Doreen Chanter

Doreen Chanter is a British singer best known for her career as a member of the Chanter Sisters^[1] and for her work as a backing vocalist^[2] and session 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 singles 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.

Solo singer

In 1976 her name is credited on Bryan Ferry'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.

References

1. ^ Bogovich, Richard; Posner, Cheryl (2003-05-19). The Who: a who's who. McFarland. p. 48. ISBN 9780786415694. http://books.google.com/books?id=glEIAQAAMAAJ. Retrieved 8 April 2011. "Doreen and Irene Chanter also sang on the John Alcock/John Entwistle Flash Fearless album. The Chanter Sisters released four of their own albums from 1970 through 1978 and played keyboards in addition to singing on them. ..." 
2. ^ Page, Janice (Aug 17, 1987). "Pink Floyd fans erred if they missed Waters Former lead singer posts strong performance". Providence Journal: p. B13. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/601041561.html?dids=601041561:601041561&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+17%2C+1987&author=JANICE+PAGE+Journal-Bulletin+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Providence+Journal&desc=Pink+Floyd+fans+erred+if+they+missed+Waters+Former+lead+singer+posts+strong+performance&pqatl=google. Retrieved 8 April 2011. "And backup singer Doreen Chanter nearly stole the show with her powerful and throaty Bonnie Raitt-style solo passages." 

External links

• Doreen Chanter's Allmusic Guide page
• Chanter Sisters Allmusic Guide page
• Doreen Chanter page

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Name	Chanter, Doreen
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