Tavares
Biography
The five-brother singing group Tavares may be best known for such up-tempo hits as the million-selling single "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel," "More Than a Woman," and "Whodunit," but they first came to national attention with the luscious ballad "Check It Out." Their crisp vocalizing and clean-cut, young-men-next-door image made them favorites on TV shows starring Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, and Dick Clark's American Bandstand. In 1974, Tavares also had the first hit version (number one R&B) of "She's Gone" written by the then relative unknown duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates. Hall & Oates scored a number seven pop hit with the song in 1976.
The Tavares brothers -- Arthur Tavares, Ralph Vierra Tavares, Perry Lee Tavares, Antone Tavares, and Feliciano Tavares nicknamed "Pooch," "Tiny," "Chubby," and "Butch" -- started the group in 1964 as Chubby and the Turnpikes in New Bedford, MA. Their grandparents taught them traditional Cape Verde folk songs, while their older brother John schooled them on doo wop singing. In 1969, the group became Tavares. They began singing in New England clubs and were signed to Capitol Records in 1973. Their debut album, Check It Out , was issued in early 1974. The title track slow jam single went to number five R&B on Billboard's charts in summer 1973. The next single, the ballad "That's the Sound That Lonely Makes," hit number ten R&B in early 1974. Check It Out was followed by Hard Core Poetry in summer 1974, helmed by songwriting/production duo Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter (the Four Tops' "Aint No Woman Like the One I Got"). It listed the soaring number ten hit "Too Late," the number one hit "She's Gone," and "Remember What I Told You to Forget," which hit number four in 1975. Lambert & Potter produced In the City (summer 1975), which yielded the driving number one hit "It Only Takes a Minute," "Free Ride" (a 1973 pop smash for the Edgar Winter Group), and "The Love I Never Had." Take That's 1993 cover of "It Only Takes a Minute" was a U.K. hit.
Tavares' album Sky High (spring 1976) was the group's first collaboration with producer Freddie Perren. Perren seemed to have an affinity for family singing groups, having had hits with the Jackson 5 ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save") as a member of the Motown arrangers/songwriters/producers collective The Corporation, and would later go to have hits with the Sylvers ("Boogie Fever"). Sky High boasted the sparkling number three R&B hit "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel (Part 1)" from summer 1976. Their fifth LP, Love Storm was issued in spring 1977 and included the clever number one R&B hit "Whodunit" in spring 1977.
"More Than a Woman" was specifically written for Tavares by the Bee Gees and was issued as a single from the 11-million-selling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. "More Than a Woman" was also on their Future Bound LP released in spring 1978. A greatest hits set, The Best of Tavares, was released in fall 1977. On 1979's Madame Butterfly LP, the group worked with Philly soul arranger/producer Bobby Martin (the Manhattans, LTD). The sweet ballad "Never Had a Love Like This Before" went to number five R&B in early 1979.
In 1994, Canadian label Unidisc released The Best of Tavares Revisited, which had re-recordings by the group of their past hits. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

The Best Of Tavares
1996
What this article doesn't say is they all started the Bloods in LA in 1972 they beat the s**t outta Tookie after a James Brown concert in 1975. True Story
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I grew up with Butch Tavares oldest son and they are a great family. Butch always treated me like a son. Very humble human being. He has some new music out on CDBaby.com TAVARES. Check me out at www.reverbna t i o n . c o m / d e l o n
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I have looked for ever to find this group. They have the greatest sound.
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(Check it out) I grew up with Tavares great music. I use to club back in the days at Smugglers Den in New Bedford on the Whalf. Occassionall y you would bump into one of the Tavares's (Tiny or Puggy for sure). I love them.
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The guys are great. I have their "Greatest Hits," and it's truly wonderful. I had the pleasure of seeing Tavares back on August 10, 1974, at the Keil Auditorim on Market Street in downtown St. Louis, MO... along with the Jackson Five. I really enjoyed the show... and remember it fondly 'til this day.
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WOW bad times was my every morning song. And check it out moves me and always will. Enjoy
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Tavares must've been channeling Earth, Wind,& Fire on "Bad Times". It has that same funky, rhythmic urgency similar to some of EWF"S 70s-era work. Excellent music then and now!!!!
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M.Minor they are one of my favorite groups from the 70's.ain't no fool im just old school.
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They are my favorite group of all times now and then. I saw them ,at lease three of them singing on PBS not long ago and they are still the ----!!!! major talent. says Sharon Perrin Armstead
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yeah...this music is timeless!!.. . t h e seventies/ei g h t i e s . . t h i s music u can play it over n over...dells . . . c h i - l i t e s . . s t y l i s t i c s . . . c h e c k it out on PBS..it's got some timeless tunes...gche w 5 1 . . . S F . . .
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OMG....OMG.. . . O M G . . . (this is all i can say) still gasping for air....OMG
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