Why We Love: Alex Chilton
Alex Chilton has become something of a hero to multiple generations of alternative rockers, power pop enthusiasts, and music lovers in general. First rising to fame in the late ’60s with the band The Box Tops, Chilton was just a teenager when the band’s debut single, “The Letter,” became a number one hit. For three more years, the group continued to release hits, though after multiple lineup changes, the group split. Having been the frontman of a successful band for multiple years, Chilton could have done whatever he wanted. He contemplated going to college, he worked on multiple solo songs, and he was even considered for the position of singer in Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Instead, he decided to do none of these things and went on to form a band called Big Star. There could easily be an entirely separate article about how great Big Star is, and maybe that will come down the line, but I’ll keep it simple here and say that Chilton should have easily had another hit group under his belt. Big Star’s first two albums were incredibly well orchestrated, written, and produced, with folk-tinged ballads meeting soaring power pop and heart-pounding rock. However, due