The Chambers Brothers

For the Detroit gang, see Chambers Brothers (gang). For the South Australian pioneers, see Chambers brothers (pastoralists).
The Chambers Brothers

The band in 1970.
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres Psychedelic soul, funk, rock, psychedelic rock, R&B, gospel
Years active 1954–1972, 1974–present
Labels Vault, Columbia, Avco, Roxbury
Past members George Chambers
Joe Chambers
Lester Chambers
Willie Chambers
Brian Keenan

The Chambers Brothers are an American soul band, best known for its eleven-minute long 1968 hit "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements. Their music has been kept alive through heavy use in film soundtracks.

Early career

Originally from Carthage, Mississippi,[1] the Chambers Brothers first honed their skills as members of the choir in their Baptist church. This set up ended in 1952 when the eldest brother George was drafted into the Army. George relocated to Los Angeles after his discharge, and his brothers soon settled there as well. As a foursome, they began performing gospel and folk throughout the Southern California region in 1954, but they more or less remained unknown until appearing in New York City in 1965.[2]

Consisting of George (b. September 26, 1931) on washtub bass (later on Danelectro bass guitar), Lester (b. April 13, 1940) on harmonica, and Willie (b. March 3, 1938) and Joe (b. August 22, 1942) on guitar, the group started to venture outside the gospel circuit, playing at coffeehouses that booked folk acts. They played at places like The Ash Grove, a very popular Los Angeles folk club. It became one of their favorite haunts and brought them into contact with Hoyt Axton, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Reverend Gary Davis, and Barbara Dane. Dane became a great supporter, performing and recording with the brothers. With the addition of Brian Keenan (January 28, 1943 – October 5, 1985) on drums, Dane took them on tour with her and introduced them to Pete Seeger, who helped put the Chambers Brothers on the bill of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. One of the songs they performed, "I Got It", appeared on the Newport Folk Festival 1965 compilation LP, which was issued on the Vanguard label.[3]

They were becoming more accepted in the folk community, but, like many on the folk circuit, were looking to electrify their music and develop a more rock and roll sound. Joe Chambers recalled in a May 1994 Goldmine article that people at the Newport Folk Festival were breaking down fences and rushing to the stage. "Newport had never seen or heard anything like that." After the group finished and the crowd finally settled down, the MC came up and said "Whether you know it or not, that was rock 'n' roll." That night they played at a post-concert party for festival performers and went to a recording session of the newly electrified Bob Dylan.[3] Shortly after appearing at Newport, the group released its debut album, People Get Ready.

"Time Has Come Today"

The band scored its only major hit in the fall of 1968 with "Time Has Come Today", an 11-minute opus written by Joe and Willie Chambers and highlighted by echoing vocal effects and Keenan's drumming which gave the song a psychedelic feel. "Time Has Come Today" was edited for release as a single and spent five consecutive weeks in September/October at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, just missing the Top Ten.

Later years

Later incarnations of the group included session guitarist Steve Hunter (known for his work with Alice Cooper)[4] and session whiz Stephen Patt (Northwind), freeing the brothers up to become front men, not just instrumentalists. However, due to a succession of dishonest promoters and managers, the group was unable to build on their success and eventually split up in 1972. An album recorded that same year for Columbia, Oh! My God, remains unreleased. They reformed and moved from Columbia to Avco Records and released Unbonded (1974) and Right Move (1975). In 1976 the brothers released Recorded Live In Concert on Mars for the Roxbury label. They have toured irregularly since.

They were signed to support Maria Muldaur on her Gospel Nights album. They also made commercials for Levi's jeans.

Lester moved to New York and formed a band with former Electric Flag bassist Harvey Brooks. Guitarists Willie and Joe would find work as session men; George went back to singing gospel music [5] and would later become a deacon of his church. Keenan retired to Connecticut where he set up his own recording studio,[5] plied his trade as a carpenter , and died of heart failure in 1985.[5]

Art Ramsey was hired as a replacement drummer. He performed live, on-the-road and in many different cities and venues with the Chambers Brothers band after Keenan's departure. Later, L.A. session drummer Fabian Jolivet joined the band for a 1997 tour that ended with the full line up returning to the Ash Grove and playing a Gospel set.

In 2006 Guitarist Willie Chambers brought the house down, sitting in with a group called Vince and the Invinceables at a benefit concert for Arthur Lee of the group Love.[6][7]

In 2016, Willie, Joe, and occasionally George, along with their nephew Jerry Warner on bass, Crazy Tomes on guitar, and LA drummer Jon McCracken, reformed as the Chambers Brothers to do shows in the Los Angeles area;[8][9] including the world famous Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA.[10]

Billboard singles and albums listing

Billboard singles listing

Billboard albums listing

Discography

Record albums

CD albums

Compilations

LP

CD

Contributions

References

  1. ↑ Dane, Barbara (1965). "The Chamber Brothers Do That Real Thing" (PDF). Folkway Records.
  2. ↑ allmusic The Chambers Brothers biography
  3. 1 2 Richie Unterberger.com LINER NOTES FOR THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS' SHOUT! By Richie Unterberger
  4. ↑ 1-94 Bar ONLY FINGERS BLEED: '70s GUITAR STYLE-MASTER DICK WAGNER By GEOFF GINSBERG
  5. 1 2 3 Classic Bands.com TheChambers Brothers
  6. ↑ Mojo Music Review of the June 28, 2006 Arthur Lee Benefit Concert at the Whisky a Go Go
  7. ↑ love.torbenskott.dk Whiskey-A-Go-Go, L.A.US June 28. 2006
  8. ↑ http://hollywood.improv.com/event.cfm?id=430646
  9. ↑ https://ashgrovemusic.net/2016/04/13/the-chambers-brothers-return-to-the-ash-grove-at-the-improv-this-sunday-april-17-2016-at-700-p-m/
  10. ↑ http://www.grammymuseum.org/events/detail/the-chambers-brothers
  11. ↑ ALL Music The Chambers Brothers Billboard Singles
  12. ↑ All Music The Chambers Brothers Billboard Albums
  13. 1 2 Allmusic People Get Ready
  14. 1 2 Allmusic Now!
  15. ↑ http://www.wirz.de Barbara Dane discography
  16. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - The Time Has Come
  17. ↑ Smithsonian Folkways Groovin' Time
  18. 1 2 Allmusic The Chambers Brothers Shout!
  19. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - Shout!]
  20. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - A New Time - A New Day
  21. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - Love, Peace And Happiness / Live At Bill Graham's Fillmore East
  22. ↑ Allmusic Feelin' the Blues
  23. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - New Generation
  24. ↑ Allmusic Oh My God!
  25. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - Unbonded
  26. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - Right Move
  27. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - Live In Concert On Mars
  28. ↑ Now! Live
  29. ↑ Allmusic The Time Has Come
  30. ↑ Allmusic Live Fillmore West 65
  31. ↑ Allmusic Live
  32. ↑ http://www.rambles.net The Chambers Brothers
  33. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - The Chambers Brothers' Greatest Hits
  34. ↑ Discogs Chambers Brothers, The - The Time Has Come / A New Time - A New Day

Reviews

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