Chet Powers
| Chet Powers | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Chester William Powers, Jr. |
| Also known as | Dino Valenti, Dino Valente, Jesse Orris Farrow, Jesse Oris Farrow |
| Born |
October 7, 1937 Danbury, Connecticut, United States |
| Died | November 16, 1994 (aged 57) Santa Rosa, California, United States |
| Genres | Folk, rock, blues, psychedelic rock, acid rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | Late 1950s–1994 |
| Labels | Epic, Capitol |
| Associated acts | Quicksilver Messenger Service |
Chester William "Chet" Powers, Jr. (October 7, 1937 – November 16, 1994) was an American singer-songwriter, and the lead singer of the rock group Quicksilver Messenger Service. He was also known by the stage name Dino Valenti and, as a songwriter, as Jesse Oris Farrow. He wrote the famous 1960s song "Get Together".
Before serving in the United States Air Force and playing in the coffeehouses of Boston and Provincetown, Massachusetts, Powers had already performed as "Dino Valenti" with small rock bands in New England lounges.
In the early 1960s, he performed in Greenwich Village coffeehouses such as the Cock 'n' Bull and the Cafe Wha?, often with fellow singer-songwriter Fred Neil, and occasionally with Karen Dalton, Bob Dylan, Lou Gossett, Josh White, Len Chandler, Paul Stookey and others. He influenced other performers including Richie Havens, who continued to perform some of Powers' early "train songs". Powers was prevented from acquiring a cabaret license due to an earlier arrest, a requirement that was beginning to be imposed on Village entertainers at the time.
By 1963, Valenti/Powers was in Los Angeles where folk-rock had already begun to coalesce. During this period he wrote his best-known song "Let's Get Together". "Get Together", a quintessential 1960s love-and-peace anthem, was later recorded by The Kingston Trio, We Five, The Dave Clark Five, H. P. Lovecraft, Jefferson Airplane and The Youngbloods, among others. He also controversially claimed the copyright of Billy Roberts' hit song " Hey Joe".
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