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From The Chicago Sun-Times

Robert “Squirrel” Lester was a troubadour of slow dances and long kisses whose fans told him he was partly responsible for the births of their children.
The silky-voiced singer with the internationally renowned Chicago vocal group the Chi-Lites died Thursday of cancer at Roseland Hospital. He was 67.

He was born in McComb, Miss., where his tree-climbing ability earned him the nickname “Squirrel.” He went on to attend Hyde Park High School in Chicago.

Mr. Lester was with the singing group The Chanteurs in the 1950s. The group morphed into the Hi-Lites and then the Chi-Lites.
Their soaring harmonies contrasted with the gritty stylings coming out of other percolators of soul, like Memphis’ Stax Records.
Their biggest ’70s hits, “Oh Girl” and “Have You Seen Her” — penned by Chi-Lite Eugene Record — made women swoon.

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  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=11248 Legendary Chi-Lites Singer, Robert Lester Dies At 67 | Black Info.Net

    [...] more here: Legendary Chi-Lites Singer, Robert Lester Dies At 67 Posted in The 411 Tags: black, chi-lites, Entertainment, Music, soul « Video: White House [...]

  • http://kissrichmond.com/national/michaelbaisden/legendary-chi-lites-singer-robert-lester-dies-at-67/ Legendary Chi-Lites Singer, Robert Lester Dies At 67 | KissRichmond

    [...] Via:  NewsOne.com [...]

  • http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/newsone.com/entertainment/news-one-staff/legendary-chi-lites-singer-robert-lester-dies-at-67/ uberVU – social comments

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by bonbar: Legendary Chi-Lites Singer, Robert Lester Dies At 67 – From The Chicago Sun-Times… http://ow.ly/16pWRm (via @BlackInformant)…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/producer6tray/ producer6tray

    TOP NOTCHES O.G. PLAYAZ FROM CHI-TOWN.!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Stan_Vinyl/ Stan_Vinyl

    R.I.P MR. Robert Lester… thank you for the jams, “Lonely man” & “Have you seen her” were songs that gave me alot of good memories!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/kaikai7/ kaikai7

    I love the Chilites! My parents played their music often when I was growing up so I developed a mature taste for good music early! I have seen them in concert a few times. They out on an excellent show! 1st Class all the way! The groups of today can not match the showmanship/ style of the groups from eras gone by! I always feel sad when I hear of another legendary singer passing. We have already lost so many!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/kaikai7/ kaikai7

    I love me some Chilites! My parents played their music often when I was growing up so I developed a mature taste for good music early! I have seen them in concert a few times. They out on an excellent show! 1st Class all the way! The groups of today can not match the showmanship/ style of the groups from eras gone by! I always feel sad when I hear of another legendary singer passing. We have already lost so many!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Tried-N-True/ Tried-N-True

    (((((WOW))))) Larry from he Intruders also passed this weel from liver cancer……All the silky smooth voiced are now singing with the angels….Listen carefully and you will hear them singing in God’s choir….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/tayaluv05/ tayaluv05

    SING A SONG FOR MY POPS WHEN U GET THERE , REST IN PEACE BELOVED!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/U_InquireMi/ U_InquireMi

    WOWWWW all of our great singers are leaving us. This is a very depressing way to start off the year.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/dabombstuff31/ dabombstuff31

    R.I.P. Robert Lester. I love that song Oh Girl. Although I am only 31 I love songs from back in that time.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Black_Queen09/ Black_Queen09

    RIP: ROBERT “SQUIRREL” LESTER, YOU WILL GREATLY BE MISSED AND LOVED… MAN I CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER WHEN WILL ALL THIS DEATH OF THE GREAT ONES FINALLY COME TO AN END…I AM SO TIRED NOW, PLEASE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH… MY LOVE GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY, PEACE BE STILL…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/veeland/ veeland

    I’ve seen the Soul Revue, in which the Chi-lites always were at their best, several times. My condolences to the family and thanks for sharing him with us for so many years!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jan457boo/ jan457boo

    GREAT MUSIC…………HE WAS GREAT AND I HOPE SOME ON THE NEW ARTIST. LISTEN TO THIS MUSIC…IT HAS LAST FOR YEARS…….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ChiLitesFamily/ ChiLitesFamily

    The Chi Lites and Legendary Black Entertainers
    October 29, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    It’s not about responsibility but duty when it comes to abuse to anyone it is the duty of all that includes, even yes yours truly Oprah Winfery.

    It’s not an unaware issue about the deaths of so many legendary black entertainers in the words of an ignorant idea I got mine get yours.

    I got a little news for you someone helped even yes even Oprah Winfery anyone who forgets who help them and were they came from needs to quickly remember they could be back were they came from.

    And if she forgets she will be back their like you are anyone else you don’t forget. Their never be a apology from any one asking for Oprah Winfery’s help PS

    P S Oprah and you and her staff should remember that if you’re not going help don’t pretend are play like it on TV to get ratings.

    Don’t ask million of people to give Oprah Winfery any money if she does not want to use it to help those who are in need and asses.

    Tens of millions are give to Oprah every year to Angel Network why take the money if Oprah Not going to use it in the USA where it is given.
    If it is given in the United States it should be use for the needy in the United States!!!

    Oprah Don’t takes the money if you’re not going to help Son Darren of the Chi Lites and the legendary black entertainers in your own field that are homeless because of abuse and Corruption and racism.

    Just give back if you’re not going to use it to help poor families in the USA and inner City Children at risk that the low life that wrote their uncovering statements obviously doesn’t care a lick about right.

    If you can spend 40 million on a vacation for your spoiled staff I think you can find time to help!!!!!

    There will be no Apology from me are anyone who speak the truth out!!!!
    Tell that to the dead legendary black entertainers who died in poverty and legacy abuse
    like Sammy Davis Jr., Creadel Jones from the Legendary Chi Lites, Jackie Wilson, Muddy Waters, and Florence Ballard from the Supremes ,
    I wonder but do I really really need to are anyone else if the shoe was on Oprah Winfey’s foot would Oprah Winfery are her greedy staff still think the same way If they needed help from legacy exploitation and abuse that cause Oprah Winfery and staff to be poor are homeless would Oprah’s selfish Idea still be thought and used by her and her staff. Oprah I Got Mine You Get Yours I know with those Ideas you must be really help those poor in Africa Yeah Right!!!!!!
    What a taxes scam HON Oprah Winfery for a person that gets over 260,000,000 dollars a year you had to come up with something hum? Can’t wait until January taxes roll around you and your staff can pretend Africa is your interest hoping that the IRS along are believes that lye for how long hum THAT”S THE REAL QUESTION HUM?

    Help Africans yea right you can’t even help legendary black icons who have been forced in poverty from corruption and abuse to black legendary icons.

    Oprah and staff keep the bad non work and I got mine you give me your so I can have more Angle Network up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Is the death of Creadel Jones from the Chi Lites so indiled in corruption from entertainment mobs and golbal entertainment industrys that they have all must hidding the very subject of Creadel Jones death? Not only Creadel Jones but other black legendary entertainers deaths, like Mary Wells from the Surprems Joe Louis Jimmy Hendricks, the Temptaions,Muddy Watres, James Brown and others. WEhy are they hidding so musch.

    In the past law suits for these legendary entertainers has been put up over a billion dollars of of law suit but yet thier reports of legendary black entertainers still go on concering the poverty of these legndry black entrtainers. Why do Oparh and others black entertainers deny the fact about htese legendary black entrtainers????????? What realy going on behide the seens hum??????????

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ChiLitesFamily/ ChiLitesFamily

    What’s Up with Oprah ? Why Did Oprah refuse to help Creadel Jones from the Chi Lites. Thier even both from Chicago Ill. I think that If Creadel Jones from the Chi Lites need not only the help from Oprah but from the Music community and the entertainment eild he should have got it. It seems that we allow so much neglect to go to legendary black entertainers until we become nume to the very truth of the conduct. Unity acount for much but yet none in the community of ther culture.

  • http://freegoods4u.co.cc/2010/12/20/chi-lites/ Chi lites | FreeGoods4u

    [...] Legendary Chi-Lites Singer, Robert Lester Dies At 67 | News OneThe group morphed into the Hi-Lites and then the Chi-Lites. … I've seen the Soul Revue, in which the Chi-lites always were at their best, … Get the RSS Feed December 20, 2010 at 9:01 am by admin | Category: Uncategorized | [...]

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