Wikipedia

Bill Champlin

William Bradford Champlin(born May 21, 1947) is an American singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter. He formed the bandSons of Champlinin 1965, which still performs today, and was a member of the rock bandChicagofrom 1981 to 2009.[1]He performed lead vocals on three of Chicago's biggest hits of the 1980s, 1984's "Hard Habit to Break"and 1988's"Look Away"and"I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love".During live shows, he sang the lower, baritone, vocal parts originally performed by founding guitaristTerry Kath,who had died in 1978. He has won multipleGrammy Awardsfor songwriting.

Bill Champlin
Champlin performing in 2015
Champlin performing in 2015
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Bradford Champlin
Born(1947-05-21)May 21, 1947(age 77)
Oakland, California,U.S.
GenresRock,blues,R&B
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, songwriter, arranger, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, guitar
Years active1967–present
Websitebillchamplin

Early career

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As a child, Champlin demonstrated a talent for piano and eventually picked up the guitar after being inspired byElvis Presley.[citation needed]He started a band called The Opposite Six while atTamalpais High SchoolinMill Valley, California.[citation needed]He then studied music in college, but was encouraged by a professor to drop out and pursue music professionally.[citation needed]

The Sons of Champlin and solo career

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The Opposite Six, Champlin's band from high school,[2]had changed their name to theSons of Champlin[3]and had recorded a number of well-reviewed (although not commercially successful) albums (includingLoosen Up NaturallyandCircle Filled With Love) by 1977, when 30-year-old Champlin moved to Los Angeles. During the 1969–1970 period, Champlin was uncertain of the future of the Sons of Champlin, so he joined withJerry MillerofMoby GrapeinThe Rhythm Dukes,following the departure ofDon Stevenson.The band achieved a significant degree of acclaim as an opening act for many popular performers of that time, and recorded one album, ultimately released in 2005 "Flashback".[4]

In LA he began extensivestudio sessionwork. He was especially in demand for his singing, appearing on hundreds of recordings throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) awarded Champlin the Most Valuable Player peer award for male background vocalists in 1980.[5]

Sons of Champlin in 2015

Champlin won aGrammy Awardfor Best Rhythm and Blues Song in 1980 for co-writing the hit song "After The Love Has Gone"withJay GraydonandDavid Foster(which was made popular byEarth, Wind & Fire) and a second Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song in 1983 for co-writing the song "Turn Your Love Around"with Jay Graydon and Steve Lukather (which was made popular byGeorge Benson).

In 1979, Champlin was approached by the then-widely successful bandREO Speedwagonto add background vocals on some of their songs appearing on their albumNine Lives;which was the last album in which REO Speedwagon had a predominantly hard-rock edge.[6]

This work allowed Champlin to become acquainted with other in-demand session men such asJay Graydon,David Foster,andSteve Lukather(ofToto). Among other artists that he worked with wereAl Jarreau,George Duke,Boz Scaggs,Elton John,The Tubes,Lee Ritenour,Amy Grant,and Nicky Trebek. He also appeared onBarry Manilow's 1982 EP,Oh, Julie!and was a featured background vocalist on Manilow'sHere Comes the Night.[7]

Champlin performing in 2017

In 1986, Champlin dueted withPatti LaBelleonLast Unbroken HeartforMiami Vice,which was released that same year on the album "Miami Vice II"[8]

In 1991, he provided backing vocals forKim Carnes' albumCheckin' Out the Ghosts(released only in Japan); in 1997, Champlin revived theSons of Champlinand continued to play with them between tours with Chicago. Throughout the 1990s he released several solo albums and toured Europe and Japan in support of his live solo album "Mayday".[9]In 2009 Champlin collaborated with the Italian-American composer, arranger, singer, actor, and producerManuel De Peppeand in 2011, Champlin played the Hammond B3 organ on the songs "Moon Cry" and "Mississippi Creek" by Curt Campbell and the Eclectic Beast Band.[10]

He and second wife, singer/songwriter Tamara Champlin, were part of the Scandinavian tour headlined byLeon Russellthat also featuredJoe Williamsand Peter Friestedt.[11]Champlin teamed up with conductor Lars Erik Gudim and theNorwegian Radio Orchestra(KORK) inOslo,Norwayfor a special performance that aired December 27, 2011 on NRK TV inNorway.[12]From 2014 to 2017 he performed several acoustic shows withTamara Champlinin the U.S., Europe, Japan, and South and Central America, where they joined the Rock Pack Tour,[13][14]guested with California Transit Authority featuringDanny Seraphine,[15]played concerts to benefit Eddie Tuduri's Rhythmic Arts Project with the Pockets.[16][17]They entertained with other indie artists for the Lone Wolf Entertainment Foundation[18]and rejoined the re-formed Sons of Champlin for a series of shows in the Northwest.[19][20]In 2017, he and Tamara were part of the Ambrosia & Friends Tour.[21]

Solo releases

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David Foster produced two solo albums for Champlin:Single(1978) andRunaway(1981). Both albums sold poorly due to lack of adequate promotion by his record company, although the latter album did include a pair of minor hits on theBillboardHot 100( "Sara" and "Tonight, Tonight" ). In the 1990s, Champlin released five more solo albums:No Wasted Moments,Burn Down the Night,Through It All,He Started to Sing,andMayday.The last was a live recording of songs from his career, and included musicians Greg Mathieson, Jerry Lopez, Eddie Garcia, Tom Saviano, and Rochon Westmoreland.

In September, 2008, Champlin releasedNo Place Left To Falland a companion DVD in Japan on JVC/Victor. The record was produced by Champlin andMark Eddinger,and featured musiciansBruce Gaitsch,George Hawkins, Jr., Billy Ward,Tamara Champlin,Will Champlin, and Eddinger, with guest appearances bySteve Lukather,Peter Cetera,Michael English,Jerry Lopez, and enlisted such songwriting/player greats as Jay Graydon, Andreas Carlsson, Diane Warren,Michael Caruso,Tom Saviano, and Dennis Matkosky. The record was released in Europe by Zinc Music in December, 2008, and in the U.S. by DreamMakers Music in August, 2009.

In January, 2021, Champlin's solo albumLivin For Lovewas released byImagen Recordsand featured Champlin on keyboard and guitars as well as playersBruce Gaitsch,Carmen Grillo,Steve Porcaro,Vinnie Colaiuta,George Hawkins Jr., Greg Mathieson, Gordon Campbell,Lenny Castro,Marc Russo,Alan Hertz,Tal Morris,Jason Scheff,andAbraham Laboriel.Singers included Bill Champlin on lead and background vocals,Tamara Champlin,Gary Falcone, Jason Scheff, andAndreas Carlsson.Tracks were composed by Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin, Bruce Gaitsch,Michael Caruso,Greg Mathieson, Jason Scheff, and Gary Falcone.

Tenure with Chicago

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Champlin performing withChicagoin 2008

In 1978, the day afterChicagoguitaristTerry Kathdied, the band reached out to Champlin suggesting that he audition to take Kath's place. Champlin turned down the offer, saying he could not fill that role.

In early 1981, Champlin collaborated with Chicago's drummer,Danny Seraphine,by singing some backgrounds withPeter Ceteraon a non-Chicago project. Seraphine and Champlin co-wrote a few songs for Chicago that year, and Champlin was invited to sing one of those songs, "Sonny Think Twice", as a guest vocalist. Champlin suggested to Seraphine thatDavid Fostermight be a good choice as a producer for Chicago at that time. Seraphine began a campaign to get Champlin into the group, and he joined before the end of 1981.

The band did collaborate with Foster on their next album, 1982'splatinum certifiedChicago 16.Champlin was featured singing several songs, including "Bad Advice", "Follow Me", and "Sonny Think Twice". Champlin also shared vocals with Cetera on "Waiting for You to Decide".

1984'sChicago 17enhanced Champlin's presence in the group, when he wrote several songs ( "Please Hold On" and "Remember the Feeling" ) and sang (with Cetera) the hit single "Hard Habit to Break".

In 1988, Champlin's voice appeared prominently on several major hit singles fromChicago 19:"Look Away","I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love",and"You're Not Alone".That year, he also sang the theme to the television showIn the Heat of the Night.[22]

In 1990, Champlin wrote, produced, and sang lead on "Hearts in Trouble", a song for themovie soundtrackofDays of Thunder.Originally a solo song, the producers of the movie decided, for marketing purposes, that it be released under the name of Chicago. The band's horn section added a brass arrangement to the track, and subsequently it was released as a single. In the summer of 1990, Chicago launched itsHearts in Trouble Tour.[23]

In 1991, Chicago released the albumTwenty 1,featuring the Champlin-sung hit "Chasin' the Wind",which peaked at No. 39 on theBillboardHot 100,the band's last top 40 hit on that chart.[24]

In 1993, Chicago recorded its "lost album", not released until 2008 asChicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus.Champlin sings on the tracks "Mah-Jong", "Cry for The Lost", "The Show Must Go On", and "Plaid".

Champlin made major contributions to Chicago's big-band tributeNight & Day Big Bandin 1995 and to the 1998 Christmas albumChicago XXV: The Christmas Album,including the additional track "What's It Gonna Be, Santa?" on the album's 2003 re-release. Champlin co-wrote four of the songs on the band's 2006 albumChicago XXX.

In 2009, Chicago and Champlin announced he would be leaving the group during the band's summer tour withEarth, Wind & Fire.Chicago's management released a statement saying, "Bill Champlin is no longer in Chicago. He was a long time-band member and we wish him all the best as he embarks on his new solo project, for which he's worked long and hard". A statement by Champlin's publicist said, "After 28 years with Chicago, singer-songwriter-keyboardist Bill Champlin is parting ways with the classic jazz/rock band to focus once again on his solo career". Later, Champlin would state that the abrupt decision was a surprise to him, and that he had no input in it.[25]

Bill Champlin and WunderGround

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Bill Champlin and Wunderground performing in 2019

Champlin formed a band in 2018, entitled "Bill Champlin and the WunderGround" that included members singer-guitarist Gary Falcone; singerTamara Champlin;bass player Bill Bodine;Ambrosia'sdrummerBurleigh Drummond;and keyboardist-singerMary Harris,[26]releasing an albumBleeding Secrets[27]and playing shows in theLos Angeles,Californiaarea, to promote and support the music.

Champlin Williams Friestedt

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In 2012 Champlin joinedJoseph Williamsand Peter Friestedt, who had been previously releasing an album under the nameWilliams Friestedtin 2011, for a European tour. As a result of the tour, a Live DVD/CD, recorded in Gothenburg on March 25, 2012, was released under the name "Bill Champlin Joseph Williams Peter Friestedt *All Star Band*" and hit the top of the Swedish charts.[28]Champlin knew both Williams and Friestedt well, as they had worked together in the past during the recordings of Friestedt's solo albums "The L.A. project" and "The L.A. project Vol. 2". They decided to join forces and subsequently released under the name "Champlin Williams Friestedt" several singles, a self-titled album in 2015,[29]"2" in 2020.[30]and Champlin, Williams, Friestedt "3" in 2024[31]

Personal life

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Bill Champlin resides inLos Angeles, California.He has two sisters, Mimi Champlin andSally Champlin.Champlin was married in the 1970s and had two children, Bradford Raymond Champlin and Amy Jo Kelly. Champlin has been married since 1982 to his second wife, singer-songwriterTamara Champlin,and together they have sonWill Champlin,who finished third onSeason 5(2013) ofThe Voice.[32]In 1983, the same year son Will was born, Bill and Tamara performed music together on screen in the filmCopper Mountain.On September 13, 2016, Champlin's son Bradford died from complications due to esophageal cancer. He was 51.

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • 1978:Single(Full Moon/Epic Records)
  • 1981:Runaway(Elektra)#178 Billboard Top 200 Album chart
  • 1990:No Wasted Moments(Elektra)
  • 1992:Burn Down The Night(Emotion)
  • 1994:Through It All(Turnip The Music Group)
  • 1995:He Started To Sing(Turnip The Music Group)
  • 2008:No Place Left To Fall(DreamMakers Music)
  • 2015:Champlin, Williams, Friestedt(AOR Heaven)
  • 2018:Bleeding SecretsBill Champlin & WunderGround (Wunderground Records)
  • 2020:Champlin, Williams, Friestedt II (Black Lodge Records)
  • 2021:Livin' for Love(Imagen Records)

Live albums

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  • 1996:Mayday(Champlin Records)
  • 2012:Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns: Live with the Champlins(Strokeland Records)
  • 2012: Champlin Williams Friestedt *All Star Band* (LA Project Productions)

Singles

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  • 1978: "Fly With Me"
  • 1978: "What Good is Love"
  • 1981: "Satisfaction"
  • 1982: "Tonight, Tonight"#55 Billboard Hot 100,#69 Cashbox Top 100
  • 1982: "Sara"#19 Billboard AC, #61 Billboard Hot 100,#68 Cashbox Top 100
  • 1982: "Take It Uptown"
  • 1986: "The Last Unbroken Heart" (with Patti LaBelle)#15 Billboard AC
  • 1990: "The City"
  • 1991: "Memories of Her"
  • 1994: "In the Heat of the Night"
  • 1996: "Southern Serenade"

References

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  1. ^Ruhlmann, William."Biography: Bill Champlin".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 26,2010.
  2. ^"Bill Champlin".Marinnostalgia.org.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2018.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  3. ^"The Sons Of Champlin".Brunoceriotti.weebly.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2018.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  4. ^"The Rhythm Dukes".Bay-area-bands.Archivedfrom the original on October 7, 2018.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  5. ^"Bill Champlin".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on November 2, 2013.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  6. ^"Rolling Stone Magazine review of High Infidelity".Rolling Stone.March 19, 1981.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2017.RetrievedAugust 24,2017.
  7. ^"Here Comes the Night".Barrymanilow.Archivedfrom the original on December 1, 2017.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  8. ^"Patti LaBelle and Bill Champlin - The Last Unbroken Heart".Discogs.1986.Archivedfrom the original on August 31, 2020.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  9. ^"Mayday: Bill Champlin Live - Bill Champlin | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".AllMusic.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2017.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  10. ^"Zona Rock Dan Metal: BILL CHAMPLIN".Rockdanmetalzone.blogspot.May 21, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on September 1, 2019.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  11. ^"Leon Russell Tour".Archived fromthe originalon November 11, 2017.RetrievedNovember 10,2017.
  12. ^"Bill Champlin med KORK på Rockefeller".Nrk.no.December 27, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 2,2017.
  13. ^"Petaluma Post"(PDF).Petalumapost.Archived(PDF)from the original on March 4, 2016.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  14. ^"Journey, Chicago, Toto and Kansas Coming to Costa Rica".The Costa Rican Times.Archivedfrom the original on October 30, 2020.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  15. ^"Danny Seraphine | Legendary Drummer".Danny-seraphine.Archivedfrom the original on November 1, 2020.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  16. ^"Rhythmic Arts Project".Keyt.Archivedfrom the original on October 30, 2018.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  17. ^"Rhythmic Arts Project".Archived fromthe originalon November 11, 2017.RetrievedNovember 10,2017.
  18. ^"Lone Wolf Entertainment".Archived fromthe originalon March 29, 2017.RetrievedNovember 10,2017.
  19. ^"Sons of Champlin to Headline Final Commons Beach Concert | Tahoetopia".Tahoetopia.Archivedfrom the original on April 13, 2019.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  20. ^"Uptown Theatre".Uptowntheatrenapa.Archivedfrom the original on April 13, 2019.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  21. ^"Ambrosia & Friends Enchant The Paramount Huntington, NY 10-27-17".Crypticrock.February 11, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2020.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  22. ^"Who Sings the Theme Song for 'In the Heat of the Night'?".Americanprofile.May 1, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2019.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  23. ^"Days of Thunder (1990)".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on September 5, 2015.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  24. ^"Chicago Awards".AllMusic.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2013.RetrievedAugust 17,2012.
  25. ^Champlin, Bill(June 1, 2011)."Bill Champlin, formerly of Chicago: Something Else! Interview".Something ELSE!(Interview). Interviewed by Nick Deriso.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 28,2017.
  26. ^"Bill Champlin and Wunderground".RetrievedApril 27,2024.
  27. ^"Bleeding Secrets".Discogs.May 2018.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2021.RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  28. ^admin (September 17, 2015)."Champlin Williams Friestedt -"(in Danish).RetrievedJuly 27,2022.
  29. ^"CWF - Champlin, Williams, Friestedt".Inside MusiCast.November 30, 2015.RetrievedJuly 27,2022.
  30. ^"CWF | Peter Friestedt".RetrievedJuly 27,2022.
  31. ^"Champlin Williams Friestedt III Rock Report".RetrievedAugust 28,2024.
  32. ^Sophie Schillaci; Natasha Chandel (December 18, 2013)."'The Voice' Finalist Will Champlin Felt 'Vindicated' By Third-Place Finish ".MTV.Viacom. Archived fromthe originalon February 19, 2014.RetrievedMarch 1,2014.
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