The Chi-Lites To Perform At PM’s Gala
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 29, 2008 (CUOPM)
Patrons attending the 2009 Prime Minister’s 8th Annual New Year’s Gala on Saturday 3rd January 2009 at the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino will be entertained by the Chicago-based Chi-Lites.
The Chi-Lites was formed in Chicago in 1959. Originally called the Hi-Lites, they consisted of Marshall Thompson (birthday 24th Aug), Creadel “Red” Jones, Eugene Record, Robert Lester (birthday 16th August) and Clarence Johnson.
As the Hi-Lites, they released a number of singles on local labels, then in 1964 they changed their name to Marshall & the Chi-Lites; the “˜C’ being added to reflect the name of their hometown, Chicago.
By the end of 1964 Clarence Johnson had left the group and they truncated their name to simply the Chi-Lites. During the ensuing four years Eugene Record slowly emerged as the group’s lead singer, songwriter and producer.
In 1969, after signing with Brunswick the previous year, “Give It Away” became their first USA national hit single attaining number ten in the R&B charts.
The follow-up release “Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was” was moderately successful but another major hit was elusive until “Are You My Woman?” climbed into the R&B top ten in early 1971.
