Willie Chambers (born March 3, 1938) is a singer, guitarist, and former member of

The Chambers Brothers The Chambers Brothers are an American psychedelic soul band, best known for their eleven-minute 1967 psychedelic soul hit "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions wit ...

, a rock band in the 1960s with hits "

In The Midnight Hour "In the Midnight Hour" is a song originally performed by Wilson Pickett in 1965 and released on his 1965 album of the same name, also appearing on the 1966 album ''The Exciting Wilson Pickett''. The song was composed by Pickett and Steve Cropp ...

", "

I Can't Turn You Loose "I Can't Turn You Loose" is a song written and first recorded by American soul singer Otis Redding. It was released as the B-side to his 1965 single "Just One More Day". The up-tempo song became a bigger hit on the US R&B chart than its A-side ...

", and "

Time Has Come Today "Time Has Come Today" is a hit single by the American psychedelic soul group the Chambers Brothers, written by Willie & Joe Chambers. The song was recorded and released as a single in 1966 by Columbia Records. It was then featured on the album ' ...

". He continues to be a regular attraction at various venues in Los Angeles and further afield.

Background

Along with brothers

Lester Lester is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname and given name. Notable people and characters with the name include: People Given name * Lester Bangs (1948–1982), American music critic * Lester W. Bentley (1908–1972), American artist from Wiscon ...

Joe Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

and

George George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

, Willie was a founding member of The Chambers Brothers and stayed with them through their evolution which included the addition of drummer Brian Keenan in 1965 and the group's eventual breakup. He sang lead on one of their hits, a cover of

Wilson Pickett Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter. A major figure in the development of soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, many of which crossed over to the ''Bill ...

's "

". He also co-wrote their biggest hit "

" with his brother Joe. He would later work as a session musician. More recently, he has become more active and has collaborated with artists such as Louis Metoyer. He has also been involved with

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

born artists such as Jessie Sparks and singer Stephen Rowe, appearing in his "Restless Soul" video. He had a business relationship with publicist Beverly Noga. Acts she had represented included

Sonny & Cher Sonny & Cher were an American pop and entertainment duo in the 1960s and 1970s, made up of husband and wife Sonny Bono and Cher. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector. The pair f ...

, Cream, the

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in ...

and The Chambers Brothers. After her 1964 founded company, Contemporary Public Relations closed down, she and Willie Chambers formed Hebewillen Enterprises and Hebewillen Publishing which ran until her death in 2021.

Career

1960s to 1980s

During the 1960s, Willie was worried about he and his brothers with performing political songs with

Barbara Dane Barbara Dane (born Barbara Jean Spillman; May 12, 1927) is an American folk, blues, and jazz singer, guitarist, record producer, and political activist. She co-founded Paredon Records with Irwin Silber. "Bessie Smith in stereo," wrote jazz cri ...

. Years later he said ''"You can’t do music and politics. It’s like gasoline and water. It doesn’t mix."''. In a review of the ''Live in Concert on Mars'' album by

which featured

Steve Cropper Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941), sometimes known as "The Colonel", is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which backed artists such as Ot ...

, Willie's singing on the song "Superstar" was referred to as a gem with the reviewer also saying that 7:37 wouldn't be too long for progressive airplay. Willie and brother

provided backing vocals on "Haunted House", a track on the ''Before The Rain'' album by

Lee Oskar Lee Oskar (born 24 March 1948) is a Danish harmonica player, notable for his contributions to the sound of the rock-funk fusion group War, which was formed by Howard E. Scott and Harold Brown, his solo work, and as a harmonica manufacturer. H ...

, released in 1978.

1990s to 2000s

Chambers added his vocals to a track on Kid Ramos' self-titled album.

Mike Boehm Mike Boehm (October 23, 1955 - May 2, 2019) was an American music critic and arts reporter. He wrote for the ''Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angel ...

of ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' gave a review in September 1999. He noted Chambers' input to the song "Leave Me Alone", describing it as "piercing, full-on cries in the role of a man caged in a romance he doesn’t want". In 2005, he sang lead on "I Move Easy" which was written by

T. J. Tindall Thomas Joshua Tindall (1950 – January 26, 2016) was an American guitarist. He was a member of MFSB and played on 38 gold and platinum funk and R&B records and more than 30 hits produced by Gamble and Huff in the 1970s and 1980s. Tindall is consid ...

and featured Tindal, Earl Scooter on background vocals. The rhythm section featured Earl Young and Ronnie Baker and Larry Washington from

MFSB MFSB, officially standing for "Mother Father Sister Brother", was a pool of more than 30 studio musicians based at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bel ...

. In 2006, he sat in with a group called Vince and the Invinceables at a benefit concert for Arthur Lee of the group

Love Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...

. Between 2008 and 2009, he was involved with the Artie Vegas Revue. He and his brother

Joe Chambers Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

worked with Australian singer Jessie Sparks. They contributed to the song "Calendar Years" which featured on her EP which was released in 2012. The song was described as a funky piece with a soulful vocal. In September 2015, Chambers and Louis Metoyer were scheduled to appear at Pickwick Gardens, Ronnie Mack's Salute to Tina Turner event. ;Collaboration with Louis Metoyer In addition to Chambers and Metoyer working on various projects such as appearing at the Pickwick Gardens Turner event and performing with the Madero Sisters, they recorded "Get Out And Vote!!!" which was released in 2018.

2020s

Chambers had worked with group

Trans-X Trans-X is a Canadian 1980s synth band formed in Montreal, Quebec. They are known for their hit song "Living on Video" which was a worldwide hit single. History Trans-X was started by Canadian musician Pascal Languirand, previously known for ...

and worked on two dance collaborations, "She Freaks out on the Floor" in 2018 and "Keep it Coming" in 2020. On October 17, 2022, Chambers and

who the Chambers Bro's worked with in the mid-60s performed together live on stage in Berkley singing, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around". In November, 2022 Chambers was interviewed for the Psychedelic Scene YouTube channel. It was also published on line in transcript form.''Psychedelic Scene Magazine'', November 17, 2022
INTERVIEW: WILLIE CHAMBERS OF THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS by Jason LeValley
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Discography (selective)

Film and guest appearances

* Restless Soul (Video) * The making of "Restless Soul" video * South Central Gospel - Documentary - 2011 - Himself

References

External links

* DOLA
Willie Chambers
* Second Hand Songs
Willie Chambers

Music

* tangible-technology.com, 21-08-2005
"I Move Easy," written by TJ Tindall and sung by Willie Chambers
* Michael Donnelly YouTube channel
Barbara Dane & Willie Chambers "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around" live, Berkeley, Oct 17, 2022
* Michael Donnelly YouTube channel
Willie Chambers "I Was Born To Sing The Blues" live, Berkeley, Oct 17, 2022

Interviews

* Prihod Productions, Apr 29, 2015
LARocks TV interviews Willie Chambers
* Tom Meros YouTube Channel, November 1, 2019
The Chambers Brothers - Willie Chambers tells Tom about their history
* NAMM Oral History Library (2020)
Willie Chambers Interview
* Kevin Grace YouTube Channel, Mar 18, 2022
Willie Chambers of The Chambers Brothers Interview (Mar 12, 2022)
* Psychedelic Scene channel, Nov 17, 2022
Willie Chambers Interview with Psychedelic Scene
* ''Psychedelic Scene Magazine'', November 17, 2022
INTERVIEW: WILLIE CHAMBERS OF THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS by Jason LeValley
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, Willie 1938 births Living people American male singers The Chambers Brothers members Guitarists from Mississippi 20th-century American guitarists American male guitarists 20th-century American male musicians