Antone “Chubby” Tavares, the lead singer of the Grammy-winning R&B group Tavares, died at his home on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. He was 81 years old.
His son, Antone Tavares Jr., announced the death on Facebook, noting that his father passed away “in peace and comfort.” The younger Tavares wrote that his father’s health had declined over the past year but emphasized that “his spirit and attitude always remained positive.” A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with the family requesting privacy during this difficult time.
Tavares was one of five Cape Verdean-American brothers who formed the group Tavares, which became a defining force in 1970s R&B and disco music. The brothers—Antone, Ralph, Feliciano “Butch,” Perry Lee “Tiny” and Arthur Paul “Pooch”— initially performed as Chubby and the Turnpikes before adopting their family name as the group’s identity in 1973. Another brother, Victor Earl Tavares, sang on their first album then left the group.
The group achieved national recognition with their 1973 hit “Check It Out,” marking the beginning of a remarkable five-year run that perfectly captured both the R&B sound and the emerging disco era. Their success was built on Chubby’s distinctive lead vocals, which brought emotional depth and power to their recordings.
Tavares scored multiple number-one R&B hits throughout the decade, including “She’s Gone,” a cover of the Hall and Oates song. The group’s commercial success included “It Only Takes a Minute,” which topped the R&B charts and reached number 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Over their career, Tavares placed eight singles on Billboard’s top 40 and 12 singles on the R&B top 10 chart. Their signature song “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” became a dance floor staple and remains one of the most recognizable tracks of the disco era.
In 1977, the group recorded the Bee Gees’ “More Than a Woman” for the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, one of the best-selling soundtracks in music history. The contribution earned Tavares a Grammy Award, cementing their place in pop culture history and introducing their music to an even broader audience through the film’s massive cultural impact.
The brothers grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, and New Bedford, Massachusetts, where their Cape Verdean-American heritage deeply influenced their musical style. This cultural background helped distinguish their sound in the mainstream soul music landscape of the 1970s, representing a significant moment for Cape Verdean-American representation in popular music.
The group received numerous honors throughout their career. They were inducted into the Cape Verdean Heritage Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2014, they were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. Most recently, in 2024, New Bedford honored the brothers by naming a street “Tavares Brothers Way” in recognition of their lasting legacy and connection to the city.
Chubby Tavares pursued a solo career in his later years, releasing his album “Jealousy” in 2012. He retired from music in December 2022, citing ongoing health issues. His final performances with Tavares took place in May 2023 at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford, bringing his musical journey full circle in the community that had long celebrated the brothers’ achievements.
Tavares’ death follows the recent losses of his brothers Ralph, who died in 2021, and Pooch, who passed away in April 2024. Brothers Butch, Tiny and Victor survive him. The passing of Chubby marks another significant loss for the family and for fans who have cherished the group’s music for more than five decades.
The impact of Tavares on 1970s music culture extended beyond chart success. Their smooth harmonies and infectious rhythms helped define an era when R&B and disco merged to create some of the decade’s most memorable music. Their ability to cross over between R&B and pop audiences while maintaining their distinctive sound made them one of the most versatile groups of their time.