1960 - Left to right : Pete Antell, Bobby Butts, Mike DeVivo, John Linde and Mickey Lee Lane
The Chants (1) (New York)
Mike DeVivo (Lead Vocals)
Pete Antell (Guitar / Vocals)
Bobby Butts (Sax / Vocals)
John Linde (Drums)
John Linde was born and raised in Oceanside, NY. John started down the road taking part in the school band as a percussionist. After graduation from high school and a stint in the armed forces, John formed a band called The Chants in 1959. Through John's contacts and his meticulous business acumen, The Chants began building a solid reputation as an excellent club band, establishing followings at various venues on Long Island.
The Chants hooked up with a family of fledgling recording entrepreneurs, Bill and Steve Jerome, owners of a small storefront recording studio and a label called Tru-Eko Records. The Chants recorded a version of “Respectable”, a song written and previously recorded by The Isley Brothers for RCA as their follow-up to the immensely successful single “Shout”.
The Chants single was released on MGM and was put into rotation on New York radio. Following the success of “Respectable”, John recruited Mickey Lee Lane for bass and called Pete to ask if he was interested in a job as a vocalist and guitarist in The Chants. Pete accepted and was in on the recording of their next single, the novelty tune, “ Dick Tracy”.
This was the second and last single for MGM, released on their Verve subsidiary. After the success of The Chants, Pete and John, now songwriting and production partners, formed an alliance with another Long Island ensemble through an associate at Ultra-Sonic Studios. Keyboard player Stoney Jackson had worked with this quartet of young ladies who called themselves The Percells.
John Lindle, Stoney Jackson, Pete Antell & The Percells
The Chants (1)