The Chi-Lites Blogspot released two albums on Brunswick Records in 1974 and 1975. Their first album, Toby, reached number 181 in the Billboard 200 and reached number 12 on the R&B Charts. Their second album, Half A Love, reached number 41. However, they never really broke through as a group.
Squirrel Lester
Robert “Squirrel Lester” Lester is the founding member of the Chicago-based male soul group The Chi-Lites. Lester was born in McComb, Mississippi, on August 16, 1942. He joined the group in 1960 and sang second-tenor in the group. The group included Marshall Thompson, lead vocalist, Frank Reed, and Tara Thompson. Lester passed away in 2010, leaving only Thompson and Reed as original members.
Robert “Squirrel” Lester is a founding member of the legendary Chicago soul group The Chi-Lites. The band has a history of releasing hit songs that made Chicago an international music destination. The group’s biggest hit was “Help Wanted,” which they released in 1998. However, Reed was not credited as a vocalist on that album.
Marshall Thompson is the last original member of the Chi-Lites. He is also the joint owner of Mar-ance Records with Michael Jackson’s father Joseph. This means that he owns the estate of the late pop star. He also maintains a blog about the Chi-Lites’ history.
The Chi-Lites’ sound was influenced by Chicago’s South Side. They recorded eleven Top Ten R&B singles during their career. They formed in the late 1950s, when Marshall Thompson and Robert ‘Squirrel’ Lester were members of The Chanteurs and the Desideros. The members later changed their name to Marshall and the Chi-Lites.
Lester Chi-Lites was a lifelong member. He performed with the group in countries such as Japan, Korea, Greenland, and Germany. His last performance with the group was last summer. He was 67 years old. Despite his advancing age, Lester made music history.
Eugene Record
The Chi-Lites are an American R&B/soul vocal quartet. The group was formed in 1959 at Hyde Park High School in Chicago. Its members included Marshall Thompson, Creadel Jones, Creadel “Red” Jones, Robert Lester, Clarence Johnson, and Eugene Record. In addition to the band’s vocals, they were also instrumentalists and songwriters. The group charted 21 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart.
Eugene Record was the lead singer and principal songwriter of The Chi-Lites. His composition for the hit song Have You Seen Her cemented his place in the Soul Music Hall of Fame. Record’s career spanned several distinct periods in the history of Chicago’s black popular music scene. He also released solo albums and became a gospel singer.
Eugene’s songs are full of story lines. For instance, “Marriage License” compares getting married to a driving license. The song was written with the help of Alonnzo Tucker, who used to write songs for Jackie Wilson. The song features Eugene’s heartfelt, delicate vocals accompanied by keyboards and backing vocals. Eugene’s voice is tender and expressive, but the lyrics aren’t the best on the album.
Chi-Lites had a brief period of time on Brunswick Records. In 1976, the band’s record company was having financial issues and ceased promoting The Chi-Lites’ records. Record left the group to record solo for Warner Bros. In 1982, he joined a label owned by Carl Davis. After several years, he and Lester left the label and became solo recording artists.
“I Found Sunshine” has a similar feel to the previous track, but is upbeat and fuller sound. Eugene sings the lead vocal and describes a dream he had about a woman and the frustration that he never got to meet her. The song features lush strings and a gentle piano that provides the mainstay of the arrangement. There is also an occasional braying horn that adds drama.
The Chi-Lites were formed in 1959 in Chicago, Illinois. They achieved fame in the United States with 37 singles on the Billboard chart. They have been hailed as the greatest R&B/Soul group from Chicago. The group’s current members, including original band members Marshall Thompson, are family members of the band.
Pete Lewis
The Chi-Lites are an American R&B/soul vocal group. The group was formed in 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, by Clarence Johnson, Burt Bowen, and Eddie Reed. The group’s greatest fame came during the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, the Chi-Lites scored 11 Top Ten R&B hits. In addition, their songs made the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Charts. Moreover, their songs found success in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada.
Richard Thompson
The Chi-Lites were a successful vocal group of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Thompson is one of the only original members remaining. The band’s hits included “Oh Girl” and “Have You Seen Her” and helped them chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Today, the group still performs live at the Clyde Theatre, and their sound continues to fascinate fans.
The Chi-Lites’ radio singles were often short. However, in the 1970s, the record industry was becoming increasingly censorious of songs. Because of this, some of the greatest pop records of all time almost never reached the radio. One of the most famous Chi-Lites records, “Oh Girl,” became a global hit despite the fact that lead singer Chuck Thompson refused to perform it on the Flip Wilson show.
In 1959, Marshall Thompson formed a vocal group called the “Hi-Lights.” They began releasing singles on local labels, but later changed their name to “The Chi-Lites” or “Marshall Thompson & The Hi-Lites”. The group went on to become international superstars with their smooth vocals.
