Alex Chilton

Alex Chilton would be 62 today.  His influence in music has been evident for over 40 years.  He started in music as the 16 year old lead singer in the Box Tops.

After the Box Tops, Chilton formed Big Star, a group whose influence can be heard in Cheap Trick, The Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, R.E.M.. and The New Pornographers. The band’s first album, “#1 Record,” in 1972, did not come close to fulfilling the commercial promise of its title, nor did the followup releases “Radio City” and “Third/Sister Lovers.” But their music – gentle and introspective songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo” and “September Gurls,” and exuberant anthems like “In the Street” – had a profound impact on generations of pop and indie acts that followed.

The Replacements sang a tribute to Alex and Big Star with the lyrics:   “Children by the million / Sing for Alex Chilton / When he comes ’round / They sing, ‘I’m in love / What’s that song? / I’m in love with that song.’”

Echoing the Mats - I'm in love with these songs.

and

finally,