Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Alex Chilton

Role / Field:

American musician, best known for his vocal work with The Box Tops and Big Star.

Born:

1950-12-28

Died:

2010-03-17

Century / Era:

1950s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

William Alexander Chilton (December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010) was an American musician, best known as the lead singer of the rock bands the Box Tops and Big Star. Chilton's early commercial success in the 1960s as a teen vocalist for the Box Tops was not matched by similar chart success in his later work with Big Star and in his subsequent solo career on independent record labels. However, he built a devoted following among indie and alternative musicians, and has been frequently cited as a seminal influence by influential rock artists and bands. Chilton grew up in a musical family.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His father, Sidney Chilton, was a jazz pianist and saxophonist who sold industrial lighting to support his family. A local band recruited the teenaged Chilton in 1966 to be their lead singer after learning of the popularity of his vocal performance at a talent show at Memphis's Central High School. This band was Ronnie and the Devilles, which was subsequently renamed the Box Tops. The group recorded with Chips Moman and producer/songwriter Dan Penn at American Sound Studio and Muscle Shoals's FAME Studios. Chilton was 16 when his first professional recording, the Box Tops' song...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alexander McQueen — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Iconic British fashion designer known for theatrical, boundary-pushing collections.
• Ali Hassan al-Majid — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Notorious Iraqi military figure, cousin of Saddam Hussein, known for brutal repression.
• Allan Sandage — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Pioneering American astronomer known for determining the Hubble constant and age of the universe.
• Amos Oz — Shared historical date (12-28 · Died) (2018): Pioneering Israeli novelist, journalist, and intellectual whose works explored Palestinian life.
• Ante Pavelić — Shared historical date (12-28 · Died) (1959): Croatian politician and dictator of the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945)
• Bayard Rustin — Shared historical date (03-17 · Born) (1912): Pioneering organizer of nonviolence, civil rights, and socialist movements.
• Betty Williams — Shared historical date (03-17 · Died) (2020): Northern Irish peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
• 1950 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1950
• December 28 (12-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 28
• 2010 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2010
• March 17 (03-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 17

Frequently Asked Questions about Alex Chilton