Chris Bender (singer)

Christopher Lamont Bender was the youngest of six children to Andrew Bender, an construction worker and Betty Ann Bender, an nurse's aide. He was born in August 2,1972 in Brockton, Massachusetts. The Bender family were very active in church and at the age of 10 years old, Bender discovered his singing voice and his family don't know that he could sing until one day on Thanksgiving day he sung the song "Amazing Grace" and he had everybody in tears and Bender's musical influences were Michael Jackson, Prince (musician), Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and New Edition and at the age of 12 years old, Chris met a man named Bobby Jones who owned a studio in his neighborhood and helped Bender develop his singing voice and at the age of 14 years old Bender formed a group with his two brothers and two cousins called "Steady life" and they would perform at clubs in Brockton, Massachusetts. when Chris was 15 years old he was expelled from Brockton High School for fighting in school and he dropped out of high school and he decided to pursue a music career and Bender would go to New York City to meet talent agents and he met a man named Earl Williams who got him a record deal with Epic Records in 1989.

Bender was from the Boston, Massachusetts area, growing up in Brockton, Massachusetts and later living in Waltham.[3] 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]. "[4] Bender nevertheless went on to secure a $500,000 contract with EastWest Records.[4] He signed a seven-album contract, although only one album on that contract was released before his death.[5] 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 "I knew" peaked at #43 on Billboards R&B singles chart, staying on there for 10 weeks. The follow-up single "That's not the way" peaked at #68 On the Billboards Hot R&B singles chart, staying on the chart for 5 weeks. The song "I knew" was his only music video made and becoming his only highest chart appearance.

On November 3, 1991, at 2:17 A.M.,[6] Bender was shot and killed in Brockton[3][7] 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. [5][8] Eroy Kindell was convicted of second degree murder and has been recently released from prison and his accomplice Stephen "sticks" Fernandes was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.

• Chris Bender I Know (Promo 12") on YouTube