The Chantones

The Chantones (Windsor, Ontario)

Personnel :

Jack Grenier (Lead tenor)

Larry Desjarlais (Tenor)

Jim Nantais (Baritone)

Roy Lesperance (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1957 - Storm In My Heart / Anne Marie (Sparton 491 R)
1958 - It was just a summer love / Five little numbers (Carlton 485)
1960 - Tangerock / Don't open that door (Top Rank 2066)
1961 - Stormy Weather / Sweet Georgia Brown (Capitol 4661)
N/A - From The Very First Rose / Once And Only Once

LPs :
Jack Scott with the Chantones "The Spirit Moves Me" RM-348
1961 - When the Saints Go Marching In / Swing Low Sweet Chariot / Ezekiel Saw The Wheel / Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho / Little David Play On Your Harp / Roll Jordan Roll // Down By The Riverside / Old Time Religion / The Gospel Train / I Wanna Be Ready / Just A Closer Walk With Thee / He'll Understand

Biography :

A vocal quartet best known for their work backing rock & roller and country star Jack Scott, the Chantones at one time bidded fair to become as well known as the Jordanaires. Their three years with Scott and seven years in the recording industry put the group on more than a dozen hit singles, but they never charted a hit of their own in the United States.

The group started out in Windsor, Ontario in the early 1950s as the Teen Tones. Roy Lesperance sang bass, Jim Nantais sang baritone, Larry Desjarlais was the tenor, and Jack Grenier was the lead tenor of the group, which won a talent contest in 1953 sponsored by the Catholic Your Organization. They changed their name to the Chantones and became a standard (if highly polished) white pop vocal group -- the real-life version of the "Four Neat Guys" from SCTV.

Jack Scott with the Chantones

The group's fortunes changed somewhat when they were recruited by Scott to sing back-up on his single of "My True Love." The group did benefit from that record's number three national chart placement; they became the resident backing group on Scott's subsequent records for the next four years, singing on numerous hits.

Jack Scott with the Chantones

They were paired with other artists as well, including Jerry Keller, on whose hit "Here Comes Summer" they sang, but they never managed to secure a hit of their own in America, possibly due in part to the fact that they weren't really a rock & roll group or, for that matter, a white gospel group like the Jordanaires, of Elvis Presley fame.

Jerry Keller

The Chantones were a white pop vocal group, most similar to the Four Lads. The quality of their singing was undeniable but, in contrast to some other white vocal outfits of the time, such as the Mints, the Diamonds, or the Crew Cuts, the Chantones never got closer than arm's length to rock & roll or R&B.

The group ceased working with Scott in 1960, and charted a record of their own that year in Canada with "Tangerock." The following year, they had another Canadian hit with "Stormy Weather." When Lesperance got married in 1962 and left the line-up, the remaining members shifted their sound to folk music, and it was as a folk trio that they ended their history in the late 1960s.
~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

In 1962, Roy Lesperance left the group and THE CHANTONES TRIO was formed by the remaining members, Jack, Jim and Larry. The folk music era had begun and it was decided that the trio would follow that trend. They each learned to play instruments over a several month period with Jack on banjo, Jim on bass and Larry on guitar.

   
The Chantones Trio

This change led them off on a new career performing in nightclus nationally and in 1962 and 1963 were invited to entertain at US bases across Europe for 2 monthes each year. This was a show sponsored by American Motors and was a tremendous success.

The Chantones Trio performed in clubs and for private functions until 1976.

http://thechantones.com/
http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=scot1600



Songs :

The Chantones

   
It was just a summer love            Stormy Weather

    
Storm In My Heart                     Anne Marie

Jack Scott & The Chantones

   
Cry, Cry, Cry                        With Your Love

CDs :

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