Misplaced Pages

#455544

83-679: King Louie helped found the Royal Pendletons in 1991 along with Michael Hurtt on guitar/vocals, J. Matthew Uhlman on guitar/vocals, and G. Thomas Oliver on organ. The band achieved in the pre-internet years what is now known as a " Buzz Band " status today. Not concentrating on the studio or recording side of their set the band has little to show for their efforts. The RP's were known to have over 100 songs and usually played from open to close at New Orleans venues Checkpoint Charlie's, Benny's and Barristers (Memphis). The Royal Pendletons put out their first 7-inch on Goner Records in 1995, and in 1998 put out

166-540: A Blondie cover tune to a various artists collection of "songs you never thought you'd hear" called When Pigs Fly . Sold-out Box Tops concerts in Germany in 2003 were aired on German radio, and the group's 2005 tour schedule showed a number of American dates planned despite the group members' busy careers outside the band. The Box Tops performed their last Memphis concert on May 29, 2009, at The Memphis Italian Festival. On March 17, 2010, lead vocalist Alex Chilton died of

249-483: A heart attack . On July 28, 2010, the remaining Box Tops, Bill Cunningham, Gary Talley, and Ron Krasinski, plus Terry Manning (added for the show) played a tribute concert in honor of Alex Chilton at The City Winery in New York City. In mid 2015, Bill Cunningham and Gary Talley reformed The Box Tops in response to continued requests by fans. On July 6, 2016, Danny Smythe died, aged 67. September 23, 2017, marked

332-454: A 1998 Box Tops reunion album. In the U.S., Chilton's solo releases were released by the Big Time , Razor & Tie , Ardent , and Bar/None record labels. In 1985, Chilton began working with Memphis jazz drummer Doug Garrison (who had played music with Chilton's father Sidney in a big band), and his trio continued touring and began to record as well. Six songs were recorded at Ardent Studios for

415-569: A 2004 article in Puremusic.com written by Talley, a December 1969 British tour was canceled by the band after arriving in London to discover that instead of respecting the rider agreement, the local promoter insisted they play the tour with the opening reggae act's toy drums, public address system amplifiers (instead of proper guitar amplifiers), and a keyboard with a broken speaker. Finally, in February 1970,

498-712: A Baby" using lead vocalist Alex Chilton backed by studio musicians. These tracks were credited to The Box Tops, though Alex Chilton was the only group member involved. Both recordings were released in the UK on a various-artists LP set called The Heart Breakers and Tear Jerkers Collection . Each of the original members went on to work in the music industry in subsequent years after leaving the Box Tops. Chilton's career path included work performing with Big Star , Tav Falco's Panther Burns , and his solo trio as well as briefly producing groups like The Cramps . Guitarist Talley went on to work in

581-826: A Prostitute"/"Hot Box"//"Kick the Door Down"/"Bad Life" 7-inch e.p. (Solid Sex Lovie Doll, 2004) (23) King Louie One Man Band Chinese Crawfish 16-song LP (Goner Records, 2004) (24) Kajun SS Kajun SS aka Wop Bop Bam Bam 7-song, 1-sided 12-inch e.p. (Jeth-Row/Therapeutic Records, 2004) (25) Kajun SS "German Kajun"//"Automobile" 7-inch single (Die Slaughterhaus/Shattered Records, 2004/2005) (26) King Louie & The Loose Diamonds Memphis Treet 12-song LP (Empty Records, 2007) (27) Black Rose Band "Hot Box"//"Hoochie Poochie" 7-inch single (Contaminated Records, 2007) (28) Kajun SS Jazz Legends 7-inch single (Jeth-Row Records, 2007) (29) Exploding Hearts Shattered LP (Dirtnap Records, 2007) (30) Royal Pendletons "Double Shot of My Baby's Love"//"What

664-648: A String"/"Game of Love" 7-inch e.p. (Blood Red, 1997) (9) Royal Pendletons "Boo's Bash" on the Hot Rods to Hell II comp. LP (Blood Red, 1997) (10) Royal Pendletons // King Louie & The Lakeview Vikings "I Wanna Know"//"Mistreated" on the Blood Red Battle Royale comp. LP (Blood Red, 1998) (11) Royal Pendletons "(I'm a) Sore Loser"//"Boo's Bash" 7-inch single (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1998) (12) Royal Pendletons Oh Yeah, Baby 14-song LP (Sympathy for

747-506: A U.S. release). Black List continued to display his eclecticism, containing covers of Ronny & the Daytonas ' "Little GTO", Furry Lewis 's "I Will Turn Your Money Green", and Charlie Rich 's country-pop arrangement of Frank Sinatra 's "Nice and Easy". The EP also included three original songs. Chilton also produced albums by several artists beginning in the 1980s, including the Detroit group

830-1159: A Way to Die" 7-inch single (Allons Records, 2008) (31) Royal Pendletons Nites Along the Mississippi 14-song LP (Allons Records, 2008) (32) Royal Pendletons "Tell Me" split 7-inch single w/ The Bo-Keys (Norton Records, 2008) (33) Guitar Lightnin' Lee & His Thunder Band [harmonica] Call Up the Band 2×7″ e.p. (Die Slaughterhaus, 2009) (34) Missing Monuments "Black Rainbow"//"Tailspin" 7-inch single (Douchemaster Records, 2010) (35) Brick War "Bonetrail"//"Silverado Sixpack"//"Deviled Oyster"//"Lonesome Shoes" 2×7″ e.p. (Savage Records, 2010) (36) BIPOLAROID "ILLUSION FIELDS" 10 song LP 2010 self-released/non label affiliation (37) MISSING MONUMENTS "PAINTED WHITE" lp 2011 Douchemaster Records (38) MISSING MONUMENTS "I'm Gonna Love You Back To Life" // "Bleed" // "Another Girl" 7" e.p. ( Hozac Records, 2012 ) (39) KONDOR "Tombstone Barstool" // "Girl In The Holler" ( Loosey Goosey Records, 2012 ) Alex Chilton Alex Chilton (born William Alexander Chilton ; December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010)

913-514: A certain amount of cachet and sales potential in the early 1970s. Lacking original band members, beginning in 1972 new studio groups (whose members remained anonymous) were assembled to record new Box Tops material in Memphis. These later Box Tops records used some of the same production personnel which had produced and played on the group's earlier recordings, but no original group members. Willie Mitchell 's Hi Records released two singles credited to

SECTION 10

#1733094126456

996-531: A chance meeting with Roger McGuinn at a friend's apartment in New York where Chilton was impressed with McGuinn's singing and playing), Chilton returned to Memphis in 1971 and co-founded the power pop group Big Star , with Chris Bell , recording at engineer John Fry's Ardent Studios . Chilton and Bell co-wrote " In the Street " for Big Star's first album #1 Record , a track later covered by Cheap Trick and used as

1079-524: A cover of the Seeds ' " Can't Seem to Make You Mine " as the B-side), in 1978. Influenced by the performers in New York's CBGB scene, Chilton's late-1970s recordings abandoned the multi-layered pop production of his Big Star albums and utilized a more minimalist punk and psychobilly -influenced performance style. His songs during this period were often recorded in one take and featured few overdubs. In New York, he met

1162-548: A former member of the New Orleans rockabilly group the Blue Vipers. Chilton's final live performance was in New Orleans on January 24, 2010, where he participated in a benefit show for Haitian earthquake victims. Chilton was taken to a hospital in New Orleans on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, complaining of health problems, and died the same day of a heart attack. Chilton had experienced at least two episodes of shortness of breath in

1245-424: A full-length LP on Goner in 2004. In 2009, King Louie along with longtime friend and collaborator, revered lead guitarist Julien Fried formerly of Seattle, recruited drummer Aaron Hill and bassist Bennette Bartley to form the power pop group King Louie's Missing Monuments. Benny Divine (Wizzard Sleeve) later joined the band after Bartley's departure and the band changed their name to The Missing Monuments. Devine left

1328-489: A full-length LP on Sympathy for the Record Industry with producer Alex Chilton entitled Oh Yeah, Baby . Terry and Louie is a return to Louie's Exploding Hearts writing and playing with bandmate Terry. After over a decade of no communication the two had reformed and were making records and touring throughout the year. The band has been active since 2013. They are on the Tuff Break record roster and were based out of Oakland. It

1411-564: A handful of club gigs lined up in New York, New Jersey, and Boston for the fall of 1984. He stopped playing regular gigs with Panther Burns and formed a trio with the group's bassist, Coman, and drummer Joey Torres to play his out-of-town bookings. At this point, his career was effectively relaunched, and for the next 25 years, Chilton sporadically led a three-piece touring band (augmented by saxophonist Jim Spake in 1989 and 1990), recorded studio and live solo records for several independent record labels, and reunited with versions of his previous bands

1494-447: A horn section consisting of Memphis veteran jazz performers Fred Ford, Jim Spake, and Nokie Taylor to imbue the soul-oriented pieces among his repertoire with a postmodern , minimalist jazz feel that distinguished his interpretative approach from that of a simple soul revivalist style. Chilton forged a new direction for his solo work, eschewing effects and blending soul, jazz, country, rockabilly, and pop. Coman left Chilton's solo trio at

1577-464: A live performance in The New York Times , critic Peter Watrous said of Chilton that "he's a soul and blues guitar connoisseur; he chooses his guitar licks as carefully as he does the blues songs he covers, and during his solos, a listener heard a history of soul and blues guitar." Watrous went on to say of the show that "irony flowed over everything, and it was hard to tell exactly what Mr. Chilton

1660-457: A new original by guitarist Talley ("Last Laugh"); covers of Bobby Womack's "I'm in Love", Eddie Floyd 's "Big Bird" (often covered in solo concerts since the 1980s by Chilton), and The Gentrys' "Keep on Dancing"; and a new recording of "The Letter". Other songs on the album reflected the band members' varied soul, novelty, rock-and-roll, and country music influences. B.B. Cunningham Jr. played a guitar on

1743-626: A number of bands in the past 20 years. These bands include the Intelligenitals (1987), The Lame Ones (1988) The Clickems (1990–1991), Dirt Boys/Harahan Crack Combo (1991–1992) Gerry and the bastard Makers (1992–1994), Royal Pendletons (1991-1999/2003–2022), Christies Paddad Toilet Seat (1992), Sun of the Caesar (1994), Funny Boys (1995), The Persuaders (1996–1999), Bad Times (1998), Head Wounds (1999), King Louie One Man Band (1999–2022), 10-4 Backdoor (2000–2003), The Exploding Hearts (2002–2003), King Louie and

SECTION 20

#1733094126456

1826-486: A number-one international hit. The Box Tops went on to have several other major chart hits, including " Neon Rainbow " (1967), " Cry Like a Baby " (1968), "Choo Choo Train" (1968), " Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March " (1969), and " Soul Deep " (1969). Aside from "The Letter", "Neon Rainbow", and "Soul Deep", all written by Wayne Carson , many of the group's songs were written by Penn, Moman, Spooner Oldham , and other top area songwriters, with Chilton occasionally contributing

1909-883: A review of the group's Super Hits album, "A song like 'Soul Deep' is obvious enough, a patented commercial sound, yet within these strictures it communicates with a depth and sincerity of feeling that holds the attention and brings you back often." The Box Tops began as The Devilles, playing in Memphis. By January 1967 the group was composed of founding member Danny Smythe (drums, background vocal) along with newer arrivals John Evans (guitar, keyboards, background vocal), Alex Chilton (lead vocal, guitar), Bill Cunningham (bass guitar, keyboards, background vocal; son of Sun Records artist Buddy Blake Cunningham and brother of B.B. Cunningham Jr., lead vocalist for 1960s Memphis group The Hombres ); and Gary Talley (lead guitar, electric sitar , bass, background vocal). They soon changed their name to The Box Tops to prevent confusion with another band who

1992-426: A self-titled LP in 2001. the members returned to their respective solo commitments. Eric and Louie have been positive about trying to re-issue the out-of-print LP. In 2000, Louie moved to Portland, Oregon. In 2001 he joined The Exploding Hearts , where he co-wrote and played keyboards on their only LP, Guitar Romantic . After 11 months with the group, Louie declined to move into a management/lead role. Plans were in

2075-596: A solo act, backed by a trio of musicians who played at different times with Tav Falco's Panther Burns: guitarist Jim Duckworth , bassist Ron Easley (with whom Chilton would tour and record extensively in the 1990s and 2000s), and drummer Jim Sclavunos . The group played a string of shows in the fall in Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey; this would be Chilton's last tour for three years. Chilton moved to New Orleans in 1982, where he spent much of 1982 and 1983 working outside music: washing dishes at

2158-526: A song originally written and recorded in 1973 by his old mentor and Box Tops producer Dan Penn. While his solo career was continuing to pick up momentum, Chilton was also singing Box Tops songs during 1987 with a package tour of 1960s artists including Peter Noone , Ronnie Spector , and ? & the Mysterians . Chilton followed up High Priest with Black List , his third EP in four years (and his first recording since his mid-1980s career relaunch not to get

2241-466: A song. By late 1969, only Chilton and guitarist Gary Talley remained from the original group, and newer additions replaced the members who had departed. The group decided to disband and pursue independent careers in February 1970. After deciding against enrolling as a student at Memphis State University , Chilton began performing as a solo artist, maintaining a working relationship with Penn for demos. During this period he began learning guitar by studying

2324-413: A variety of styles as a session guitarist and songwriter in Memphis, Atlanta, and Nashville. Artists and producers he has worked with have ranged from Billy Preston, Hank Ballard , Chips Moman, Billy Lee Riley , Billy Joe Royal , Webb Pierce , Waylon Jennings , Tracy Nelson , Willie Nelson , and Tammy Wynette to Sam and Dave 's Sam Moore, and others. He recorded two albums for Appaloosa Records with

2407-460: A venue called Ace of Clubs in 1989 for Harold Cloud's family member. The lineup for this show comprised Chilton, Evans, Talley, Harold Cloud (bass), and Gene Houston (drums). At this show the group was also augmented by backup singers Tracy Nelson , Jonell Mosser, and Kim Morrison, and a full horn section. America's Freedom Festival, in conjunction with Wilsonwood Promotions, presented the Drifters and

2490-669: A version recorded by the band Cheap Trick replaced the version recorded by Griffin. Chilton toured and recorded less frequently in his final decade, choosing to spend more of his time at home in New Orleans . In 1995, Chilton purchased a 19th-century center-hall cottage in the Tremé neighborhood for $ 13,000, and he enjoyed working on his house and practicing Scott Joplin rags on his piano (an instrument he later lost in Hurricane Katrina ). "Thanks to his low overhead, Chilton subsisted [during

2573-577: Is an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1967. They are best known for the hits " The Letter ", " Cry Like a Baby ", and " Soul Deep " and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period. They performed a mixture of current soul music songs by artists such as James & Bobby Purify and Clifford Curry ; pop tunes like " A Whiter Shade of Pale " by Procol Harum ; and songs written by their producers, Dan Penn , Spooner Oldham , and Chips Moman . Vocalist Alex Chilton later fronted

King Louie Bankston - Misplaced Pages Continue

2656-427: Is frequently cited as a seminal influence by influential rock artists and bands, some of whose testimonials appeared in the 2012 documentary Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me . Chilton grew up in a musical family. His father, Sidney Chilton, was a jazz pianist and saxophonist who sold industrial lighting to support his family. A local band recruited the teenaged Chilton in 1966 to be their lead singer after learning of

2739-441: Is mesmerising as he drives the band.... Alternating between lead and rhythm, he plays with a mix of laser focus and utter insouciant cool." In 1996, Chilton regrouped in Memphis with original Box Tops members Danny Smythe, John Evans, Bill Cunningham, and Gary Talley, and the following year they recorded Tear Off! , the group's final record with Chilton. The album, which was recorded primarily at Easley Recording Studios in Memphis,

2822-743: The Carter Family , Jimmy C. Newman , Ernest Tubb , and KC and the Sunshine Band , along with several originals. Sherbert —which included backing work from such notable Memphis musicians as Rosebrough, drummer Ross Johnson, and Chilton's longtime on-again/off-again companion, Lesa Aldridge—has since been reissued several times. Beginning in 1979 Chilton also co-founded, played guitar with, and produced some albums for Tav Falco's Panther Burns , which began as an offbeat rock-and-roll group deconstructing blues, country , and rockabilly music. Chilton spent most of 1980 and 1981 living in Memphis and staying off

2905-637: The Oblivians , The Cool Jerks, and the Tennessee Tearjerkers), Harlan T. Bobo (Viva L'American Deathray Music), Adam Woodard (Tennessee Tearjerkers), and Chad Booth (Kajun SS). In 2009 Julian Fried joined as guitar player. King Louie started his One Man Band in 1999. In the King Louie One Man Band, Louie sang, played drums, guitar, cowbell, and harmonica. The King Louie One Man Band has released several 7-inch records on various labels, and put out

2988-589: The WLS (AM) Silver Dollar Survey, marking a rare quinella involving two brothers of the same family (the Cunningham brothers), each in a different top 40 act. After "The Letter" the band released " Neon Rainbow ", another tune written by Thompson and produced by Penn. An album called The Letter/Neon Rainbow appeared in November 1967. The Box Tops released three albums over a nine-month period from late 1967 to mid 1968. Some of

3071-502: The power pop band Big Star and performed as a solo artist. The Box Tops' music combined elements of soul music and light pop. Their records are prime examples of the styles made popular by Moman and Penn at American Sound Studio in Memphis. Many of their lesser known Top 40 hits, including " Neon Rainbow ", "I Met Her in Church", and "Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March", are considered minor classics. As rock critic Lester Bangs wrote in

3154-468: The 1980s and 1990s on albums such as Lost Decade (New Rose Records), 1970 ( Ardent Records ), and Free Again: The "1970" Sessions" ( Omnivore Recordings ). Chilton was considered as a replacement vocalist for Al Kooper in Blood, Sweat & Tears . After a period in New York City, during which Chilton worked on his guitar technique and singing style (some of which was believed to have been influenced by

3237-483: The 1980s, he earned an MBA and changed careers. Evans played occasionally in Memphis groups after the Box Tops, while working as a luthier , eventually switching to a computer network administrator career. Smythe performed in Memphis soul and blues groups in the 1970s, later changing to a career in art by the 1980s, but returned to music performance in the 1990s. There was a one-off Box Tops charity concert in Nashville at

3320-437: The 1985 EP Feudalist Tarts , three originals joined by songs from the catalogs of Carla Thomas , Slim Harpo , and Willie Tee . In 1986 Chilton followed this with a second EP, No Sex , which contained three more originals, including the extended mood piece, "Wild Kingdom", a song highlighting Coman's jazz-oriented, improvisational bass interplay with Chilton. During this period in his recordings Chilton began frequently to use

3403-600: The 2000s] on periodic Big Star, Box Tops and solo gigs augmented by modest publishing income...He saw little reason to hustle more than was necessary to make ends meet and travel, a favorite pursuit," wrote New Orleans journalist Keith Spera in a profile published after Chilton's death. Chilton was present at his home in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and evacuated by helicopter on September 4, 2005. In 2009, he remarried. Chilton's last studio projects included playing bass on Cristina Black 's The Ditty Session, and producing tracks by guitarist and singer "Johnny J." Beninati,

King Louie Bankston - Misplaced Pages Continue

3486-800: The 50th anniversary of "The Letter" reaching #1. Cunningham, Talley, and Rick Levy joined the Happy Together Tour, performing to sold out shows across the U.S., together with Flo and Eddie of The Turtles , Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night , The Association , The Cowsills , and Ron Dante of The Archies . In 2018, the Box Tops were inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame . Harold Cloud died on July 10, 2018, in Memphis. John Evans died in December 2020 aged 72. Swain Schaefer died on February 16, 2019, aged 70. Bold indicates an original member of

3569-577: The Box Tops and Big Star for brief tours and recordings. At the outset of this period, while in New York in 1985 to play a booking at Danceteria , Chilton was connected through a journalist with Patrick Mathé, founder of the Paris-based record label New Rose. Chilton's business relationship with Mathé would last the rest of his life, and New Rose (and its successor label, Last Call Records) released much of Chilton's solo work from 1985 to 2004 in Europe, as well as

3652-460: The Box Tops, one in 1972 ("Sugar Creek Woman") and one in 1973 ("Hold On Girl"). In 1974, Tommy Cogbill co-produced one final single credited to the group, "Willobee and Dale", which appeared on the Stax label. None of these singles charted, or received much airplay, and they are generally not included in Box Tops retrospectives. In 1976, Pickwick Records recorded new versions of "The Letter" and "Cry Like

3735-478: The Box Tops, to buy his first new car since his Box Top days, and a piece of rural land near Hohenwald, Tennessee , where he planned to build a small house. The following year, his visibility increased in the alternative rock scene when he was the subject of the song " Alex Chilton " by American rock band the Replacements on their album Pleased to Meet Me , on which Chilton was a guest musician playing guitar on

3818-614: The Boxtops in concert at the Utah Lake State Park on Friday, June 29, 1990. The concert was sponsored by Food 4 Less, KZOL Oldies 96 FM, and Fred Meyer. Cunningham next organized a reunion of all the band's original members, including Chilton, in 1996. The group later released a self-produced album of new material recorded at Easley McCain Recording , Tear Off! and resumed performing concerts internationally. The Tear Off! album included

3901-574: The Fire"//"Walkin' with the Light" 7-inch single (Therapeutic Records, 2000) (18) Bad Times Bad Times 14-song LP (Goner/Therapeutic Records, 2001) (19) King Louie One Man Band King Louie One Man Band 14-song LP (Kryptonite/Savage Records, 2001/2002) (20) Exploding Hearts Guitar Romantic 11-song LP (Screaming Apple Records, 2002) (21) Persuaders "See My Reason"/"Fuck You, Mr. Roboto" split 7-inch e.p. w/ The Blacks (Rockin' Bones, 2003) (22) 10-4 Backdoor "I Fucked

3984-702: The Gentrys and drummer Thomas Boggs (born July 16, 1944 in Wynne, Arkansas ; he died May 5, 2008 in Memphis) from the Board of Directors. " Cry Like a Baby " was a million-seller in 1968, peaking at #2 on the Hot 100. It has been covered by the Hacienda Brothers and Kim Carnes . "I Met Her in Church" and "Choo-Choo Train" were smaller hits released later that year. Near the end of 1968,

4067-595: The Gories , and continued producing Panther Burns albums well into the 1990s. Touring and recording as a solo artist from the late 1980s through the 1990s with bassists Mike Maffei, John McClure, and Ron Easley, and with drummers Doug Garrison and, from 1993 on, Richard Dworkin (who also played for many years with the jazz group the Microscopic Septet ), Chilton gained a reputation for his eclectic taste in song covers, guitar work, and laconic stage presence. Writing about

4150-532: The Hot 100 in late August. The follow-up single, "Turn on a Dream", peaked at #58 on the Hot 100 and was a #29 hit in Canada. Cunningham left the Box Tops to return to school in August 1969 and was replaced by Harold Cloud on bass (died July 10-2018 in Memphis). Eventually the group's tolerance for the disrespect and fleecing they had endured as teen musicians from managers, lawyers, and promoters came to an end. According to

4233-708: The Loose Diamonds (2003–2022), Hot Dog (2004), Kajun SS (2004–2005), Kondor (2003–2022), Black Rose Band (2005–2022), Lonely Knights (2007–2022), Bipolaroid (2009-2013), Terry & Louie (2014-2022). Bankston died on February 12, 2022, aged 49. (1) King Louie the 69th & The Harahan Crack Combo "Little Girl"//"Jailbait" 7-inch single RECORDED 1992 (Goner Records, 1993) (2) Royal Pendletons "Smokin'"/"Sheep Suit"//"Losing Hand"/"Royal Blood, pt. II" 7-inch e.p. (Goner Records, 1994) (3) Royal Pendletons "Guitar Crusher" split 7-inch single w/ Krontjong Devils (Knobbler Records, 1996) (4) Royal Pendletons "Hot Rod Dissertation" on

SECTION 50

#1733094126456

4316-763: The Louis XVI Restaurant in the French Quarter, working as a janitor at the Uptown nightclub Tupelo's Tavern, and working as a tree-trimmer. He resumed playing with Panther Burns in 1983. His new association with New Orleans jazz musicians (including bassist René Coman) marked a period in which he began playing guitar in a less raucous style and moved toward a cooler, more restrained approach, as heard in Panther Burns's 1984 Sugar Ditch Revisited album, produced by Jim Dickinson . He moved back into playing music full-time in

4399-540: The Record Industry, 1998) (13) Royal Pendletons // Persuaders "King Bee"//"Revenge" on the Shine On, Sweet Starlet soundtrack LP (Sympathy, 1998) (14) Persuaders "Van Ride"//"Dixie Buzzards"/"I'm a Fool" 7-inch e.p. (Royal Records, 1998) (15) Persuaders Persuaders 17-song LP (Savage Records, 1999) (16) King Louie One Man Band "She's a Big Big Bopper"/"One Man"//"Love Love Love" 7-inch e.p. (Solid Sex Lovie Doll, 2000) (17) King Louie One Man Band "Walkin' and a' Steppin' in

4482-574: The Splitsville Confidential comp. 7-inch e.p. (Splitsville Records, 1997) (5) Royal Pendletons "No Teasin' Round"/"(I'm a) Sore Loser" on the Sore Losers soundtrack 2×LP (Sympathy, 1997) (6) Persuaders Rock Bottom 4-song 7-inch e.p. (Splitsville Records, 1997) (7) Oblivians [guest vocals] "King Louie Stomp" split 7-inch single w/ Two Bo's Maniacs (Hate Records, 1997) (8) Royal Pendletons "You Can Always Love Again"/"Keg Tapper"//"Hangin' on

4565-408: The Street" (from the first Big Star album) was chosen as the theme music for the U.S. television series That '70s Show at the suggestion of Chilton's friend and occasional touring partner Ben Vaughn . Vaughn was working for the series at the time, and oversaw a new recording of the song by singer Todd Griffin and a group of Los Angeles studio musicians. Starting with the second season of the show,

4648-667: The U.S.), featured Chilton with only Ron Easley on bass and Richard Dworkin on drums. Chilton released one more album as a solo artist during his lifetime, the 2004 CD Live in Anvers , which featured him playing a show in Belgium with a pick-up band of European musicians. Chilton reformed Big Star in 1993 with a lineup that included original drummer Jody Stephens and two members of the Posies : Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow . This version of Big Star continued to perform live on an infrequent basis for

4731-713: The Watson Twins , and original member Andy Hummel (who died four months later) joining the other members of Big Star. Chilton was honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue , recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis", according to journalist Steve Marsh. The Box Tops The Box Tops

4814-455: The album version of "Trip to Bandstand", his 1959 Memphis novelty single. The album also featured horn arrangements and performances by The Memphis Horns , who subsequently participated in some of the group's concerts. By 2000, John Evans was no longer in the band and was replaced by Nashville session man Barry Walsh. Evans is employed by the University of Memphis . In 2001 the group contributed

4897-467: The band and was replaced by Gary Mader ( Eyehategod ). They have released two LP's and 4 singles/E.P.'s. They have toured the US and Europe. In February 2016 the band once again for the third time changed the name to reflect the latest lineup and ever changing sound to King Louie and The Missing Monuments. A new album BADFINDER is forthcoming with no set completion or release date. King Louie Bankston has played in

4980-444: The band switched producers, with Dan Penn being replaced by the team of Cogbill and Chips Moman . The duo was responsible for producing the band's final 1968 hit, "Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March" (which debuted on the Hot 100 on Chilton's eighteenth birthday) and all of the band's future releases through 1970. In the summer of 1969, Thompson's decidedly upbeat " Soul Deep " became the group's final US Top 40 entry, peaking at #18 on

5063-533: The end of 1986 to pursue other projects, forming (with Garrison) the Iguanas three years later with other New Orleans musicians; both would record occasionally with Chilton after departing. In 1986, the Bangles released their second LP, Different Light , which contained a cover version of Chilton's Big Star song " September Gurls ". Royalties from this version allowed Chilton, who had struggled financially since leaving

SECTION 60

#1733094126456

5146-547: The group Fish Heads & Rice, Certified in 1991, and 4 Heads in 1994. Bassist Cunningham won a spot in the White House orchestra in Washington, D.C. , after completing his master's degree in music. During his classical music career, he played with some of the world's best performers; at Cunningham's last public classical music performance, for instance, he performed at the White House with Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman . In

5229-545: The group's instrumental tracks were performed by session musicians like Reggie Young , Tommy Cogbill , Gene Chrisman , and Bobby Womack at American Sound Studio . However, the actual group members performed on a number of their recordings, including "The Letter", and on all live performances. By January 1968, John Evans and Danny Smythe returned to school, thereby avoiding the draft. They were replaced by bassist Rick Allen (born January 28, 1946 in Little Rock, Arkansas ) from

5312-644: The members of the Cramps , a formative psychobilly group. After moving back to Memphis in April 1978, Chilton produced music by the Cramps that appeared on the group's Gravest Hits EP and Songs the Lord Taught Us LP . In 1979, Chilton released the album Like Flies on Sherbert in a limited edition of 500 copies. Produced by Chilton with Jim Dickinson at Phillips Recording and Ardent Studios, it features Chilton's interpretations of songs by artists including

5395-465: The popularity of his vocal performance at a talent show at Memphis's Central High School . This band was Ronnie and the Devilles, which was subsequently renamed the Box Tops . The group recorded with Chips Moman and producer/songwriter Dan Penn at American Sound Studio and Muscle Shoals 's FAME Studios . Chilton was 16 when his first professional recording, the Box Tops' song " The Letter ", became

5478-446: The remaining founding members, Talley and Chilton, were ready to move on and disbanded the group. However, the Bell record label kept releasing new Box Tops singles through early 1970, such as "You Keep Tightening up on Me" (#92 on the Hot 100 on March 21–28, 1970), using material that had already been recorded. The Box Tops name (which was under the control of a management company) still had

5561-559: The rest of Chilton's life. The final Big Star studio album, entitled In Space , with songs penned by the then-current lineup, was released by Rykodisc on September 27, 2005. Big Star's October 29, 1994, performance, their only known show to be professionally filmed in its entirety, was released in November 2014 by Omnivore Recordings as Live in Memphis . According to Mojo , the DVD documents how Big Star's 1990s lineup defied expectations and endured for another 16 years: "Chilton's musicality

5644-651: The road, except for a trip to London in May 1980 to play two shows with bassist Matthew Seligman and drummer Morris Windsor of the Soft Boys , and guitarist Knox of the Vibrators . The second show, at the Camden club Dingwalls , was recorded, and was released in 1982 on Aura Records as Live in London . He also continued to work with Tav Falco's Panther Burns on stage and in the studio during this period. Chilton toured briefly in 1981 as

5727-436: The song "Can't Hardly Wait". With 1987's High Priest , Chilton released his first full-length LP in eight years, for which he served as producer and wrote four new songs. He was given a $ 21,000 recording budget by his European and U.S. record labels (New Rose and Big Time, respectively) which allowed him to augment his band on various songs with a three-piece horn section, backup singers, piano, keyboards, and rhythm guitar. He

5810-437: The styles of guitarists like Stax Records great Steve Cropper and Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys . Chilton began recording his own solo material in the fall of 1969 at Ardent Studios with local musicians including producer Terry Manning (who had worked with Chilton as an engineer on the Box Tops' recordings) and drummer Richard Rosebrough, and producing a few local blues-rock acts. His 1969–1970 recordings were released in

5893-400: The summer of 1984, when he and Coman began a four-month stretch playing in a cover band called the Scores, working in four-hour shifts at the Bourbon Street tourist bar Papa Joe's, and taking requests from a printed list of songs placed on the customer tables. After the cover-band job ended, Chilton contacted a booking agent recommended to him by the dB's drummer Will Rigby , and soon had

5976-485: The theme song of the sitcom That '70s Show . The group's recordings met with little commercial success but established Chilton's reputation as a rock singer and songwriter; later alternative rock bands like R.E.M. and the Posies would praise the group as a major influence. During this period he also occasionally recorded with Rosebrough as a group they called the Dolby Fuckers; some of their studio experimentation

6059-620: The week prior to his fatal heart attack, though he did not seek medical attention in part because he did not have health insurance. He was survived by his wife, Laura, a son, Timothee, and a sister, Cecilia. He had been scheduled to play a concert with Big Star at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, on March 20; the show instead took place as a tribute to Chilton, with guests Curt Kirkwood , Chris Stamey , M. Ward , Mike Mills , John Doe , Sondre Lerche , Chuck Prophet , Evan Dando ,

6142-529: The works to continue as a writer only, while the band continued to play as a four-piece. After a show in San Francisco, the band's van overturned on the way home in the early hours of July 20, 2003. Three members of the group were killed, thus precluding any future work together. Formed in 2003 as Rat Tail, in 2007, Empty Records released Memphis Treet by King Louie and the Loose Diamonds. The Loose Diamonds are: King Louie Bankston (until 2022), Jack Oblivian (of

6225-514: Was Louis' only project of new music. King Louie Bankston formed the garage rock band, The Persuaders in 1996, along with Jason Panzer on guitar, and Shaggy on drums. In The Persuaders, Louie and Jason Panzer both sang and played Gibson Flying V guitars and were the first to use them visually with the crossed aerial logo. Bad Times were a one-off band which also included Eric Oblivian and Jay Reatard . The band recorded an album's worth of material after only one practice session in 1998, releasing

6308-442: Was after, except perhaps a little fun." In 1990 and 1991, Chilton took time off from touring and recording to live during the warm months in a tent on his land in rural Tennessee and work on clearing trees and framing his planned house, a project he was never to complete. In 1993, Chilton recorded Clichés , an acoustic solo record of jazz and pop standards, in New Orleans' Chez Flames studio with producer Keith Keller. The record

6391-464: Was also able to continue the genre-mixing he had started with Like Flies on Sherbert by including soul, blues, gospel, and rock songs on the same record. He ended the album with a cover of "Raunchy", his instrumental salute to Sun Records guitarist Sid Manker, a friend of his father from whom he'd once taken a guitar lesson; this song was also a standard in his early Panther Burns repertoire. High Priest also included other covers like "Nobody's Fool",

6474-407: Was an American musician, singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star . Chilton's early commercial success in the 1960s as a teen vocalist for the Box Tops was never repeated in later years with Big Star and in his subsequent indie music solo career on small labels, but he drew an intense following among indie and alternative rock musicians. He

6557-555: Was included on Big Star's album Radio City , including the recording of "Mod Lang". Rosebrough would occasionally work with Chilton on later recordings, including Big Star's album Third and Chilton's solo record Bach's Bottom . Moving back to New York in 1977, Chilton performed as "Alex Chilton and the Cossacks" with a lineup that included Chris Stamey (later of the dB's ) and Richard Lloyd of Television at venues like CBGB , releasing an influential solo single, "Bangkok" (with

6640-538: Was inspired by a short solo acoustic tour of the Netherlands in January, 1992. Chilton's final two studio albums featured his band and continued his pattern of mixing together songs from pop, soul, blues, gospel, R&B, swing, and country music. A Man Called Destruction (1995), like High Priest , featured a mix of covers and originals and an expanded band that included horns, keyboards, and occasional backup singers, and

6723-606: Was recording at the time, The DeVilles of New York. As the Box Tops, they entered the studio under the guidance of producer Dan Penn to record Wayne Carson Thompson 's song " The Letter ". Though under two minutes in length, the record was an international hit by September 1967, reaching the Hot 100 's number-one position for four weeks, selling over four million copies, earning a gold disc , and receiving two Grammy Award nominations. During October 20–27, 1967, "The Letter" and The Hombres' "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" were 1-2 on

6806-486: Was released in Europe in 1998. Chilton subsequently toured with the original group annually. Chilton had toured Europe in 1991 with a version of the band, and had sung Box Tops material as a featured singer in oldies package tours during the 1980s and 1990s. After Chilton's death, the Box Tops were to reform again in 2015 with guitarist Gary Talley as lead vocalist. In 1998, the Alex Chilton/ Chris Bell song "In

6889-573: Was released in the U.S. on the relaunched Ardent Records label. Chilton took an enlarged edition of his band on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in July 1995 to promote the album, playing the song "Lies". This was Chilton's second appearance on national television in less than a year; in October 1994, he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with the reformed Big Star. Chilton's final solo studio record, Loose Shoes and Tight Pussy (1999, released as Set in

#455544