Chocolate Milk (band)

Biography

Chocolate Milk got its start in New Orleans in 1974, forming after the success of groups like Kool & the Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire. The eight musicians in the lineup were Frank Richard on vocals, Amadee Castenell on saxophone, Joe Foxx on trumpet, Mario Tio on guitar, Earnest Dabon on bass, Robert Dabon on keyboards and piano, and Dwight Richards on drums and percussion. Before long, they became the studio band for songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint, taking over that role after the Meters had held it. They played live with Toussaint and appeared on his 1976 album New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and also worked on recordings with Paul McCartney. Eventually they signed with RCA Records. Their first RCA album, Action Speaks Louder than Words, carried a political theme. The title track from 1975 features a break beat that hip hop artists have sampled many times, including Eric B. & Rakim on their 1987 song "Move the Crowd" and Stetsasonic on their 1991 track "Don't Let Your Mouth Write a Check Your Ass Can't Cash." The band became known for that song as well as other hits like "Girl Callin'" from 1978, "Say Won't Cha" from 1979, and "I'm Your Radio" from 1980. They showed versatility by adding disco elements, most notably on their 1981 single "Blue Jeans," which reached number fifteen on the soul chart. Chocolate Milk split up in 1983, a breakup driven by disco's fading popularity, frequent changes in personnel, and a shift in producers after they parted ways with Toussaint in 1980. Earnest Dabon passed away in San Antonio, Texas on October 3, 2015 at age 67. Amadee Castenell died on September 26, 2024 at age 74.