Antone ‘Chubby’ Tavares, New Bedford R&B music legend, has died

Antone “Chubby” Tavares, the lead singer of the legendary vocal group Tavares, has passed away at the age of 81.

His son, Antone Tavares, announced his passing on Saturday, Nov. 29, in a statement on Facebook.

“It is with great sadness that we share news of our Dad Antone ‘Chubby’ Tavares passing. He passed last night at home in peace & comfort. Within the past year his health has declined but his spirit and attitude always remained positive. Dad and his brothers touched many people and brought Joy worldwide. They were Blessed to experience many places and things,” the post reads.

He added that a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Social media has been filled with Tavares’ impact

A post on the Tavares official Facebook page was flooded with nearly a thousand comments, filled with condolences and reflections on Chubby Tavares’ influence and the enduring legacy of his music.

“To our loyal fans, family, and friends,We are saddened to announce that our brother Antone ‘Chubby’ Tavares has passed away. Please pray for Chubby, his children, his girlfriend Cheri, and our family during this difficult time. We know that he is now eternally with our Lord. We thank you in advance for allowing us to mourn privately as a family. We love you, and God bless you all.— The Tavares Family,” the post read.

New Bedford Councillor-at-Large Brian K. Gomes wrote in a Facebook post, “I am sad and brokenhearted with the loss of Chubby Tavares. May he rest in peace, and thank you for the great memories and the music that will live on forever and ever.”

The Cape Verdean Museum also shared a message: “We lost a legendary member of our community in the passing of Chubby Tavares. Our condolences to the family and to everyone who is affected by this great loss.”

The Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford added, “Condolences to the family and friends of Chubby Tavares. May he rest in peace.”

A voice that defined an era

A New Bedford native, Chubby was the lead singer of the Grammy-winning sibling R&B group Tavares.

A pioneer of Cape Verdean-American representation in mainstream soul music, his voice helped shape the sound of 1970s R&B.

Chubby and his brothers Feliciano “Butch,” Perry Lee “Tiny,” Arthur “Pooch,” and Ralph first performed as “Chubby and the Turnpikes” before adopting the name Tavares.

Chubby’s remarkable voice was the centerpiece of many of their signature hits, including “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” and “It Only Takes a Minute.”

The group scored eight singles on Billboard’s Top 40, 12 singles on the R&B Top 10 (including three No. 1 records), three dance chart hits—including a No. 1—and released 10 hit albums.

In 1978, Tavares won a Grammy Award for their contributions to the iconic “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, one of the most successful film soundtracks of all time.

Tavares received numerous honors throughout their career. The brothers were inducted into the Cape Verdean Museum Hall of Fame in 2006, received Lifetime Achievement Awards from The National R&B Music Society in 2013, and were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

In 2012, Chubby began his solo career with his first solo album, “Jealousy” followed by “Can’t Knock Me Down,” released in 2015.

Tavares Brothers’ Way became an official street in New Bedford in 2024 as a way to honor the five brothers who have created a lasting legacy in the city.

“They’ve been around the world and every time they were introduced, New Bedford, Mass., was attached to it. They were at the forefront of a whole era,” City Councilor Derek Baptiste said during the street naming.