iSound

Alex Chilton was born in Memphis, Tennessee on December 28, 1950. His father was a musician, and Alex grew up in a house surrounded by music and art. His earliest influences were Chet Baker and Ray Charles; he would continue to do songs by both artists throughout his career.Chilton took up the guitar when he was around thirteen years old, and he was spurred on by the success of the British invasion groups. And he listened to the spare style of Steve Cropper as well. These two strands--the pop songs of the Beatles and the Byrds, and the soul music of Memphis--would continue to intertwine as he matured.Having sung in various pick-up bands around Memphis, including several that included future Big Star bandmate Chris Bell, Alex was recruited to sing with a group that later was christened the Box Tops. Mainly the brainchild of Alabama-born singer/songwriter/producer Dan Penn, the Box Tops had two huge hits, "The Letter" (1967), and "Cry Like a Baby" (1968). B...