Robert Lester , Eugene Record , Creadel Jones, Clarence Johnson, Burt Bowen, Eddie Reed and Marshall Thompson . The Chi-Lites' greatest fame came during

1681-461: 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

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