The Chi-Lites used this euphoric five-second earworm 33 years before it became the sample that launched the solo career of eyoncé Knowles.

That exuberant earworm of a horn riff must be the most instantly recognisable sample of all time. But I wonder how many Beyoncé fans know where it came from.

If they took the trouble to investigate they would be rewarded with this wonderful tune, Are You My Woman (Tell Me So), by The Chi-Lites.

I have to confess I don’t know much of the Chicago soul group except that their lead singer Eugene Record is a wonderful example of nominative determinism.

And I don’t know much of their music apart from the soppy ballad Have You Seen Her, which was a hit in my childhood.

At least that’s what I thought, til I looked them up and realised I know the equally soppy Oh Girl and Homely Girl.

Not to mention the infectious funk of Too Good To Be Forgotten, though I only really know that from Amazulu’s hit cover version.

But this is different gravy.

Are You My Woman (Tell Me So) was the opening track on their second album, I Like Your Lovin’ (Do You Like Mine?).

Both the album and single were flops at the time in 1970 and this might have remained a deep cut had Beyonce’s producer Rich Harrison not unearthed it.

Initially unsure how to use it, he ended up offering it to Beyoncé, who was making her first solo record, Dangerously In Love, after leaving Destiny’s Child, and the rest is history.

I wonder how much money those five seconds made Eugene Record, credited as one of four songwriters alongside Beyoncé, Harrison and Jay-Z, now that it’s been streamed almost four and a half BILLION times.