The Box Tops seemed finished when legendary, mercurial lead singer Alex Chilton died in 2010.
His voice dominated some of the most memorable hits of the late 1960s, including “The Letter,” “Cry Like a Baby,” “Soul Deep” and “Neon Rainbow.”
“I didn’t want the Box Tops to go on without Alex,” said Bill Cunningham, an original member of the band. “When Alex died, it destroyed me. No one could replace him.”
Now, nearly six years later, Cunningham and Gary Talley, another original member, brought the Box Tops back. The band plays Nov. 5, at 5 and 8 p.m. in the Savannah Center. It is a benefit for Chapter 1036, Vietnam Veterans of America.
“I knew Alex since grammar school; we grew up together in the same Memphis neighborhood,” said Cunningham, who played bass with the group. “For me, Alex wasn’t some rock-God cartoon character; he was a real person and a dear friend.
“I figured when Alex died it was over, But Gary and I started playing together. We started talking about coming back. I wanted to keep the band’s integrity, and I didn’t want to hire some singer who sounded like Alex.
“So Gary and I are back with the Box Tops. We sing the songs. We didn’t sing lead in the old days, but we did sing with Alex. So far, it’s working out great. People still want to hear the songs, and we still want to play them.”
Chilton remains a seminal influence in rock music, and not just for his work with the Box Tops. He was just 16 years old in 1967, when “The Letter” topped the charts. Here is a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWY8UyW9bw
After leaving the Box Tops, Chilton became a leader in the alternative rock movement. He joined the band Big Star in the early ‘70s, where he teamed with songwriter Chris Bell. The band had cult following but never really made a big, commercial impact.
Chilton went on to various bands and solo projects. His legend was solidified when The Replacements released a song called “Alex Chilton., written by Paul Westerberg.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
But Chilton’s gone and the Box Tops live on.
“It’s never going to be the same without Alex,” Cunningham said. “But our music still matters.”
Cunningham’s own life has followed a remarkable path. His grandfather was a symphony conductor, and his mother, a pianist. His father, Buddy Cunningham, recorded under the name Buddy Blake, and was a musician at the famed Sun Studio in Memphis. He played on Elvis Presley’s first, historic recording session at Sun.
Also, Bill’s older brother, B.B. Cunningham, played with a band called the Hombres who had a ‘60s’ hit called “Let It All Hang Out,” and also toured with Jerry Lee Lewis.
“When I was a kid my father took me to Sun Studio, and I remember sitting in the office during recording sessions,” Bill said. “I remember going over to Jerry Lee Lewis’ house in Memphis. He was always nice to me.”
The Box Tops came out of Memphis in the late ‘60s and the city was teeming with musical styles. Rock, soul, R&B, pop and country music was everywhere, from the Stax Recording Studio to Beale Street. The Box Tops were labeled a “blue-eyed soul” band by many.
“But we had a lot of different influences,” Cunningham said. “I thank that was one of the real attributes of the Box Tops. We had an eclectic mix of music.”
After a couple years, Cunningham grew weary of the rock and roll lifestyle and decided to go back to school to study classical music.
“I wanted to be in control of my life and I was after leaving the Box Tops,” Cunningham said.
He wanted to be a bassist and eventually performed with symphony orchestras and performers such as Van Cliburn, Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman.
During the 1970s, Cunningham earned a spot in the White House Orchestra. In 1976, he played at the White House for the Bicentennial Celebration, with Queen Elizabeth as a guest.
“Many famous people from England were there that night, including George Harrison of the Beatles,” Cunningham said. “I’m there playing in front of George Harrison and I’m thinking: ‘George should be up here and I should be out there watching George play.’”
Cunningham still took backing jobs for such performers as Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes. He formed a couple of bands and eventually, in the mid-1990s, reformed the Box Tops.
Then, about a year ago, they came back again without Chilton. Cunningham talked about some of the band’s hits.
“The Letter”: “We knew right away the feel of the song was great. It’s one of those songs that sounds great in mono on a car radio. We figured it would be a local hit and help us get gigs. Next thing we know, it’s No. 1. I also liked the Joe Cocker version.”
“Neon Rainbow”: “I like this song a lot. Alex’s voice is so different and unique. The whole song had a real special feeling to it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
“Cry Like A Baby”: “It went to No. 2. We knew this was going to be big and we felt it could get to No. 1.” Songs by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and the Rascals were also in the Top Five but No. 1 belonged to Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey.” Cunningham said: “I don’t mind losing No. 1 to Aretha, Otis or the Rascals –but ‘Honey?” That hurts.”
“Soul Deep”: “One of our last hits. I like it because it has a real Box Tops’ sound.”
“Sweet Cream Ladies”: “An odd, strange song. We never expected much out of it, and kind of got sick of it. But it’s a weird thing: people liked and we still get asked to play it all the time. So we play it.”
