Chanticleer () is a full-time male classical vocal ensemble based in San Francisco, California, founded in 1978. It is known for its interpretations of Renaissance music, for which they were founded, but also a wide repertoire of jazz, gospel and contemporary classical music. Its name is derived from the "clear singing rooster" in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. The ensemble has made award-winning recordings. History Chanticleer was founded in 1978 by tenor Louis Botto, who sang with the group until 1989, and served as Artistic Director until his death from AIDS in 1997. As a graduate student of musicology, Botto found that much of the medieval and Renaissance music he was studying was not being performed, and, because of this, he formed the group to perform this music with an all-male ensemble, as it was traditionally sung during the Renaissance. Originally, the group contained ten singers, but its size has varied from eight to twelve. Currently, Chanticleer comprises twelve men, including two basses, one baritone, three tenors, and six countertenors (three altos and three sopranos). The original members included Jim Armington (tenor), Ted Bakkila (baritone), Rob Bell (countertenor), Louis Botto (who sang alto as well as tenor), Sanford Dole (tenor), Kevin Freeman (bass), Tom Hart (baritone), Jonathan Klein (baritone), Neal Rogers (tenor), Tim Gibler (bass), Randall Wong (countertenor), and Doug Wyatt (bass). However, only ten of the singers were available to go on tour. When the ensemble first became full-time in 1991, its members included Eric Alatorre (bass and longest-standing member as of his retirement after the 2018–2019 season), Frank Albinder (baritone), Kevin Baum (tenor), Mark Daniel (tenor), Kenneth Fitch (countertenor), Jonathan Goodman (tenor), Tim Gibler (bass and last member of the original ensemble), Joseph Jennings (countertenor and Music Director), Chad Runyon (baritone), Foster Sommerlad (countertenor), Matthew Thompson (tenor), and Philip Wilder (countertenor). Discography 1988 – The Anniversary Album, 1978–1988<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-anniversary-album-1978-1988-mw0001917052 The Anniversary Album, 1978–1988] AllMusic</ref> 1990 – Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas (remastered in 2004) 1991 – Psallite! A Renaissance Christmas 1992 – Josquin: Missa Mater Patris; Agricola: Magnificat and motets 1993 – Byrd: Missa In Tempore Paschali 1993 – Cristóbal de Morales: Missa Mille Regretz and motets 1993 – Mysteria: Gregorian Chants 1994 – Where the Sun Will Never Go Down 1994 – Out of This World 1994 – Palestrina: Missa pro defunctis; motets 1994 – Mexican Baroque 1994 – Our Heart's Joy / A Chanticleer Christmas 1995 –