Bill Champlin
| Bill Champlin | |
|---|---|
Champlin in 2008
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Bradford Champlin |
| Born |
May 21, 1947 Oakland, California, United States |
| Genres | Rock, blues, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards, guitar |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Associated acts |
Sons of Champlin The Rhythm Dukes Chicago Neil Diamond David Foster REO Speedwagon |
| Website | Billchamplin.net |
| Notable instruments | |
| Hammond organ | |
William Bradford "Bill" Champlin (born May 21, 1947, Oakland, California) is an American singer, guitarist, keyboard player, arranger, producer, and songwriter. His performance work is principally associated with the bands Chicago and the Sons of Champlin. He has won multiple Grammy Awards for songwriting.
As a child, Champlin demonstrated a talent for piano, and eventually picked up the guitar after being inspired by Elvis Presley. He started a band, The Opposite Six, while at Tamalpais High School, in Mill Valley, California and went on to study music in college, but was encouraged by a professor to drop out of school and pursue music professionally.
The Opposite Six, Champlin's band from high school, changed their name to the Sons of Champlin, and eventually recorded a number of well-reviewed but poorly selling albums (including Loosen Up Naturally and Circle Filled With Love) by 1977, when the 30-year-old Champlin moved to Los Angeles.
In LA he began extensive studio session work. 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.
Champlin won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song in 1980 for co-writing the hit song "After The Love Has Gone" with Jay Graydon and David Foster (which was made popular by Earth, 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 by George Benson).
In 1979, Champlin was approached by the then-widely successful band REO Speedwagon to add background vocals on some of their songs, which appear on the album Nine Lives; this was the last album in which REO Speedwagon had a predominantly hard-rock edge.
...
Wikipedia