Chester (band)
| Chester | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres |
pop rock bubblegum pop |
| Years active | 1972-1975, 1977 |
| Labels | Celebration Records |
| Past members |
Jim Mancel Mel O'Brien Mike Argue Wedge Monroe Glen Morrow Fran Cheslo |
Chester was a Canadian bubblegum pop band, active primarily from 1972 to 1975.[1] Although they released only two singles in their original form before breaking up, the single "Make My Life a Little Bit Brighter" was a Top 10 hit on the Canadian pop charts in 1973 and the band garnered a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Group at the Juno Awards of 1974.[2]
The band was formed by keyboardist Glen Morrow in 1972,[1] and included vocalist Jim Mancel, guitarist and backing vocalist Mike Argue, bassist Mel O'Brien and drummer and pianist Wedge Monroe.[1] In summer 1973, their single "Make My Life a Little Bit Brighter" premiered on RPM magazine's RPM100 and Adult Contemporary charts, eventually peaking at #10 in the RPM100 the week of September 22, 1973,[3] and at #8 in the AC chart the week of October 27, 1973.[4] The followup single "Start a Dream", released in 1974, did not chart.
Argue left the band in 1974 to pursue a solo career.[1] Although the remaining band members initially continued as Chester, they released no further recordings before breaking up in 1975.[1] Mancel recorded a solo single under his own name; in 1977, Mancel and Morrow each separately revived the band name Chester for two singles.[1] New vocalist Fran Cheslo performed with Morrow's version of the band.[1]
In 1996 the band received a Classics Award from SOCAN, to mark "Make My Life a Little Bit Brighter" having been played 100,000 times on Canadian radio.[5]
A compilation album, containing the singles released by Chester and those released by Argue and Mancel as solo artists, was released in 2006 on Unidisc Music.
