Chester (band)

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]

Chester
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genrespop rock
bubblegum pop
Years active1972-1975, 1977
LabelsCelebration Records
Past membersJim Mancel
Mel O'Brien
Mike Argue
Wedge Monroe
Glen Morrow
Fran Cheslo

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 follow-up 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.

References
  1. Chester at Jam!'s Canadian Pop Encyclopedia.
  2. "Juno Award Nominees Listed". Billboard, March 9, 1974.
  3. RPM100 Singles. RPM, September 22, 1973.
  4. "Pop Music Playlist". RPM, October 27, 1973.
  5. "SOCAN Awards Canada's Songwriters". Billboard, December 7, 1996.
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