Ralph Tavares, the eldest brother in the singing group Tavares has passed away at age 79, two days shy of his 80th birthday. Ralph and his brothers, Pooch, Chubby, Butch and Tiny were among the first wave of disco superstars in the mid-70's. They had Top 20 chart hits with "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" and "It Only Takes a Minute." Their version of "More Than a Woman" appeared in the movie "Saturday Night Fever." The song was written by the BeeGees and both the Tavares version and BeeGees version appear on the soundtrack album.
For those of us who grew up in Southern New England in the 70's, Tavares were HUGE. Their innovative sound and cool personas made them an instant favorite from New Bedford to Providence and around the world. Rest in peace, Ralph. Rock and Roll Heaven just got a great new vocalist!
Here are a couple of awesome videos featuring Ralph and his brothers. (video: YouTube photo: Getty Images)