The Chambers Brothers

The Chambers Brothers are an interracial soul music group best known for their 1968 hit record, the 11-minute classic "Time Has Come Today". The group was formed in 1954 in Los Angeles by four brothers from Mississippi, George, Willie, Lester and Joe Chambers. They toured extensively throughout southern California but did not achieve nationwide success until 1965 when, with the addition of drummer Brian Keenan, they appeared at the Newport Folk Festival. Shortly after this they recorded their debut album People Get Ready. The band scored their first major hit in 1968 with "Time Has Come Today" (written by Joe & Willie Chambers), from their similarly named third album The Time Has Come. The song spent five consecutive weeks at #11 on the "Billboard" HOT 100, just missing the Top 10. However they found it difficult to build on this success and eventually split up in 1972. They reformed in 1974 to record Unbonded and have toured regularly since. Keenan died of heart failure in 1986. ESPN's Chris Berman has quoted The Chambers Brothers when a touchdown is scored by Miami Dolphins wide receiver, Chris Chambers by saying "Time has come today". In Late 2006, former American Idol finalist, Bo Bice, did a cover of their hit song, "The Time Has Come Today."