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Originally called Rock City and Ice Water, the group was formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971, consisting of Chris Bell (vocals, guitar), Steve Ray (guitar), Andy Hummel (bass) and Jody Stephens (drums). Ray didn't last long, and was replaced by the former singer of the Box Tops, Alex ChiltonAlex Chilton (b. December 28, 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American songwriter, guitarist, singer and producer. Chilton first came on the scene in 1967 as lead singer of The Box Tops, with the number one international chart hit "The Letter"; they we. Their first album, # 1 Record , was released in 19721972 is a leap year starting on Saturday (click link for calendar). Events January events January 2 the Pierre Hotel Heist Six men rob the safety deposit boxes of the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Loot is at least $4 million January 5 President of the Un, but distribution problems with their label ( ArdentArdent Records was a Memphis-based record label of the early 1970s. Ardent featured pop-music acts and was distributed by Stax Records. It is best remembered today for Big Star, whose first two albums, released 1972 and 1974, helped define the style known) meant the album barely sold. Bell, who seemed to resent the fact that many writers regarded Alex Chilton as the group's frontman, and who was bitterly disappointed by the failure of #1 Record to sell, left the group in 1972 for a solo career. Big Star soon disbanded for a brief period, but then reformed and released Radio CityThis page is about the music album, Radio City . For the radio station also called Radio City see Radio City (radio station). Radio City is one of the most influential albums in the history of power pop music. Released by Big Star in 1974, (see 1974 in mu (1974), the group's magnum opus, which features two of Big Star's most famous songs, "September Gurls" and "Back of a Car." (Bell seems to have contributed to the album.) In spite of unanimous critical acclaim, the album did not sell well; Hummel quit and was replaced by John LightmanJohn Lightman is a legendary bass player in Memphis, Tennessee.. After recording tracks for a planned double album in late 1974, Big Star again disbanded. This album was finally released four years later, on the PVC label, as Third. Although ramshackle and by all accounts left incomplete, Third (retitled Third/Sister LoversThird also known as Sister Lovers and Beale Street Green is a rock album recorded by Memphis power pop group Big Star in 1974. The album was produced by Jim Dickinson. After the first two Big Star albums, 1972's #1 Record and 1974's Radio City failed to a for its 1992 CD release, and also known as Beale Street Green) combines the confessional approach of John LennonJohn Winston Ono Lennon ( October 9, 1940 December 8, 1980), is best known as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist for The Beatles. His creative career also included the roles of solo musician, political activist, artist and author. As half of the legendar with a distinct pop sensibility that recalls everyone from the Left BankeThe Left Banke was a 1960s pop-music group which produced two hit singles, "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina". Often utilizing so-called "baroque" string arrangements, the band's music is best viewed as an imaginative response to the work of The Bea to the Velvet Underground. In addition, Third is considered one of the most lyrical pop albums ever recorded.

In the late '70s, critics began to cite Big Star's albums as among the finest of the decade, and an important precursor to new-wave rock music. The 1980s saw a generation of new alternative bands, such as R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub and the dB's, citing Big Star as a major influence. Chilton and Stephens reunited in 1993 with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the American pop band the Posies taking the place of Bell (who died in a car crash in 1978) and Hummel (who left music to go into engineering) at the University of Missouri. This was followed by tours of Europe and Japan, as well as an appearance on The Tonight Show.

Other Big Star releases include Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93, a recording of the first reunion show; Big Star Live, a 1974 radio broadcast from Long Island; and Nobody Can Dance, a recording of the last Big Star show, at Memphis' Overton Park .

The reunited Big Star returned to Ardent Studios in early 2004 to work on a new album, and a biography of the group was planned for publication later in that year.