# Help me ID this artist, on the tip of my tongue **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-this-artist-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue/846776 "2020-01-21T22:42:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-this-artist-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue/846776/1 "2020-01-21T22:42:09Z")
This is going to be slim pickings as far as identifying traits, but I am trying to remember someone who: [ul] [li]was a black man[/li][li]was heavily overweight, like a cuddly bear type[/li][li]was a soul singer, I think more often upbeat[/li][li]a poor-boy-made-good story[/li][li]died too young (heroin, I want to say)[/li][li]a few B-level hits, he’s more well-known than his output would suggest[/li][li]don’t quote me on this but I feel like he had a street name like “Chico” or “Chili” or something. But don’t credit that too much.[/li][/ul] Overall just a big sort of cuddly guy who turned out some memorable music but couldn’t overcome his circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-this-artist-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue/846776/2 "2020-01-21T23:58:11Z")
When was he popular? The two that immediately come to mind are Barry White and Luther Vandross. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-this-artist-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue/846776/3 "2020-01-22T00:05:02Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > When was he popular? > The two that immediately come to mind are Barry White and Luther Vandross. It was late 60’s / early 70’s. He had one hit that you’d recognize. Nowhere near the star power of Barry White or Luther Vandross. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-this-artist-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue/846776/4 "2020-01-22T00:17:42Z")
Donny Hathaway? ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-this-artist-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue/846776/5 "2020-01-22T00:23:01Z")
Baby Huey? I don’t think he really had any hits though. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-this-artist-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue/846776/6 "2020-01-22T00:32:58Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > Baby Huey? I don’t think he really had any hits though. DING DING DING we got a winner. Baby Huey. “hit” is certainly debatable. “Hard Times” is well konwn though. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMIzTh0Lafg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMIzTh0Lafg)