The five Tavares brothers – Ralph, Antone (Chubby), Arthur (Pooch), Perry Lee (Tiny) and Feliciano (Butch) – scored a string of light soul-pop and disco hits on the R&B charts from the late 70s through to the early 80s.
The brothers grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts, learning traditional folk songs from Cape Verde from their grandparents, and doo-wop singing from older brother John.
Initially calling themselves Chubby and the Turnpikes (pictured below), they spent most of their time between 1963 and 1973 singing in New England clubs and were eventually signed to Capitol.
As Tavares, they scored hits with ballads and pop-disco tunes like It Only Takes A Minute, Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel, Whodunit and More Than a Woman – the latter taken from the soundtrack of the hit movie, Saturday Night Fever.
The group continued to score on the R&B charts until 1983 when their safe, polished sound fell out of favour with audiences.
Ralph Tavares
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Antone Lee ‘Chubby’ Tavares
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Arthur ‘Pooch’ Tavares
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Perry Lee ‘Tiny’ Tavares
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Feliciano ‘Butch’ Tavares
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