Doreen Chanter
Encyclopedia
Doreen Chanter is a British
singer
best known for her career as a member of the Chanter Sisters
and for her work as a backing vocalist
and session
vocalist during the 1970s and 1980s.
which failed to chart
. In 1968, the Chanter sisters became a duo
initially known as Birds of a Feather.
The duo released four singles between 1967 and 1972 but none of them achieved chart success. Their first album
was Birds of a Feather released in 1970 and featured Elton John
playing piano
. The Chanter sisters had appeared as backing singers for Elton John in a Radio 1
session.
Long John Baldry
asked the sisters to join his live band in 1973. They also featured on June 1, 1974
a live album
featuring Nico
, Brian Eno
, Kevin Ayers
and John Cale
and appeared on a Chris Farlowe
album BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert. Both sisters are credited on the 1974 John Cale
album, Fear
. They are both also credited on Ron Wood
's album I've Got My Own Album to Do
in the same year. Other creditations include Manfred Mann's Earth Band
's, Solar Fire
(1973), Nightingales and Bombers
(1975), The Roaring Silence
(1976), Watch (1978); plus John Entwistle
's, Mad Dog
(1975); Justin Hayward
's, Night Flight
(1980); Chris Rea
's, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?
(1978);
On Phil Manzanera
's first solo album Diamond Head
(1975), John Wetton
and Doreen sang duo on the track, "Same Time, Next Week".
In 1976, Polydor
released their second album First Flight although it failed to make any lasting impression. They sang live with John Miles
and appeared on a live album. The sisters released two albums in 1978 through Safari Records which failed to chart.
's album Let's Stick Together
, and the following year she appeared as a backing vocalist on Ferry's album, In Your Mind
.
In 1981, Chanter was part of a chorus that sang at The Secret Policeman's Ball
with other chorus members including Phil Collins
, Donovan
, Sheena Easton
, Bob Geldof
, Midge Ure
and Tom Robinson
. She also wrote two singles for Kiki Dee
released in 1981 and a song sung by Dee for the British television series Roll Over Beethoven
in 1985. She also made a cameo
in the film
, Pink Floyd The Wall
in 1982 as a vocalist in a choir. In 1983 both her and Irene appeared as backing singers on The Undertones
track "The Love Parade" on their The Sin of Pride
album.
Chanter was part of the touring bands for both Roger Waters
and Van Morrison
in 1984. She sung on Waters' album The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking released in that year and provided backing vocals together with Katie Kissoon during the tour promoting the record in 1984-1985. The duo returned again for the Radio K.A.O.S tour in 1987. Chanter performed on Waters' next releases - first, she sung on three songs from Radio KAOS
in 1987 and then on five songs off Amused to Death
album in 1992.
She also toured as part of Meat Loaf
's backing band Neverland Express
in 1984-85, including appearing on Bad Attitude - Live!
(1985); and as part of Joe Cocker's
touring band in 1989. Chanter featured on Cocker's live album Joe Cocker Live
released in 1990.
During the 1990s, Doreen appeared on several albums with Chris Farlowe.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
best known for her career as a member of the Chanter Sisters
Chanter Sisters
The Chanter Sisters, Irene and Doreen Chanter, are a duo of backup singers. They began recording with a family group called the Chanters which also included several of their brothers....
and for her work as a backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
and session
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
vocalist during the 1970s and 1980s.
Chanter Sisters
Chanter started as a member of a group called the Chanters in 1967 with her sister Irene Chanter and her five brothers, releasing four singlesSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
which failed to chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. In 1968, the Chanter sisters became a duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
initially known as Birds of a Feather.
The duo released four singles between 1967 and 1972 but none of them achieved chart success. Their first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
was Birds of a Feather released in 1970 and featured Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. The Chanter sisters had appeared as backing singers for Elton John in a Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
session.
Long John Baldry
Long John Baldry
John William "Long John" Baldry was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No...
asked the sisters to join his live band in 1973. They also featured on June 1, 1974
June 1, 1974
June 1, 1974 is a live album of songs performed at the Rainbow Theatre in London on the titular date. The album is officially attributed to Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno and Nico, although other well-known musicians, including Mike Oldfield and Robert Wyatt, also contributed to the concert. It...
a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
featuring Nico
Nico
Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
, Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
and John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
and appeared on a Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time", which rose to #1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds.Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.-Career:Inspired by Lonnie...
album BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert. Both sisters are credited on the 1974 John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
album, Fear
Fear (John Cale album)
Fear is a 1974 album by John Cale. It was the first of three albums for Island Records, all of which were released in a period of just over a year...
. They are both also credited on Ron Wood
Ron Wood
Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
's album I've Got My Own Album to Do
I've Got My Own Album to Do
I've Got My Own Album to Do is the first solo album of Ronnie Wood. It reached #27 on UK's New Musical Express chart. The title was a dig at Rod Stewart as he was more focused with his solo albums than with The Faces.-Track listing:...
in the same year. Other creditations include Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
's, Solar Fire
Solar Fire
Solar Fire is an album released in 1973 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.-Track listing:Side one#"Father of Day, Father of Night" – 9:55#"In the Beginning, Darkness" - 5:22...
(1973), Nightingales and Bombers
Nightingales and Bombers
Nightingales & Bombers is an album released in 1975 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band."The title of this album was inspired by a recording made in Surrey, England during the Second World War, by an ornithologist intending to record Nightingales. The bombers flew over at the same time and were recorded...
(1975), The Roaring Silence
The Roaring Silence
The Roaring Silence is an album released in 1976 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Like other Earth Band albums, this includes material by other composers...
(1976), Watch (1978); plus John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
's, Mad Dog
Mad Dog (album)
Mad Dog is the fourth solo album by John Entwistle, bassist for The Who. His last solo album for the next six years, it is often referred to by fans as "The Son of Rigor Mortis" due to the early rock 'n' roll feel both possess.-Original tracks:...
(1975); Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
's, Night Flight
Night Flight (album)
Night Flight was a studio album by Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward, released on Decca Records in 1980. It was reissued on CD in September 1989....
(1980); Chris Rea
Chris Rea
Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally...
's, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?
Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?
Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? is the debut album by Chris Rea, released in 1978 .The first single lifted from the album, "Fool ", is arguably Rea's best known song, and remains his biggest hit in the United States, peaking at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one on...
(1978);
On Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
's first solo album Diamond Head
Diamond Head (album)
Diamond Head is the first solo album by Phil Manzanera, issued in 1975. It was originally issued in the UK on Island and in US on Atco...
(1975), John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
and Doreen sang duo on the track, "Same Time, Next Week".
In 1976, Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
released their second album First Flight although it failed to make any lasting impression. They sang live with John Miles
John Miles (musician)
John Miles is an English rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, best known for his 1976 Top 3 UK hit single, "Music".-Career:...
and appeared on a live album. The sisters released two albums in 1978 through Safari Records which failed to chart.
Solo singer
In 1976 her name is credited on Bryan FerryBryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
's album Let's Stick Together
Let's Stick Together
Let's Stick Together is a 1976 album by Bryan Ferry. His third solo release, it was his first following the disbandment of Roxy Music earlier in the year. Unlike Ferry’s two previous solo recordings, Let’s Stick Together was not a dedicated album project, instead being made up of material released...
, and the following year she appeared as a backing vocalist on Ferry's album, In Your Mind
In Your Mind
In Your Mind may refer to:* In Your Mind, an album by Bryan Ferry* "In Your Mind", a song by Built to Spill from Ancient Melodies of the Future* "In Your Mind", a song by Johnny Cash from the Dead Man Walking soundtrack...
.
In 1981, Chanter was part of a chorus that sang at The Secret Policeman's Ball
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball was the fourth of the benefit shows staged by the British Section of Amnesty International to raise funds for its research and campaign work in the human rights field...
with other chorus members including Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
, Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
, Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
, Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
and Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
. She also wrote two singles for Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
released in 1981 and a song sung by Dee for the British television series Roll Over Beethoven
Roll Over Beethoven
"Roll Over Beethoven" is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. The lyrics of the song mention rock and roll and the desire for rhythm and blues to replace classical music...
in 1985. She also made a cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Pink Floyd The Wall
Pink Floyd The Wall (film)
Pink Floyd—The Wall is a 1982 British live-action/animated musical film directed by Alan Parker based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall. The screenplay was written by Pink Floyd vocalist and bassist Roger Waters. The film is highly metaphorical and is rich in symbolic imagery and sound...
in 1982 as a vocalist in a choir. In 1983 both her and Irene appeared as backing singers on The Undertones
The Undertones
The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
track "The Love Parade" on their The Sin of Pride
The Sin of Pride
The Sin of Pride is the fourth and final album to be released by the original line-up of The Undertones. The album, which was produced by Mike Hedges, was recorded between the autumn of 1982 and the spring of 1983...
album.
Chanter was part of the touring bands for both Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
in 1984. She sung on Waters' album The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking released in that year and provided backing vocals together with Katie Kissoon during the tour promoting the record in 1984-1985. The duo returned again for the Radio K.A.O.S tour in 1987. Chanter performed on Waters' next releases - first, she sung on three songs from Radio KAOS
Radio Kaos
Radio Kaos is Mexican Rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1992. The band currently features Claudio Pérez , David Pérez . The release of their first album Botas Negras under EMI Capitol was a success in Mexico...
in 1987 and then on five songs off Amused to Death
Amused to Death
Amused to Death is a concept album, and the third studio album by former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters. It was released in 1992.The album title was attached to material that Waters began working on during the Radio KAOS tour...
album in 1992.
She also toured as part of Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
's backing band Neverland Express
Neverland Express
The Neverland Express is the name for Meat Loaf's live band. The name is most likely taken from Jim Steinman's affinity for Peter Pan.This list does not contain guest members.-Current lineup:Paul Crook: Lead Guitars: Guitars, VocalsDanny Miranda: Bass...
in 1984-85, including appearing on Bad Attitude - Live!
Bad Attitude - Live!
Bad Attitude - Live! is a live video recording of Meat Loaf. It was recorded on the UK leg of the 1985 Bad Attitude tour.-Set list:#"Bad Attitude" — 5:25 #"Dead Ringer for Love" — 6:43...
(1985); and as part of Joe Cocker's
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
touring band in 1989. Chanter featured on Cocker's live album Joe Cocker Live
Joe Cocker Live
Joe Cocker Live is a live album by Joe Cocker, released in 1990 . It was recorded live October 5, 1989 at Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts.-Track listing:#"Feelin' Alright" - 4:43...
released in 1990.
During the 1990s, Doreen appeared on several albums with Chris Farlowe.
External links
- [ Doreen Chanter's Allmusic Guide page]
- [ Chanter Sisters Allmusic Guide page]
- Doreen Chanter page