Perry Lee 'Tiny' Tavares

Perry Lee Tavares (born 23 October 1949; Providence, Rhode Island), better known as Tiny Tavares, is an American vocalist best known as the youngest member of the acclaimed R&B, funk, and soul musical group Tavares.

As a central component of the family-based harmony group, he provided distinctive vocal contributions that defined their sound across multiple decades. The group achieved significant crossover success during the height of the soul and disco eras, establishing a global footprint with their tightly synchronised melodies. Throughout his tenure, Tavares remained an essential pillar of the band's touring and recording lineups, anchoring their classic vocal arrangements.

Early Life

Born into a vibrant musical household in Providence, Rhode Island, Tavares was the youngest of seven sons raised by Feliciano "Flash" Tavares, a highly skilled self-taught guitarist and vocalist of Cape Verdean descent. Immersed from childhood in traditional Cape Verdean and Portuguese musical styles alongside contemporary American soul, he and his brothers received their foundational musical training directly from their father in their Fox Point neighbourhood before later moving to New Bedford, Massachusetts.

The brothers commenced their professional performing journey in 1959 under the name The Del Rios, later evolving into Chubby and the Turnpikes when Tavares was only nine years old. This formative era allowed the young vocalist to develop his harmonic sensibilities and stage presence, rehearsing intensely as the family organised their nascent career within the regional New England music circuit.

Career

The group officially rebranded as Tavares in 1973 upon signing with C​a​p​i​t​o​l R​e​c​o​r​d​s, immediately securing an R&B top ten hit with their debut single "Check It Out". This milestone initiated a prolific mainstream commercial era spanning the 1970s and 1980s, during which Tiny contributed vocals to massive international hits including "It Only Takes a Minute", "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel", "Whodunit", and "Don't Take Away the Music".

A pinnacle career achievement occurred when their recording of "More Than a Woman" was featured on the iconic 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, earning the group a G​r​a​m​m​y Award for Album of the Year in 1979. Following further chart success on alternative labels such as R​C​A R​e​c​o​r​d​s with the 1982 single "A Penny for Your Thoughts", Tavares briefly departed the group in the mid-1990s to explore an independent path as a solo singer-songwriter.

He officially rejoined his brothers on the road in 2009, restoring the group's classic live vocal dynamic for international concert tours.

Personal Life

Tavares has spent his life deeply connected to his New England roots, maintaining a residence in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he focuses on family life with his children and grandchildren. The family's enduring musical legacy has been shadowed by profound personal losses in recent years, testing the resilience of the surviving brothers. Eldest brother Ralph passed away on 8 December 2021, two days before his 80th birthday, whilst lead singer Antone "Chubby" Tavares retired from live singing due to a pulmonary illness on 14 May 2023. Further tragedy struck when Arthur "Pooch" Tavares passed away on 15 April 2024 at the age of 81, prompting a poignant tribute from Tiny on F​a​c​e​b​o​o​k stating, "Miss what we had... Now you two can get the stage ready for us."

The family suffered another major bereavement on 29 November 2025 when Chubby Tavares passed away at the age of 81, leaving Tiny and his brother Feliciano "Butch" Tavares as the primary keepers of the group's historical lineage.

Current Activities

At present, Tavares remains active within his genre, with updates announced via official channels as confirmed. The band's extensive six-decade career has been widely decorated by peer societies; in 2013, all six brothers were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards by T​h​e N​a​t​i​o​n​a​l R​&​B M​u​s​i​c S​o​c​i​e​t​y Black Tie Gala in Atlantic City, New Jersey, marking the first time in 37 years that all six siblings performed on stage together.

More recently, on 27 April 2026, Tavares was formally inducted into the Atlantic City Walk of Fame by T​h​e N​a​t​i​o​n​a​l R​&​B M​u​s​i​c S​o​c​i​e​t​y during a ceremony at Brighton Park, where they were inducted by Stuart Bascombe of Black Ivory alongside an esteemed class that included Sister Sledge, Melba Moore, Billy Paul, and Roy Ayers. Through selective performances, Tiny and Butch continue to deliver the classic repertoire and distinct harmonies of the Tavares brothers to ensure their music remains celebrated on the modern stage.