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

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.  

“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 lroy@s-t.com. 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 Lambert, Freddie Perren, Bobby Martin, Benjamin Wright and Bobby Colomby, Alan Abrahams (2)) in 1980 they were signed to RCA Victor for two albums (produced by Jay Senter, Kenny Nolan, Richard Wyatt Jr., Leon Sylvers, Wardell 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.