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TRANSITIONS | Ralph Tavares, longtime leader of the group Tavares dead at 79 (To Be)

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Ralph Tavares, the eldest member and longtime leader of the family group Tavares, has died just two days before his 80th birthday.

 Ralph Tavares of the musical group Tavares, who hailed from New Bedford, has died. The singer would have turned 80 on Friday, Dec. 10. 

His cause of death has not yet been released. 

The Grammy-award winning soul group featured Ralph Tavares and his four other brothers, Antone Laurence “Chubby” Tavares, Perry Lee “Tiny” Tavares, Feliciano Vierra “Butch” Tavares Jr., and Arthur Paul “Pooch” Tavares.

In 1975, the brothers released their smash hit “It Only Takes a Minute.” A string of hits followed including “Heaven Must be Missing an Angel” and “More Than a Woman.” 

Ralph Tavares of the singing group Tavares, who hailed from New Bedford, has reportedly died. The singer would have turned 80 on Friday, Dec. 10. 

His cause of death has not yet been released. 

The Grammy Award winning group featured Ralph Tavares and his four other brothers, Antone Laurence “Chubby” Tavares, Perry Lee “Tiny” Tavares, Feliciano Vierra “Butch” Tavares Jr., and Arthur Paul “Pooch” Tavares.

In 1975, the brothers released their smash hit “It Only Takes a Minute.” A string of hits followed including “Heaven Must be Missing an Angel” and “More Than a Woman.” 

They were inducted into the Cape Verdean Museum Hall of Fame in 2006. 

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Ralph Tavares worked at the New Bedford and Fall River courts for over 30 years, retiring in 2015. 

“He was still rehearsing and playing,” said Quinn Feno, assistant chief court officer in Fall River. He worked with Tavares at the New Bedford and Fall River courts for about 12 years altogether. 

From the archives:Tavares still groovin’

“We became best of friends outside the courthouse,” Feno said. The two texted often and would get together monthly, and on Veteran’s Day or head to Foxwoods every now and then.  

Quinn Feno worked with Ralph Tavares for many years while Tavares was a court officer in New Bedford and Fall River.

“He was very humble, but he would love to tell us stories about Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder or the Bee Gees,” Feno said, adding the stories were “unreal,” but that Ralph Tavares never bragged about his celebrity. “They just played at Myrtle Beach in October.” 

Grammy and other accolades for Tavares 

Tavares won a Grammy in 1978 for the single “More Than a Woman” on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which won Album of the Year. 

The group was nominated for a Grammy in 1982 for their hit single “A Penny for Your Thoughts.” 

The group had six gold and two platinum albums, a Grammy Award and fans around the world when, in 1984, Ralph Tavares quit.

The Bristol Community College reunion show

In 2014, the group played a reunion show at Bristol Community College.

As his brothers sang onstage at BCC, Ralph Tavares waited in the shadows, just off stage. He was to be the surprise of the concert. After all, he had left the group 30 years earlier. But at first, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to do the reunion performance.

More from the archives:Tavares Brothers still touring U.S. and Europe

“I wasn’t sure I’d fit in,” he said in a Standard-Times article covering the concert. But this performance was for his parents. 

“Tiny kept asking me,” he said, but after so many years out of the group, he wondered if he would be better off unseen and unheard.

Then he thought about his parents, the people who encouraged him and his brothers to use their voices, who loved him unconditionally, who ignited a passion for music in countless children.

“That kind of struck a chord,” Ralph said.

Locals remembered Ralph Tavares on Twitter.

Standard-Times digital producer Linda Roy can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow her on Twitter at @LindaRoy_SCT. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times.View CommentsBaking soda life hack! 4 reasons why to keep it near your washing machine.Tips and tricks|AdSleep Apnea Treatment Options Without CPAP (May Surprise)Sleep Apnea | Search Ads|AdBusiness Registrations in Dubai Might Surprise You.Dubai Business|Ad Tedswoodworking – Earth’s Largest Database of Woodworking Projectstafizz|AdLearn Where to Invest $1,000 (Hint: 5G)Investors|AdThis Is Without a Doubt the Most Luxurious Cars Owned By CelebsThe Savage Post|AdTeds Woodworking® – 16,000 Woodworking Plans & Projects With Videos – Custom Carpentrywoodworking|AdTop 10 Ways to Show Your Cats You Love ThemViralBezz|Adabout:blankhttps://ab5c10fea08ed3318fc5b1aba45951bc.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlMore StoriesDowntown New Bedford Inc. hosts annual Holiday StrollUnion Flats restaurant opens on Union Street in New BedfordFast & Cheap Medical Billing Courses: The Salary Could Surprise YouDidUKnow|Sponsored Linkshttps://ab5c10fea08ed3318fc5b1aba45951bc.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlhttps://ab5c10fea08ed3318fc5b1aba45951bc.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html© 2021 www.southcoasttoday.com. All rights reserved.javascript:void(0)

Formed in 1959 as The Del Rios as backing vocal group for Linda Steele. After disbanding they renamed Chubby And The Turnpikes – four Cape Verdean – American brothers, born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, they would later move to New Bedford, Massachusetts. They were signed at Capitol Records in 1967 and released three singles. They were renamed Tavares in the 70’s. They had a No.1 R’n’B hit with their cover of Daryl Hall & John Oates‘ “She’s Gone” in 1974. Their biggest hit is 1975’s “It Only Takes A Minute” , covered in 1992 by Take That and “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel”. They have duetted with Freda Payne for “I Wanna See You Soon” in 1977. They appeared in the soundtrack of “Saturday Night Fever” and gained a Grammy award with their rendition of Bee Gees‘ “More Than A Woman” in 1978. After ten albums recorded for Capitol Records (produced by Johnny Bristol, the duo Brian Potter and Dennis LambertFreddie PerrenBobby MartinBenjamin Wright and Bobby ColombyAlan Abrahams (2)) in 1980 they were signed to RCA Victor for two albums (produced by Jay SenterKenny NolanRichard Wyatt Jr.Leon SylversWardell Potts and Dana Meyers). Ralph Tavares left the group in 1984 and Tiny Tavares left in the mid 90’s to join them again in 2009 for live concerts.

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A Short Conversation About ‘Snitching’ Led To The Murder Of Nipsey Hussle -Prosecutor

the woman who has accused singer Chris Brown of drugging and raping her on a yacht in late December 2020. In text messages between Brown and the accuser which was exclusively obtained by Radar, Jane Doe, the woman is seen courting Brown in lewd language and bare-naked selfies almost immediately after the alleged rape took place.

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A Los Angeles prosecutor on Wednesday told jurors that a conversation between Hussle and fellow gang member Eric R. Holder, was a catalyst in the rappers shooting. AP reported that the prosecutor told jurors that pre-mediated the rapper’s 2019 killing after a short conversation between the two men regarding accusations of “snitching.”

The highly-publicized trial kicked off this week with opening arguments on Wednesday following nearly two weeks of jury selection and a pandemic-related delay.

Holder, 32, faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting that left Hussle dead and two other men injured. Holder faces possible life in prison if convicted.

Deputy District Attorney John McKinney used his opening statement on Wednesday to describe the sequence of events that led to Hussle’s May 2019 death outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles, according to news reports.

Hussle, a South LA native who was born Ermias Asghedom, was using his notoriety to help revitalize his community at the time of his death. Prosecutors said Hussle and Holder grew up in the same neighborhood and knew each other from both being members of the same gang, the Rollin’ 60s.

McKinney told jurors that prior to the shooting, the two men had a brief, chance conversation in which Hussle told Holder there were rumors that the latter was a “snitch” and he should “clear that up,” according to The AP. The district attorney described the short discussion as a “cool conversation” in which Hussle told Holder that he’d heard Holder was talking to police about members of the Rollin’ 60s.

The allegation, McKinney said, “moved Eric Holder to a point of wanting to return to the parking lot and kill Nipsey Hussle,” according to The AP.

Minutes later, Holder returned to the same parking lot with two guns and fired multiple shots at Hussle, prosecutors allege. The rapper was hit 11 times and two other men were also struck, according to officials. Police arrested Holder two days later following a manhunt and a grand jury indicted Holder two months after his capture.

Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle.AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

McKinney on Wednesday said there was “no doubt” that Holder planned to kill Hussle ahead of the shooting, The AP reported.

“He clearly thought about what he was going to do before he did it,” McKinney said in court.

Jurors on Wednesday were shown video of the aftermath of the shooting in which multiple people tried to resuscitate Hussle, the outlet reported. McKinney also showed the courtroom photos and video of the shooting, with Holder running away afterward in a red shirt and bandana with a semiautomatic gun and revolver in hand, according to The AP.

Several eyewitnesses who knew both Hussle and Holder have previously told police and a grand jury that Holder approached Hussle and fatally shot him. Hussle was 33 at the time of his death and left behind a young son and daughter.

The defendant’s attorney, Aaron Jansen, plans to argue that Hussle’s killing was not premeditated. The lawyer has also said that the other two men injured in the shooting were not intended targets, making the attempted murder charges excessive. The AP reported that the attorney is likely to emphasize Holder’s mental health issues as well.

The Grammy-award-winning rapper’s death prompted mass displays of mourning in Los Angeles and across the world, with several athletes, musicians and politicians memorializing Hussle. 

The trial is expected to last about two more weeks, according to The AP.

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A Short Conversation About ‘Snitching’ Led To The Murder Of Nipsey Hussle -Prosecutor

Published

on

A Los Angeles prosecutor on Wednesday told jurors that a conversation between Hussle and fellow gang member Eric R. Holder, was a catalyst in the rappers shooting. AP reported that the prosecutor told jurors that pre-mediated the rapper’s 2019 killing after a short conversation between the two men regarding accusations of “snitching.”

The highly-publicized trial kicked off this week with opening arguments on Wednesday following nearly two weeks of jury selection and a pandemic-related delay.

Holder, 32, faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting that left Hussle dead and two other men injured. Holder faces possible life in prison if convicted.

Deputy District Attorney John McKinney used his opening statement on Wednesday to describe the sequence of events that led to Hussle’s May 2019 death outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles, according to news reports.

Hussle, a South LA native who was born Ermias Asghedom, was using his notoriety to help revitalize his community at the time of his death. Prosecutors said Hussle and Holder grew up in the same neighborhood and knew each other from both being members of the same gang, the Rollin’ 60s.

McKinney told jurors that prior to the shooting, the two men had a brief, chance conversation in which Hussle told Holder there were rumors that the latter was a “snitch” and he should “clear that up,” according to The AP. The district attorney described the short discussion as a “cool conversation” in which Hussle told Holder that he’d heard Holder was talking to police about members of the Rollin’ 60s.

The allegation, McKinney said, “moved Eric Holder to a point of wanting to return to the parking lot and kill Nipsey Hussle,” according to The AP.

Minutes later, Holder returned to the same parking lot with two guns and fired multiple shots at Hussle, prosecutors allege. The rapper was hit 11 times and two other men were also struck, according to officials. Police arrested Holder two days later following a manhunt and a grand jury indicted Holder two months after his capture.

Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle.AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

McKinney on Wednesday said there was “no doubt” that Holder planned to kill Hussle ahead of the shooting, The AP reported.

“He clearly thought about what he was going to do before he did it,” McKinney said in court.

Jurors on Wednesday were shown video of the aftermath of the shooting in which multiple people tried to resuscitate Hussle, the outlet reported. McKinney also showed the courtroom photos and video of the shooting, with Holder running away afterward in a red shirt and bandana with a semiautomatic gun and revolver in hand, according to The AP.

Several eyewitnesses who knew both Hussle and Holder have previously told police and a grand jury that Holder approached Hussle and fatally shot him. Hussle was 33 at the time of his death and left behind a young son and daughter.

The defendant’s attorney, Aaron Jansen, plans to argue that Hussle’s killing was not premeditated. The lawyer has also said that the other two men injured in the shooting were not intended targets, making the attempted murder charges excessive. The AP reported that the attorney is likely to emphasize Holder’s mental health issues as well.

The Grammy-award-winning rapper’s death prompted mass displays of mourning in Los Angeles and across the world, with several athletes, musicians and politicians memorializing Hussle. 

The trial is expected to last about two more weeks, according to The AP.

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Los Angeles District Attorney Will Not File Felony Charges Against The Man Who Attacked Dave Chappelle At Comedy Show

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Twitter

Comedian Dave Chappelle’ lawyer says the comedian is unhappy with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s decision not to file felony charges against the man who allegedly attacked him on stage.

“It’s a travesty of justice that Gascón is refusing to prosecute this case as a felony,” Gabriel Colwell told the New York Post on Friday. “The city attorney, who filed the case, is doing his job but DA Gascón should also do his job and charge this as a felony.

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Bloodstone

Bloodstone’s other hits include “Never Let You Go”, “Outside Woman” and “My Little Lady”. Bloodstone was instrumental in the “black rock” and funk movement of the 1970s, and even play

“… Entertainers in LA need to know this is a justice system that will protect them. There is no question here that when someone is violently assaulted by another in possession of a deadly weapon that it should be charged as a felony.”

Colwell echoed those comments to Rolling Stone magazine, telling the publication: “This is what Mr. Chappelle wants. Mr. Chappelle wants this case charged as a felony. … Ten thousand people saw Dave Chappelle assaulted on stage at the Hollywood Bowl last Tuesday night, and the assailant had a deadly weapon on him. The fact that this isn’t charged as a felony case by the DA is insane.”

Isaiah Lee, 23, was charged Thursday by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office with single misdemeanor charge of battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorized access to the stage area during a performance and commission of an act that delays an event or interferes with a performer. He appeared in court Tuesday for a bail review hearing during which bail remained set at $30,000.

Lee is due back in court May 20 after pleading not guilty to the four misdemeanor counts.

Earlier Thursday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that it would not file any felony charges against Lee.

“After reviewing the evidence, prosecutors determined that while criminal conduct occurred, the evidence as presented did not constitute felony conduct,” according to a statement from the District Attorney’s Office.

The office opted to refer the case to the City Attorney’s Office, which handles misdemeanor prosecutions.


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Los Angeles District Attorney Will Not File Felony Charges Against The Man Who Attacked Dave Chappelle At Comedy Show

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Comedian Dave Chappelle’ lawyer says the comedian is unhappy with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s decision not to file felony charges against the man who allegedly attacked him on stage.

“It’s a travesty of justice that Gascón is refusing to prosecute this case as a felony,” Gabriel Colwell told the New York Post on Friday. “The city attorney, who filed the case, is doing his job but DA Gascón should also do his job and charge this as a felony.

article continues below

Bloodstone

Bloodstone’s other hits include “Never Let You Go”, “Outside Woman” and “My Little Lady”. Bloodstone was instrumental in the “black rock” and funk movement of the 1970s, and even play

“… Entertainers in LA need to know this is a justice system that will protect them. There is no question here that when someone is violently assaulted by another in possession of a deadly weapon that it should be charged as a felony.”

Colwell echoed those comments to Rolling Stone magazine, telling the publication: “This is what Mr. Chappelle wants. Mr. Chappelle wants this case charged as a felony. … Ten thousand people saw Dave Chappelle assaulted on stage at the Hollywood Bowl last Tuesday night, and the assailant had a deadly weapon on him. The fact that this isn’t charged as a felony case by the DA is insane.”

Isaiah Lee, 23, was charged Thursday by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office with single misdemeanor charge of battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorized access to the stage area during a performance and commission of an act that delays an event or interferes with a performer. He appeared in court Tuesday for a bail review hearing during which bail remained set at $30,000.

Lee is due back in court May 20 after pleading not guilty to the four misdemeanor counts.

Earlier Thursday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that it would not file any felony charges against Lee.

“After reviewing the evidence, prosecutors determined that while criminal conduct occurred, the evidence as presented did not constitute felony conduct,” according to a statement from the District Attorney’s Office.

The office opted to refer the case to the City Attorney’s Office, which handles misdemeanor prosecutions.


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​Hip-Hop’s Queen Latifah Breaks Ground On Community-Driven Real Estate Project In Newark

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KbakercoMedia

Queen Latifah returned home to Newark on Tuesday, warmly welcomed by fans, family and public officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for a mixed-use project she is partnering with local developers to build on a block with a troubled past.

“I was born here, St. Michael’s Hospital, so this is definitely my home,” said Latifah, 52, who spent some of her early years in neighboring East Orange and Irvington. But getting back to Newark, she added, “This is where Sarah Vaughn is from, so I’m proud to be from here.”

Latifah, an award-winning rapper, singer, and actor who stars in “The Equalizer” on CBS, appeared before a crowd of about 150 people gathered at the site of the RISE mixed-use project between Springfield and 19th Avenues, west of 16th Street, near the boundary of Central and West wards.

The project will include 60 two- and three-bedroom market-rate apartments in four townhouse clusters, and 16 affordable units in a separate building. It will also have space for healthcare or other professional offices and nonprofit organizations.

Rent for the market-rate units will start at around $1,800 a month, said officials of GonSosa Development, the company headed by Alberto and Yacinda Goncalves and Ricardo Sosa that is partnering with Latifah’s development company, Blue Sugar, on the project. Blue Sugar’s CEO is her longtime friend and fellow Newarker Tammy Hammond.

Construction began this winter on the first phase of the project, a dozen market-rate apartments in a three-story building designed to look like a townhouse cluster, which is expected to be completed this summer. Additional phases will be finished gradually, including the affordable units sometime in 2023, with the entire project done by early 2024.

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