| Bill Champlin |
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The Six changed their name to the Sons Of Champlin , and it wasn't long before they became very popular in the Bay Area. They had recorded a number of well-reviewed, low-selling albums (including ''Loosen Up Naturally'' and ''Circle Filled With Love'') by 1977 when the 30-year old Champlin went solo. Teaming up with the then-unknown producer mode -- only better. Unfortunately, terrific tunes like "Tonight, Tonight" and "Satisfaction" were released and allowed to disappear. Still, Champlin prospered. His fantastic, bluesy voice made him an in-demand session singer, and he famously co-wrote the huge hits "After the Love Is Gone" ( Earth, Wind & Fire ) and "Turn Your Love Around" ( George Benson ), picking up two Grammy Award s in the process. Among other artists he worked with are Boz Scaggs , The Tubes , and Lee Ritenour . 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. Serpahine 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 "Mister, 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 ''. By the early 90s, Chicago's popularity was beginning to wane ('''', re-released with additional tracks as ''What's It Gonna Be, Santa?''). Candid, very funny, and down to earth, the brown-eyed Champlin is a major presence on the recently released '' Chicago XXX '', but has also revived the Sons, and has recorded a number of well-reviewed solo CDs (''He Started to Sing'' and ''Through It All'' among them). He sang the theme to TV's '' In The Heat Of The Night '', and always seems willing to give an interview. Bearded and a bit paunchy upon first joining Chicago (and given to wearing white three-piece suits and sneakers), Champlin shaved and slimmed down in the late 80s, grew his hair rocker-guy long in the early 90s, trimmed it all by 1994, and now looks like the guy next door. Married for years to his second wife (the singer Tamara Champlin ), he has three children. In interviews, he admits to being an ex-boozer (this might explain his constant gum chewing) and is no stranger to Marijuana , but is clean now and is, by all reports, a very nice fellow. |
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