Chocolate Milk

Hailing from New Orleans, the funk and soul group Chocolate Milk attained modest popularity throughout the mid-1970s while issuing recordings on RCA between 1975 and 1983. The ensemble’s lineup featured lead vocalist Frank Richard together with saxophonist Amandee Castenell, trumpeter Joe Foxx, keyboardist Robert Dabon, guitarist Mario Tio, and drummer Dwight Richards. Standout tracks leaned toward brisk, dance-driven or novelty material such as “Action Speaks Louder Than Words” in 1975, “Girl Callin” in 1978, and “Blue Jeans” in 1981. Each selection reached the Top 20 on the R&B charts. The band also ventured into ballads and heartbreak material, yet Richard conveyed noticeably less assurance and presence on those numbers.