*Mention the name “Tavares” and the many hit songs of this legendary R&B/soul recording group quickly come to mind. With Antone “Chubby” Tavares providing principal lead vocals, the group of biological brothers in the 1970s and ‘80s charted with such hits as, “She’s Gone,” “It Only Takes a Minute,” “Check it Out,” “Remember What I Told You To Forget,” A Penny for Your Thoughts,” “More Than A Woman,” “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” “Whodunit,” and many more.
While the brothers continue to perform together, nationally and internationally, Chubby recently released his third solo CD, entitled, “Amazing Ride.” Previous solo CDs were “Jealousy” in 2012 and “Can’t Knock Me Down” in 2015.
“Amazing Ride” was recorded In Los Angeles, and was produced by Preston Glass, who Chubby has formed a super tight bond with both in and out of the studio.
“Preston Glass is like a brother,” Chubby, 74, told EUR’s Lee Bailey in a recent interview. “We are from different mothers, but we’re everlasting brothers. He’s a fantastic producer and a fantastic person. He knows my musical background.”
Chubby’s new CD is described as a musical vehicle that touches on the genres and flavors of music that made “Tavares” famous. Yet, Chubby has a fresh and compelling approach vocally, and through Glass’ intricate arrangements and production, Chubby doesn’t compromise who and what he is as a veteran singer and recording artist.
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Although Chubby loves all the songs on his new CD, he points to “Steppin’ Out Tonight,” “Still Blessed” and the title cut, “Amazing Ride” as favorites.
When asked why “Amazing Ride” was chosen for the name of the new CD, Chubby said…
“Preston and I named the CD ‘Amazing Ride’ because as long as I’ve been singing, recording and performing, it has been an amazing ride,” explained Chubby. “But being in this business is not easy, so while on this amazing ride, I want my songs to reach out to these younger kids who are coming up and may not have the right atmosphere in their lives. Many want to be followers and not leaders, so I’m here to teach them which way to go.”
Knowing which way to go has been an amazingly interesting ride for Chubby and his brothers. Growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, there were 10 children born to parents, Feliciano “Flash” Tavares and Albina Tavares, who were of Cape Verdean descent. Flash sang and played guitar; Albina was an accomplished singer.
It didn’t take long for anyone to see and hear that the Tavares brothers, even as youngsters, had amazing vocal skills. They performed at functions and venues around Providence and the greater region, with Chubby mostly as lead singer. As the brothers evolved, more opportunities to expand their musical horizons were available.
“In 1961, I had a three-piece band, plus myself, called Chubby and the Realities,” recalled Chubby, the seventh oldest of the children. “And later, with my brothers Ralph, Pooch and Victor, we went to New York to record with a subsidiary of Capitol Records. The guy that wanted to record us didn’t like the name of the group and changed it to “Chubby and The Turnpikes.”
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With a new name, the group released several regional hits, which included “I Know the Inside Story” and “Nothing but Promises.” Around 1967, in search of a better record deal, the brothers moved to California, where they shortened the group’s name to “The Turnpikes.” Ultimately, while touring in Italy as the opening act for actress, singer, dancer Lola Falana, the brothers, in 1971, had an epiphany and decided the group’s name should be the family’s name, “Tavares.”
Under “Tavares” the group pumped out chart-topping songs. In 1978, the group won a Grammy Award for “Best Album of the Year” with the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, which included their song, “More Than a Woman.” Years later they received a Grammy Nomination for the single, “A Penny For Your Thoughts” in the category “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.”
While R&B groups, even when comprised of brothers, often drift apart for a number of reasons, “Tavares” continues to flourish as a tight unit, even though Chubby has a solo career. Brothers Butch and Tiny have both done solo projects as well. Yet, collectively, today’s lineup of “Tavares” is Chubby, Ralph, Feliciano (Butch) and Perry (Tiny).
“As a group, ‘Tavares’ is still doing very well,” said Chubby. “Ralph, who left the group for a while, came back to replace Pooch, who didn’t want to perform on stage after a health challenge. So four brothers, all originals, are still going strong as ‘Tavares.’ ”
When asked how he balances a solo career while performing with his brothers around the country and beyond, Chubby intimated that his love and respect and friendship for his brothers are the overriding factors pertaining to all professional decisions.
“I work around any scheduling conflicts when I know I have something scheduled as a solo artist,” said Chubby, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “When we have something together, I rehearse with my brothers to get things together for performances. We make it work.”
And, for inquiring minds that want to know about the origin of his nickname, Chubby explains.
“When I was born, I weighed close to 11 pounds,” he said. “My grandmother, who was the mid-wife to bring me into this world looked at me and said, ‘This one here, we’re going to call Chubby.’ So I’ve been called Chubby ever sense, although after the age two, I’ve been the thin guy everyone knows. My real name is Antone Lawrence Tavares.”
Whether performing as Chubby, the solo artist or Chubby, the lead singer with his brothers under the auspices of “Tavares,” Chubby Tavares is on a mission that really began for him in the 1950s.
“I want to sing positive songs,” he said. “I love learning songs, I love going into the studio and recording the songs. I love touring and performing live. My music is always a message, extended to whoever needs it.”
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