Bill Champlin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bill Champlin (born on May 21, 1947 in Marin County, California) is an American vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player, known for his work with Chicago and the Sons of Champlin.
[edit] Early career
As a child, Champlin demonstrated a talent for piano, and eventually picked up the guitar after being inspired by Elvis. He started his band, The Opposite Six, while at Tamalpais High School, in Mill Valley, California. He studied music in college, but was encouraged by a professor to drop out of school and pursue music professionally with his band.
The Six changed their name to the Sons of Champlin, and eventually recorded a number of well-reviewed, poorly-selling albums (including Loosen Up Naturally and Circle Filled With Love) by 1977 when the 30-year old Champlin went solo.
Teaming up producer David Foster, Champlin (and a host of session musicians) put out two albums: Single and Runaway. Due to poor promotion from his record company, both albums sold poorly and quickly hit the cutout bins.
Still, Champlin prospered. His voice made him an in-demand session singer, and he co-wrote the hits "After the Love Is Gone" (Earth, Wind & Fire) and "Turn Your Love Around" (George Benson), picking up two Grammy Awards in the process. Among other artists he worked with are Boz Scaggs, The Tubes, and Lee Ritenour.
[edit] Association with Chicago
In 1978, the day after Chicago guitarist Terry Kath died, Champlin received a call from someone connected to the group, suggesting that he audition to take Kath's place. Champlin turned down the offer, saying he couldn't fill those shoes. But a couple of years later, he hooked up with Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine, singing some backgrounds with Peter Cetera on a non-Chicago project. Champlin and Cetera hit it off, finding that their voices sounded great together. Seraphine and Champlin co-wrote a few tunes, and Champlin was invited to sing one song ("Sonny Think Twice") as a guest vocalist on what would eventually become Chicago 16. Champlin suggested to Seraphine that David Foster might be a good bet as a producer for Chicago at that time.
Seraphine began a campaign to get Champlin into the group (Robert Lamm -- initially jealous at the prospect of another keyboardist -- said, "What the hell do we need him for?" and Kenny Loggins personally called Champlin, saying, "What are you doing? Those guys are over!"). Reluctant at first, especially after hearing that he'd be singing "Colour My World" ("I never really liked that one much"), Champlin finally said, "Why not? I'll give it a year," and joined the band in 1981 (twenty-plus years later, he's still there). He did some guest spots in the meantime (the TV show Fridays, for example), and was featured singing several songs on 16, including "Bad Advice" and "Follow Me."
1984's Chicago 17 cemented Champlin's presence in the group. He wrote several great tunes ("Please Hold On," "Remember the Feeling"), and sang (with Cetera) the hit "Hard Habit to Break." When Cetera left in 1985, the focus was expected to switch to Champlin. Instead (after suggesting that Richard Page of Mr. Mister replace Cetera), he helped groom 23-year old Jason Scheff. Chicago 18 featured several Scheff-sung hits, a situation Scheff acknowledges as being incredibly generous on Champlin's part.
In 1988, however, it was Champlin who shined, singing the hits, "Look Away," "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love," and "You're Not Alone" on Chicago 19. That year he also sang the theme to TV's In the Heat of the Night.
By the early 90s, Chicago's popularity was beginning to wane (Chicago 21, featuring the Champlin tune "Who Do You Love?" sold poorly), and the band recorded the now infamous Stone of Sisyphus, a project that remains unreleased to this day. Champlin is featured on "Mah Jongg," "Here With Me," "The Show Must Go On," and "Plaid." He made major contributions to Chicago's big-band tribute Night & Day Big Band in 1995, and to both editions of their Christmas album (Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album, re-released with additional tracks as What's It Gonna Be, Santa?).
In 1997 Champlin helped to revive the Sons of Champlin and he continues to appear with that band. He is also still touring and recording with Chicago, including the new album Chicago XXX. In recent years Champlin has also recorded several new solo CDs (He Started to Sing and Through It All among them).
Married since 1982 to his second wife (singer Tamara Champlin), Bill has three children.
[edit] External links
| Chicago |
|---|
| Robert Lamm | James Pankow | Lee Loughnane | Walter Parazaider | Bill Champlin Jason Scheff | Tris Imboden | Keith Howland Terry Kath | Peter Cetera | Danny Seraphine | Laudir DeOliveira | Donnie Dacus | Chris Pinnick | Dawayne Bailey |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: The Chicago Transit Authority | Chicago | Chicago III | Chicago V | Chicago VI |Chicago VII | Chicago VIII | Chicago X | Chicago XI | Hot Streets Chicago 13 | Chicago XIV | Chicago 16 | Chicago 17 | Chicago 18 | Chicago 19 | Twenty 1 | Night & Day Big Band | Chicago XXX |
| Live albums: Chicago at Carnegie Hall | Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert |
| Compilations: Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits | Greatest Hits, Volume II | Greatest Hits 1982-1989 The Heart of Chicago 1967-1997 | The Heart of Chicago 1967-1998 Volume II | The Very Best of: Only the Beginning | Love Songs |
| Christmas albums: Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album | What's It Gonna Be, Santa? |
| Unreleased album: Stone of Sisyphus |
| Box sets: The Box |
