NEWS
Sat • Nov 25 • 7:00 PM
Selland Arena at Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center, Fresno, CA
Sat • Nov 18 • 7:00 PM
Toyota Arena, Ontario, CA
Dr. Marshall Thompson 81st Birthday Party
Dr. Marshall Thompson exclusively signed with Bobby Dee
The Chi-Lites official tour schedule
Welcome!
It started in 1959 when Marshall Thompson formed a vocal group called the “Hi-Lights” in his hometown of Chicago with fellow members Eugene Record, Robert Lester and Creadel “Red” Jones. After releasing several singles on local labels, the group changed their name in 1964 to “Marshall & The Chi-Lites”. By the time the group changed their name to The Chi-Lites in 1969 they were signed by Nat Tarnopol and Carl Davis to Brunswick Records, where they would soon become international superstars.
Between 1969 and 1974, The Chi-Lites scored eleven Top Ten singles on the Billboard R&B charts, with hits like “Have You Seen Her”, “Give It Away”, “(For God’s Sake) Give More Power To The People”, “Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)”, “A Letter To Myself”, “The Coldest Days of My Life”, “Stoned Out Of My Mind”, “Oh Girl” and thirty seven other Billboard charted singles throughout their career. During the 1970’s The Chi-Lites were featured on television shows such as Soul Train, American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, Sammy and Company, the BBC’s Top of the Pops and the very popular Flip Wilson Show, where they debuted their #1 pop smash “Oh Girl”. All of The Chi-Lites’ hits were written or co-written by lead singer Eugene Record, who would also become Brunswick’s Vice President of A&R.
In 2000, BMI named “Oh Girl” by The Chi-Lites the 36th most popular song of the 20th century. That same year The Chi-Lites were inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame followed by their induction into Vocal Groups Hall Of Fame in 2004. The Chi-Lites have also appeared on screen in the 1996 feature film “Original Gangsters” with Fred Williams, Jim Brown, Pam Grier and Richard Roundtree, as well as the 2003 docu/movie "Only The Strong Survive" by Miramax films.
Grammy-winning audio engineer Bruce Swedien insists that when he recorded Michael Jackson’s vocals for the “Off The Wall” and “Thriller” albums, he used the same techniques he developed with The Chi-Lites in the early 1970s. In addition to being featured in many films, television shows and commercials, the recordings of The Chi-Lites have been sampled by artists such as Jay-Z, K. Michelle, American Idol winner Fantasia and Beyonce, who sampled The Chi-Lites to create the Grammy winning smash “Crazy In Love”. In 2021, the Chi-Lites will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
Stay tuned for opportunities to see The Chi-Lites live!
CHI-LITES’ HIGHLIGHTS
The legendary Chi-Lites are to be honoured with a (2021) Hollywood Walk Of Fame star. Marshall wishes to thank everyone for their support. Click HERE for the official announcement!
The Chi-Lites music, featured in the various movies and television shows
LAST MAN STANDING, the book of the legendary CHI-LITES featuring MARSHALL THOMPSON from AMAZON
The legendary Chi-Lites formed in 1959 in Chicago, Illinois with the soulful blues melodies of the band, with their leader, Marshall Thompson, and the remaining Chi-Lites: their songwriter and lead singer Eugene Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester and Creadel "Red" Jones. Known first in the early '60's as the "Hi-Lites," they changed the name to the "Chi-Lites" in 1964 to pay tribute to their hometown - Chicago. Sweeping the nation with #1 hits, "Oh Girl" and "Have You Seen Her," the Chi-Lites became an instant sensation on the R&B, Pop and Soul charts. Marshall Thompson, The Last Man Standing, tells his personal story from childhood to the bands origination, its rise to fame, and the many struggles along the way. "With the good times, came the misery," recalls Marshall. Losing a member of the band, his best friend, and beloved wife in a terrible automobile accident. This is the story of the personal side of a man who sang about love, romance, and dreams. It will have you laughing out loud one moment and tear at your heartstrings the very next. Last Man Standing, like the songs the legendary Chi-Lites delivered, will keep your pulse beating from the first rhythmic verse until the final note.
