Like their West Coast contemporaries Sly and the Family Stone, The Chambers Brothers shattered racial and musical divides to forge an incendiary fusion of funk, gospel, blues, and psychedelia which reached its apex with the 11-minute psychedelic epic Time Has Come Today (1968).
The Chambers siblings – bassist George, guitarist Willie, harpist Lester, and guitarist Joe, all of whom contributed vocals – were born and raised in Lee County, Mississippi.
The product of an impoverished sharecropping family, the brothers first polished their vocal harmonies in the choir of their Baptist church, a collaboration which ended after George was drafted into the army in 1952.
Following his discharge, he relocated to Los Angeles, where the other Chambers brothers soon settled as well.
The foursome began performing gospel and folk throughout Southern California in 1954 but remained virtually unknown until appearing in New York City in 1965.
The addition of white drummer Brian Keenan not only made The Chambers Brothers an interracial group but pushed their music closer to rock & roll.
A well-received appearance at the Newport Folk Festival further enhanced their growing reputation, and they soon recorded their debut LP, People Get Ready.
The brothers stopped performing together in 1972 but reunited sporadically during the Seventies, appearing at benefits and peace and anti-nuke rallies. They also backed Maria Muldaur on her Gospel Nights LP and did commercials for Levi Strauss.
Joe and Willie remained in California doing session work, George sang gospel, Lester moved to New York in 1980 and formed a band with former Electric Flag bass player Harvey Brooks, but returned to Southern California to reunite with his brothers.
Lester Chambers
Vocals
Willie Chambers
Guitar, vocals
Joe Chambers
Guitar, vocals
George Chambers
Bass, vocals
Brian Keenan
Drums
Related Posts
Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Originally called The Sixpence, Strawberry Alarm Clock were a Californian psychedelic bubblegum band of the mid-'60s, reaching the top of…
Cowsills, The His siblings often called Barry the most musically talented of the family - which is saying a lot. Older brother…
Robbs, The Formed by brothers David Donaldson (aka Dee Robb), Robert Donaldson (aka Bruce Robb), and George Donaldson (aka Joe Robb) in…
Clout Clout formed as an all-female group in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1977. Their first and biggest hit, Substitute, was a…
Metros, The Big on the Northern Soul scene but little-known outside of it, The Metros from Detroit honed their exquisite harmonies in…
Johnny Cash He was born J.R. Cash ('John' came later, and 'Johnny' was an invention of Sun Records chief Sam Phillips) in…
Lula Reed Lula Marietta McClelland was born in Mingo Junction, Jefferson County, Ohio on 21 March 1926. Her family moved to Port…
Staple Singers, The The Staple Singers were truly a family. Originally composed of Roebuck 'Pops' Staples – "our name is Staples but we…
