Chris Bender

Christopher Lamont Bender, known as Chris Bender, (August 2, 1972 – November 3, 1991) was an American R&B singer who reached the national music charts in 1991 with the album entitled Draped before his murder.

Career

Christopher Lamont Bender was the youngest of six children to Andrew Bender, an construction worker and Betty Anne bender, nurse's aide. he was born in August 2,1972 in Brockton, Massachusettes. At the age of 14 in 1986, Chris Bender formed his own professional group called "steady Life" with two siblings and two cousins the group would perform at clubs in Brockton, Massachusetts.

He was from the Boston, Massachusetts area, growing up in Brockton, Massachusetts and later living in Waltham. At the age of 16, Bender recorded his first album, Chris Bender, for Epic Records. The first single "Baby Girl" was released in 1989 but limited copies of the album were released. Bender's manager Terryl L. Calloway later stated about Baby Girl: " The video was never [released]. " Bender nevertheless went on to secure a $500,000 contract with EastWest Records. He signed a seven-album contract, although only one album on that contract was released before his death. 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". His first single from the album "draped" was the song "i knew" peaked at #43 on the billboards R&B singles chart, staying on the for 10 weeks. The follow-up single"that's not the way" peaked at #68 billboards hot R&B singles chart, staying on the chart for 5 weeks. The song "I knew" was his only music video made and there was a remix version of the song.

Death

On November 3, 1991, at 2:17 A.M., Bender was shot and killed in Brockton while sitting in his black Mercedes Benz outside of the Crescent Court housing project where his mother lived. Chris Bender was sitting in the driver's seat in his Mercedes Benz with his 17 year old cousin Jesse Starks smoking marijuana and talking and then they heard gunshots and 3 hooded men fired gunshots at the Mercedes Benz and then Chris Bender shielded his cousin Jesse Starks from the gunshots and his cousin was unharmed but Chris Bender was struck 4 times and in the back and he died from his wounds in the hospital. during the shooting while Chris was shielding Jesse Starks from the gunshots Chris Bender was shot at four times in the back of his torso and once in the elbow and in November 9,1991 Chris Bender was buried at Melrose cemetery in Plymouth county in Brockton, Massachusetts.in August 2014,Eroy Kindell was convicted of second degree murder and has been recently released from prison. His accomplice Stephen "Sticks" Fernandes was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.

Discography

Chris Bender (1989/CD)

1. Teddy Bear

2 Baby Girl

3 Any Good Girls Left

4 Conceited Girl

5 Never Give Up On Me

6 That's How Love Happens

7 Intimate Lover

8 Go On And Love Your Lady

Draped (1991 / CD)

1. I Knew

2. Draped

3. It's All About You

4. Spellbound

5. Prelude... Stay Til The Morning

6. Don't Go Home

7. That's Not The Way

8. Sorry Didn't Do It

9. Who Will I Choose?

10. Pouring Down Rain

11. Kiss & Make Up

12. Kiss & Make Up [The Apologize Mix]

UPC: 075679170828