The Tavares brothers came from New Bedford, Massachusetts, where they first sang together in church. They started out as a band called Chubby and the Turnpikes before signing with Capitol Records in 1974. Their early albums like 'Check it Out' and 'Hard Core Poetry' established their sound, which leaned into soul and R&B with tight vocal harmonies.
In 1976, 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel' became a massive international hit, pushing them into the spotlight. That success carried through the disco era with songs like 'Don't Take Away the Music' and 'Whodunit' keeping them on radio and dance floors. They recorded steadily through the late 1970s and into the 1980s, though their commercial peak had passed by then.
The group was made up of brothers Pooch, Ralph, Arthur, Chubby, and Tiny Tavares on vocals, with their cousin Butch on drums. Chubby Tavares was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1980, which gradually limited his ability to perform with the band. They were inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
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