Our Tribute to Antone “Chubby” Tavares (1944-2025)
The beloved lead singer of Tavares has died peacefully at home, leaving behind decades of soul and joy. His family remembers his positive spirit and thanks fans for their prayers.
His smile lit up rooms. For more than five decades, Antone “Chubby” Tavares stood at the center of a five‑brother band that moved effortlessly from sweet soul to dance‑floor euphoria. He died peacefully at home on November 29. His children announced the news with gratitude, noting that although his health had declined, his spirit never wavered, and promised a future celebration of his life. Their message also celebrated the joy he brought worldwide and said he and his brothers were blessed to see many places.
The story begins in the Cape Verdean community of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Antone and his brothers Ralph, Perry “Tiny,” Feliciano “Butch” and Arthur “Pooch” learned harmonies in their living room and performed under the name Chubby and the Turnpikes, covering Otis Redding and James Brown tunes at teen dances and local clubs. They logged countless miles along Route 6 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, playing for nickels while honing a sound built on alternating lead vocals and tight choruses. After years of paying dues, they earned a contract with Capitol Records’ fledgling Black music division. Their debut single, “Check It Out,” featuring a sixth brother, Victor, on lead, raced up the R&B chart, cracked the pop Top 40, and introduced others to the family blend. They grew up singing doo‑wop and Cape Verdean songs and played everywhere from fairs to bars. The name captured Chubby’s charisma and the miles they covered.
Capitol paired the group with songwriters Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, and the collaboration yielded a flurry of 1970s hits. Their reading of Hall & Oates’ “She’s Gone” became their first R&B No. 1, and the buoyant “It Only Takes a Minute” gave them a Top 10 pop single. Producer Freddie Perren nudged them toward a more rhythmic sound on the 1976 album Sky High; “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” and “Don’t Take Away the Music” brought international fame. At the height of disco, the Bee Gees wrote “More Than a Woman” for the brothers. Their rendition landed on the Grammy‑winning Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and exposed the group to a global audience. Though grateful for the exposure, Tavares bristled at being labeled a “disco” act. They answered with 1979’s ballad‑rich Madam Butterfly, produced by Bobby Martin, which highlighted their soul roots and contained the hit “Never Had a Love Like This Before.” Working with Lambert and Potter polished their sound, blending sophisticated arrangements with natural harmonies. Those hits led to appearances on American Bandstand, where viewers admired their choreography and obvious brotherly love.
As the 1980s arrived, musical tastes shifted toward funk bands and new wave, and Capitol’s support waned. The brothers signed with RCA and released New Directions and Words and Music; the former yielded the Grammy‑nominated “Penny for Your Thoughts,” and the latter produced their final chart hit “Deeper in Love.” In 1983, Ralph chose family over fame and retired from touring. Rather than quit, the remaining four embraced life on the road, joining multi‑artist soul revues across the United States and Europe. Audiences who came for nostalgia discovered a band as compelling live as on record; Chubby would croon a ballad one moment and ignite a dance floor the next, and the harmonies never wavered.
Songs such as “Love Uprising” and the Kashif‑penned “Loveline” showed range, but poor promotion kept them off the radar.
Members occasionally took breaks, but the core persisted well into the new century. Chubby’s curiosity led him to collaborate with producer Preston Glass on solo recordings that blended contemporary R&B and gospel. Yet he never really left his brothers, performing with them until early 2023 when health concerns forced him to step away. In the 1990s, they re‑recorded hits, toured Europe and Japan, and shared bills with disco icons, winning new fans. His solo album Jealousy revisited love and resilience, while Preston Glass gave it a contemporary sheen.
Loss shadowed the family. Ralph died in 2021, and Arthur “Pooch” succumbed to ALS in April 2024. Just two months later, New Bedford renamed a street “Tavares Brothers’ Way.” At the ceremony, Chubby laughed that drivers would now have to read his family’s name whenever they stopped. The honor affirmed how deeply entwined the brothers were with their hometown. Neighbors remember him singing at community events and encouraging local talent, reminding kids that big dreams can start small.
The story of Tavares spans more than fifty years, but at its core, it is a tale of brothers singing together. Chubby was the glue that held the harmony. His passing closes a chapter in American soul, yet the songs endure, and so does the example of a life lived with gratitude. The family has asked for prayers and remembrances as they plan a celebration of his life. In honoring that request, we also honor a singer who turned every stage into a gathering place. May we keep playing the records, share stories of kindness and perseverance, and remember Antone “Chubby” Tavares not only for his timeless voice but for the generosity and warmth that defined him.
Five decades after their debut, their catalogue remains a soundtrack for celebrations, heartbreaks, and road trips. Tavares songs still feature in films, and new artists sample their grooves, proof that his influence endures. We will miss you, Chubby.