Formed in Chicago, the Chi-Lites were unlike the urban blues groups that usually formed out of the Windy City. Instead, the group, led by vocalist Eugene Record, was known for their smooth, sweet melodies and luscious voices. Though it would take nearly a decade for the four-part harmonic group to make headlines in the music world, by the ‘70s they racked up 11 Top Ten R&B singles.

The Chi-Lites formed out of the group the Chanteurs in the late ‘50s, with Record, Robert Lester and Clarence Johnson. After the release of one single, Creadel "Red" Jones and Marshall Thompson joined the trio to form the Hi-Lites, who released a few singles before changing their name again. By 1964, Thompson left the group, and the remaining quartet named themselves the Chi-Lites. Continuing to release independent singles with Renee Records, Record became the group's singer, songwriter and producer.

When the group signed with Brunswick Records in 1968, they finally saw their first hit single, in "Give It Away." This led to a string of Top Ten hits that continued on until about 1972. But by the time the number one hit "Oh Girl" hit airwaves, the Chi-Lites were beginning to splinter. By 1973, the lineup had changed several times, though they still saw a few Top Ten Hits before financial trouble led the Chi-Lites getting the boot from their label. Record, at this point frustrated and essentially leading the group, left for a solo career thanks to Warner Bros. Though the Chi-Lites stayed together, they didn't see any more hit singles together.

It wasn't long, however, before the original Chi-Lites found themselves together again. In 1980, the group started recording again under Record's label, Chi-Sound. It seemed like a comeback was in order, because as the boys reworked their sound, they began to see several more hit singles. Moving to Larc Records in 1983, they had their final hit single with "Bottoms Up." The group continued to stay together into the ‘90s.