Back in 2004, PBS was putting together a televised classic soul music concert (often shown during fundraising) and there was a surprise for the audience: The classic lineup of the legendary act The Chi-Lites was reunited. Songwriter and lead singer Eugene Record, who had left the group nearly two decades earlier for a solo Gospel career, joined with group co-founders Marshall Thompson and Robert “Squirrel” Lester (former group member Craedel Jones had died in 1994) for a performance of the group’s biggest hits, “Oh Girl” and “Have You Seen Her.”
It was a big year for the Chi-Lites, as their 70s classic “Are You My Woman” became the musical foundation for Beyonce’s #1 smash “Crazy In Love,” and Thompson and Lester were touring the world with updated version of the group, featuring Frank Reed and Tara Thompson. But the reunion with Record was the highlight, giving television audiences one last chance to see the Imperial version of the group perform onstage.
What fans didn’t know was that Eugene Record was battling cancer and would die in the following year. But, for that one night, all was right with the soul music world, and one of our favorite groups was back together again. Check out this momentous performance, our latest SoulTracks Lost Gem, below.
By Chris Rizik
