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Lester Chambers

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Lester Chambers
Born (1940-04-13) April 13, 1940 (age 85)
Mississippi, U.S.
GenresRock, gospel music, soul music, psychedelic rock, blues
Instrument(s)Vocals, harmonica, percussion
Years active1961–present
LabelsColumbia, Explosive Records

Lester Chambers (born April 13, 1940) is an American recording artist, and member and lead singer of the 1960s soul rock group The Chambers Brothers,[1] who had the hit single, "Time Has Come Today".

Background

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As a member of the Chambers Brothers, he sang lead on the Chambers Brothers songs "All Strung Out Over You", "People Get Ready", "Uptown", "I Can't Turn You Loose", and "Funky".[2]

As a solo artist he released singles and albums and teamed up with ex-Electric Flag bassist Harvey Brooks to form the Lester Chambers Harvey Brooks Band.[3] Chambers performs with his son Dylan as The New Chambers Brothers as part of the band Moonalice which is led by Roger McNamee.[4]

Career

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1960s

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The Chambers Brothers' album, The Time Has Come was released in November 1967. It Featured the tracks, "All Strung Out Over You", "People Get Ready", "I Can't Stand It", "Romeo and Juliet", "In the Midnight Hour", " So Tired", "Uptown", "Please Don't Leave Me", "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and "Time Has Come Today". It was one of the Pop Best Bets in the 25 November issue of Cash Box.[5][6]

"I Can't Stand It"

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Lester Chambers composed the songs, "I Can't Stand It" and "Romeo and Juliet".[7] The group Spirit recorded the song which was later included on their Chronicles, 1967–1992 album, released in 1991. Years later, Prog Archives reviewer, ClemofNazareth called it "a west-coast treatment on a Motown type of tune that would not have been out of place at a Dead concert".[8] The group Pacific Ocean covered "I Can't Stand It" and backed with "I Wanna Testify" released it on the VMC label. It had a positive review in the 16 November 1968 issue of Cash Box with the reviewer calling it a blistering rock rendering of the Chambers Brothers’ song with probable heavy discotheque and top forty response.[9][10] Robert C. Gilbert of Listening Sessions said that the song had the feel of Motown at its edgiest.[11] The Easybeats recorded their version of the song which was included on their 1968 album, Vigil.[12] Producer Dan Liebhauser worked with a group, The People who recorded the song. Backed with "Ode to Billie Joe", it was released on the Tee Pee label in October 1968.[13] Spanish group, Los Crich recorded the song which was the B side to their version of "All Strung Out Over You".[14][15] The group, The Brass Buttons worked with producer Dale Hawkins, recording "I Can't Stand It", which was the B side of their 1970 single, "Before My Time".[16]

1970s

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Funky

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Lester penned and sang lead on the Chambers Brothers 1971 hit, "Funky" which appeared on their New Generation album.[17][18] According to Song Facts, he said "I was hoping to create and start a new dance because everybody was doing dancing. You know, the boogaloo, the mashed potato, the watusi, the funky chicken. So I said, 'Let's make it a funky tune and talk about what happened in your home".[19]

Further activities

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Along with Maxayn Lewis and Carlena Williams, Chambers added vocals to the song "About to Make Me Leave Home" which appears on Bonnie Raitt's 1977 Sweet Forgiveness album.[20]

1980s - 1990s

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It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's 2 February 1980 issue that Lester Chambers & His Blues Band had been appearing at the Improvisation Nightclub in Los Angeles for the past four weeks. Musicians would come in and end up jamming with Chambers' band. Word of mouth was how they got to hear about it. George Benson, Earl Klugh, Noel Pointer, Pat Rizzo of War and Al Jarreau were some of the musicians who came on stage to jam with them.[21]

During the first half of 1982, Chambers appeared at the Tramps club in New York. He guested with the Uptown Horns during the first anniversary of the group's weekly jams at the club.[22] On 30 July that year, Chambers appeared at the Agent Orange Benefit concert. A band formed specifically for the concert called Deerhunter consisted of Todd Rundgren, Ian Hunter, Paul Butterfield and John Cale. Other artists that appeared were, the Jim Carroll Band, Robert Gordon, Chris Spedding, Bobby Neuwirth, the Raybeats and Danny Shea.[23]

According to the 7 May 1983 issue of Billboard, the Loners and Lester Chambers were the first acts signed to the newly formed Alfabet Management Inc. that was formed by Jimmy Pullis and Allan Kaufman.[24]

Lester Chambers Harvey Brooks Band

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During in the 1980s, Lester Chambers had teamed up with former Electric Flag bassist Harvey Brooks. In addition to Chambers and Brooks, the band included Baron Raymonde and keyboardist Jeff Levine in the lineup.[25][26] Their band, The Chambers-Brooks Band played at a venue called Jack's in Cambridge in December 1984.Their performance was reviewed by Brett Milano in the 18 November 1984 issue of The Boston Globe. They didn't concentrate on their old songs. Instead, they covered James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand-New Bag", Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" and Marvin Gaye's "Heard it Through the Grapevine". According to Milano the covers were respectfully done, but luke-warm and they sounded like a covers band. The second set was livelier, and Chambers was the reason, and it was evident when he covered "I've Been Loving You Too Long" by Otis Redding. Milano also said that "Uptown" and "Time" lacked the wild abandon of the originals. He still said that Chambers' vocals and the band's energy made it worth taking.[27]

According to band member Baron Raymonde, one of the best gigs he played with the band was two-and-a-half-week gig at the World Headquarters club at St. John's when they toured the Caribbean in 1988.[28]

Further activities

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By May 1985, Chambers' single, "Ain't It Nice to Know", composed by Victor Dishy, was released on Masterpiece MP 10001.[29]

On 29 September 1985, Chambers was booked to appear at the My Place venue.[30]

2000s - 2020s

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In March 2011, Lester Chambers was inducted into the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame.[31]

Lester Chambers was a vocalist on the Work Songs album by Jaimeo Brown Transcendence which was released in the first quarter of 2016. [32]

In 2022, Chambers' autobiography, Time Has Come: Revelations of a Mississippi Hippie was published. It was reviewed by Blues Blast magazine which was published on 29 November 2022. Reviewer Mark Thompson referred to it an enlightening tale which Chambers told well.[33]

Singing lead with the group, Moonalice, Lester Chambers and the group performed, "New Time, New Day" at an event held at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on 18 December 2021.[34]

Personal life and hardship

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Chambers has reported that despite the group's success, he did not receive any royalty payments from 1967 to 1994. In a chat session on the Soul Patrol website, he discussed such injustices that many black artists have endured.[35]

In 2002 his wife, Lola Chambers, testified before the California Senate hearings on Label Accounting Practices that "Time Has Come Today" earned the group under $250 in royalties for the European market over 16 years.[36] She said that Columbia Records told them that "there were no overseas sales to report because The Chambers Brothers records were never licensed to an overseas distributor". But she later discovered copies on eBay of numerous foreign pressings of their records on Columbia foreign affiliate labels for which they were not compensated.[37]

In 2003, the home of Lola and Lester Chambers was broken into and their record collection, consisting of more than 60 Chambers Brothers albums and over one hundred singles, was stolen. Lola Chambers had spent 25 years collecting Chambers Brothers records at various venues to leave these for their sons.[38] Lester Chambers developed a number of medical problems that went untreated because he lacked insurance. He later became homeless, sleeping in a rehearsal hall in Novato, California, until Yoko Ono paid to rent a home for him and his son Dylan.[39]

In March 2012, Chambers started an Internet campaign that went viral[40] to publicize what he claims to be a lack of equitable royalty payments.[41] His Facebook posting received more than 2,500 "likes" and more than 2,000 "shares" in the first 15 hours on his "Wall";[42] it was featured on the front page of Reddit[43] and there were hundreds of tweets about the story.

On July 13, 2013, Chambers was assaulted onstage during a performance at the Russell City Hayward Blues Festival after dedicating a performance of "People Get Ready" to Trayvon Martin, the day the jury found his killer not guilty of a criminal offense. He was reported by his son Dylan to be in "ok" condition later the same evening.[44]

Chambers is a resident of Petaluma, California.[45]

Kickstarter project

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On December 10, 2012, Lester Chambers and Alexis Ohanian (Reddit co-founder) teamed up to launch a Kickstarter project together with the intent to make a new album titled Lester's Time Has Come. Chambers also spoke with Reddit users on December 13, 2012, at an AMA (Ask Me Anything) event and to mention the Kickstarter project to those interested.[46]

Summer of Soul

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In 2021, Lester Chambers and the Chambers Brothers were included in the Questlove Summer of Soul documentary.[47]

Discography

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Singles

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  • "Ain't Nice To Know"/"Let Your Body Sway" – Masterpiece 1001 – 1984

Albums

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  • Do You Believe in Rock and Roll – Explosive Records – 2008[48]
  • It's Time – Explosive Records – 2005[49]
  • Lesters Besters Vol.1 – 2004

Lester Chambers & KK martin

  • Blues For Sale – Ranell – 2001

Compilation albums

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  • Various Artists: Blues Today Volume III – BT Productions – 2002[50]

References

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  1. ^ "Lester Chambers & the Mud Stompers". Lester-chambers.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  2. ^ American Blues Scene, March 6, 2012 - Blues Singer Lester Chambers: Reality of Music Industry for the 99%
  3. ^ [1] Archived August 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Time Has Come Today for Lester Chambers and Moonalice". Relix Media. June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Rockasteria, Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - The Chambers Brothers - The Time Has Come (1967 us, classic soul psych rock masterpiece), Tracks
  6. ^ Cash Box, November 27, 1967 - Page 50 Cash Box Album Reviews, THE TIME HAS COME—Chambers Brothers—Columbia CL 2722/CS 9522
  7. ^ Rockasteria, Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - The Chambers Brothers - The Time Has Come (1967 us, classic soul psych rock masterpiece), Tracks
  8. ^ Prog Archives, 28 May 2007 - CHRONICLES (1967-1992) Spirit • Proto-Prog
  9. ^ 45Cat - Pacific Ocean - Discography, "I Can't Stand It"
  10. ^ Cash Box, November 16, 1968 - Page 30 Cash Box Record Reviews, Newcomer Picks, PACIFIC OCEAN (VMC 732) I Can't Stand It (2:12)
  11. ^ Listening Sessions, Oct 01, 2024 - How I Got Psychedelicized by the Chambers Brothers - Robert C. Gilbert
  12. ^ Jazz Rock Soul, 18 Feb 2024 - The Easybeats, 1968, Vigil
  13. ^ 45Cat - The People (Wisconsin) - Discography, I Can't Stand It
  14. ^ Discogs - Los Crich – All Strung Aut Over You / I Can't Stand It Los Crich – All Strung Aut Over You / I Can't Stand It
  15. ^ lafonotecha - LOS CRICH, La evolución de una banda garage, “All Strong Out Over You / I Can’t Stand it” (Fono Guanche, 1968)
  16. ^ 45Cat - The Brass Buttons Discography]
  17. ^ Song Facts - Funky by The Chambers Brothers
  18. ^ American Blues Scene, March 6, 2012 - Blues Singer Lester Chambers: Reality of Music Industry for the 99%
  19. ^ Song Facts - Funky by The Chambers Brothers
  20. ^ Bonnie Raitt Website - Album Credits, Additional Vocalists
  21. ^ Billboard, February 2, 1980 - Page 28 Talent, L.A. Club Steps Up Music
  22. ^ Billboard, May 15, 1982 - Page 52 GUEST SPOT -Lester Chambers
  23. ^ Billboard, August 17, 1982 - Page 14 General News, Act-ivities, Deerhunter Formed For Agent Orange Benefit
  24. ^ Billboard, May 7, 1982 - Page 72 News, New Companies
  25. ^ The Boston Globe, Tuesday November 18, 1984 - Page 25 Nostalgia trip worth taking
    THE CHAMBERS-BROOKS BAND - Featuring Lester Chambers and Harvey Brooks, at Jacks in
    Cambridge. Friday Night     - By Brett Milano Special to the Globe
  26. ^ Baron Raymonde - More Sugar Magazine interview by Roger Zee 4/19/18
  27. ^ The Boston Globe, Tuesday November 18, 1984 - Page 25 Nostalgia trip worth taking
    THE CHAMBERS-BROOKS BAND - Featuring Lester Chambers and Harvey Brooks, at Jacks in
    Cambridge. Friday Night     - By Brett Milano Special to the Globe
  28. ^ Baron Raymonde - More Sugar Magazine interview by Roger Zee 4/19/18
  29. ^ Billboard, May 19, 1984 - Page 64 Billboard Singles Reviews, Black, also received, LESTER CHAMBERS -Ain't It Nice To Know (4:25)
  30. ^ Music Connection, Vol. IX, No. 20 September 30-October 13 - Page 50 Club Data by S. L. Duff, Time has come to see Lester Chambers at At My Place on Sept. 29th.
  31. ^ "Blues Singer Lester Chambers: Reality of Music Industry for the 99%". American Blues Scene. March 6, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  32. ^ Downbeat, March 2016 Volume 83 / Number 3 - Page 54 Jaimeo Brown Transcendence Work Songs
  33. ^ Blues Blast, November 29, 2022 - Lester Chambers with T. Watts – Time Has Come: Revelations Of A Mississippi Hippie | Book Review Posted on November 29, 2022 by Mark Thompson
  34. ^ Grateful Web, December 21, 2021 - Moonalice | The Bandshell at Golden Gate Park | 12/18/21
  35. ^ "Lester Chambers (Chambers Brothers) chat session, audio interview and new music". Soul-patrol.com. May 18, 2001. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  36. ^ Evans, Bill (September 25, 2002). "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance". DMusic.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  37. ^ "Moses Avalon – Industry Hearings at OnlineRock". Onlinerock.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  38. ^ "features : central scrutinizer [08.04.2003]". earpollution. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  39. ^ Joel Selvin (June 22, 2010). "Time comes back around for Lester Chambers". San Francisco Chronicle.
  40. ^ Shapiro, David (March 5, 2012). "Who Is the Neglected Rocker Behind That Viral Photo?". Fuse TV. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  41. ^ "Help Legendary Musician Lester Chambers Get His Royalties". BlackManWithBlog. March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  42. ^ "Lester Chambers – Timeline Photos". Facebook. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  43. ^ "I am the 99%. Screwed by the industry". Reddit. March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  44. ^ Marshall, Matt (July 14, 2013). "Lester Chambers Assaulted on Stage at Blues Festival Over Zimmerman Trial". American Blues Scene Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  45. ^ "Legendary musician attacked after dedicating song to Trayvon..." Ktvu.com. July 14, 2013. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  46. ^ "On Web, 'Time Has Come' for '60s singer". CNN. December 26, 2012.
  47. ^ "Questlove Unearths The Long-Forgotten 'Summer Of Soul'". npr. July 5, 2021.
  48. ^ "Lester Chambers | Do You Believe in Rock and Roll | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  49. ^ Kevin Michaels. "Lester Chambers | It's Time | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  50. ^ "The Music of Pete Thelen CD Review". Mnblues.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
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