Chris Bartley
Encyclopedia
Chris Bartley was an American R&B singer. Bartley grew up listening to '50s soul
and doo wop, and formed his own group in the early 1960s with William Graham, Henry Powell, Sam Nesbitt, and Ronald Marshall. The group was initially called The Soulful Inspirations, but changed names several times, including a stint as The Mindbenders.
Later in the 1960s, Bartley and Marshall auditioned as a duo with Van McCoy
, and McCoy elected to sign Bartley to a solo deal with Cameo-Parkway subsidiary Vando Records. Bartley hit the pop charts with the McCoy-penned single "The Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven", peaking at #10 on the US R&B Singles chart and #32 on the Billboard pop charts in 1967. Bartley released a full album behind the single and toured both in America and England following the song's success. When Vando Records folded, Bartley signed with Buddah Records
, but the resulting single "Baby I'm Yours" did not chart. Bartley left the music industry in the early 1970s as a result of family health problems , but re-emereged a few years later by joining The Ad-Libs
.
Chris Bartley died of kidney failure on October 26, 2009 at age 62.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and doo wop, and formed his own group in the early 1960s with William Graham, Henry Powell, Sam Nesbitt, and Ronald Marshall. The group was initially called The Soulful Inspirations, but changed names several times, including a stint as The Mindbenders.
Later in the 1960s, Bartley and Marshall auditioned as a duo with Van McCoy
Van McCoy
Van Allen Clinton McCoy was an accomplished musician, music producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor. He is known best for his 1975 internationally successful song "The Hustle", which is still played in dance halls and on radio to this day more than thirty years since his death...
, and McCoy elected to sign Bartley to a solo deal with Cameo-Parkway subsidiary Vando Records. Bartley hit the pop charts with the McCoy-penned single "The Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven", peaking at #10 on the US R&B Singles chart and #32 on the Billboard pop charts in 1967. Bartley released a full album behind the single and toured both in America and England following the song's success. When Vando Records folded, Bartley signed with Buddah Records
Buddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
, but the resulting single "Baby I'm Yours" did not chart. Bartley left the music industry in the early 1970s as a result of family health problems , but re-emereged a few years later by joining The Ad-Libs
Ad-Libs
Ad-Libs is an improvisational comedy troupe based in Dallas, Texas. Combining improvisation along with video segments, Ad-Libs was conceived by Phil Larsson in 1986...
.
Chris Bartley died of kidney failure on October 26, 2009 at age 62.
Singles
- The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven / Love My Baby—Vando 101—7/67
- Baby It's Wonderful / I'll Be Loving You—Vando 3000—10/67
- For You / You Get Next To My Heart—Vando 3001—12/67
- Truer Words Were Never Spoken / This Feeling You Give Me—Vando 14000—1968
- I Found A Goodie / Be Mine Forever—Vando 14001—1968
- Baby I'm Yours / I'll Take The Blame—Buddah 93—1969
- One Wonderful Girl / I Know We Can Work It Out—Buddah 115—1969
- A Man, A Woman / Tomorrow Keeps Shining On Me—Musicor 1437—5/71
Albums
- The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven—Vando VA-60000 (Mono)/VAS-60000 (Stereo) -- 1967