Roots Archives Forum

CHANTELS:
Richard Barrett discovered this group of teenage girls in 1957 and soon the emotion-filled voice of Arlene Smith was wailing from USA`s airwaves. "He`s Gone", "Maybe", "Every Night" all hit for End. In 1961 the group had new hits on Carlton but by `62 the magic was beginning to fade.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MAY 1974: - PART THREE
Black Music May 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 6

peace

CHANTERS:
When Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers broke big in the `50s many other teeny groups tried for a similar sound, this team among them. The Chanters` one big record "No No No" (released 1958) was an even bigger (national pop) hit during the oldies and goodies revival in 1961.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MAY 1974: - PART THREE
Black Music May 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 6

peace

RAY CHARLES:
The daddy of soul, the first man to take a church vocal style to the blues, jazz and pop worlds and find a mass audience, and millions of dollars, in the process. Starting as an imitator of Nat Cole and Charles Brown, the blind singer/pianist left the West Coast and Swingtime Records and with Atlantic forged out a series of history making hits like "Yes Indeed", "I Got A Woman" and "What I`d Say". Eventually ABC took over and with a series of devices (slushy strings--"Georgia On My Mind" 1960, catchy mock-gospel--"Hit The Road Jack" 1961, and country ballads--"I Can`t Stop Loving You" 1962) made Ray into a giant superstar able to cut across all stratas of society. Smash hits tailed off visibly in the `70s but now Crossover Records have hit with "Come Live With Me" another country ballad, Although the `genius` tag` has been milked somewhat, the best Ray Charles is the best of black music, making the title a deserved one.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - MAY 1974: - PART THREE
Black Music May 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 6

peace

LLOYD CHARMERS:
Outstanding Jamaican producer/arranger/artist. Known in Britain (under the pseudonym Lloyd Terrell) for popular `rude` records like "Bang Bang Lulu" and "Birth Control". Othe solo hits include "Oh Me Oh My", "Love I Madly", "One Big Unhappy Family", "Rasta Never Fails". Now works in joint production team with Ken Boothe and BB Seaton. His Trojan LP "Censored" by Lloydie And The Lowbites is one of the best `rude` albums on the market.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JUNE 1974: - PART FOUR
Black Music June 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 7

peace

LINCOLN CASE:
Highly successful song-writer for Atlantic (and other labels) in the `50s and an excruciating cocktail club vocalist, Lincoln wrote and produced a series of smashes for his wife, Shirley Ellis, in the `60s before fading again.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JUNE 1974: - PART FOUR
Black Music June 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 7

peace

CHUBBY CHECKER:
Ironically his phenomenal success as the king of the twist almost smothered the fat Philly teenager. In 1959 Chubby walked into Cameo Parkway records and cut the first of a string of hits stretching through to 1966. His cover version of "The Twist", his multi-million seller "Let`s Twist Again" (with the Dreamlovers `boogly boogly shooing`) and dances and more dances: the Pony, the Fly, the Limbo, even the Freddie. Millions were made though a lot of the bread never found it`s way to Chubby before Parkway folded in 1967. Apart from a mini hit in 1969 Chubby has subsequently struggled with heavy rock and even reggae, though a comfortable niche has now been found in rock and roll revival shows.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JUNE 1974: - PART FOUR
Black Music June 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 7

peace

CLIFTON CHENIER:
His discovery by the white blues audience in the `60s was a revelation as it showed that the obscure fusion of French and Louisiana hillbilly music called cajun had been cross-fertilised by the black roots, the blues. Clifton`s zodeco or zydeco music, played on the accordion and often wailed in French, is still as downhome and gutsy as its Louisiana home.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JUNE 1974: - PART FOUR
Black Music June 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 7

peace

DON CHERRY:
Trumpeter who broke away from the big bands to become a leader in the `free jazz movement` and whose intense improvisations have helped to radically alter the direction of jazz and the attitude of those who listen to it.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JUNE 1974: - PART FOUR
Black Music June 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 7

peace

CHIFFONS:
Remembered best for the girly group classic "He`s So Fine", this quartet had a string of big hits for Laurie Records often using top songwriters (Goffin & King) and producers (The Tokens) and from `63 to `66 their bluesy harmony singing on catchy teen ballads, like "Sweet Talkin` Guy", brought a lot of success.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JUNE 1974: - PART FOUR
Black Music June 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 7

peace

CHI-LITES:
After a few years of obscure recordings on small Chicago based labels, 1969 saw Eugene Record and the Chi-Lites making national progress in the soul world. Since then they`ve established themselves with smashes like "For God`s Sake Give More Power To The People", "Have You Seen Her", and "Stoned Out Of My Mind"; highly successful fusions of sophisticated multi-track production techniques and mellow, bluesy harmony singing.

1000 GIANTS OF BLACK MUSIC - JUNE 1974: - PART FOUR
Black Music June 1974: - Vol. 1 / Issue 7

peace