Chris Bender
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Christopher Lamont Bender, known as Chris Bender, (born August 2, 1972; died November 3, 1991) was an American R&B singer who reached the national music charts in 1991 with the album entitled Draped. He was from the Boston, Massachusetts area, growing up in Brockton, Massachusetts and later living in Waltham.[1]
At the age of 16, Bender recorded his first album, titled Baby Doll, for Epic Records. Bender's manager Terryl L. Calloway later stated about Baby Doll: "It didn't sell. The video was never [released]. The record didn't sell anything."[2]
Bender nevertheless went on to secure a $500,000 contract with EastWest Records.[2] He signed a seven-album contract, although only one album on that contract was released before his death.[3]
The album Draped hit No. 92 on the Billboard magazine R&B album chart. His two charted singles "I Knew" and "That's Not The Way" broke into the top 70 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. Other songs he was known for included "Who Will I Choose" and "Kiss and Make Up".
On November 3, 1991, Bender was shot and killed in Brockton,[1] [4] while sitting in a car outside the housing project where his mother lived.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Sullivan, Jack. "Rising Star Shot Dead in Brockton: 19-Year-Old Recording Artist Was Sitting in Car at Housing Project", The Boston Globe, 1991-11-04. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
- ^ a b Walker, Adrian. "Slain Brockton singer heard the call of conflicting worlds", The Boston Globe, 1991-11-10, p. 31.
- ^ a b McAdams, Janine. "EastWest Act Chris Bender Dies From Gunshot Wound", Billboard, 1991-11-16, p. 20.
- ^ Associated Press. "Singer, 19, is slain in Massachusetts", The Kansas City Star, 1991-11-05, p. E4. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
Christopher Bender was shot at 2:20 a.m. as he sat behind the wheel of his Mercedes Benz in front of the Crescent Court apartments where he grew up and where his mother still lives. A family member said Bender was hit by seven bullets, but police would only say he was struck by more.
