The newest release, "Sons of Champlin - The Ariola Years" is now available at The Official Sons of Champlin Online Store. This is a deluxe 2 CD set, which is a compilation of three albums, "A Circle Filled With Love", "Loving Is Why", and "The Sons of Champlin" (also called Goldmine), that have been re-mastered from the original tapes and are available for the first time ever on CD.
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The Sons of Champlin started in 1965 in Marin County, California rising from the wreckage of the Opposite Six, a locally popular R&B band from the pre-Beatle era. "Six" members, Bill Champlin and Tim Cain, added Terry Haggerty and the first of a series of drummers and bass players, and the new band was named for the "front" man, Bill Champlin.
For a couple of years the Sons played as a five-piece band, working the college and high school dance circuit and the various clubs and bars in the Bay Area. Their playlist was mostly covers, some R&B such as "Midnight Hour," some commercial pop such as "Shades of Gray."
The Sons' first record release, on Trident Records, was a single called "Sing Me A Rainbow," and it got a little local AM radio airplay. In 1967 the Sons of Champlin became a seven piece band, adding a trumpet, and more importantly, Geoff Palmer on keyboards, alto sax, and vibraphone. By this time the San Francisco scene included the Fillmore and Avalon ballrooms and as the Sons joined that rock circuit, they earned a reputation as a group of R&B and jazz musicians far above the caliber of the electrified folk-rockers who formed the core of the scene.
Not only did the Sons boast a horn section, their philosophical themes, R&B and jazz tempos and arrangements were far ahead of any in rock music, and set the Sons apart from the guitar-dominated bands playing the San Francisco ballrooms.
Because nearly every other major San Francisco band signed a big record deal before the Sons did in 1968, they have sometimes been referred to as a "second wave" San Francisco band, although the Sons predate most of the fixtures in that scene. Between 1968 and 1977 the Sons of Champlin released seven albums. Despite developing a fanatic fan base in a number of regions, the national breakthrough never arrived, and in 1977 the members dispersed to other projects.
However, their fans never forgot the Sons of Champlin and continued to spread the word and the music.
And after a twenty year hiatus, the Sons reunited for a series of successful reunion gigs in 1997, with two of the earliest being in April at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium where it all began. Several more concerts were held in July, followed by more in the fall.
Then on January 24, 1998, the Sons recorded their first ever "live" CD. It was released on July 28, 1998, in cooperation with Grateful Dead Records. The Sons earlier studio releases never quite captured the magic of their live shows. Quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart said of those earlier shows, "they were breathing fire... they were the most talented of all the bands."
More concerts followed whenever schedules permitted over the next few years, including some that were promoted by fans, some that were sold out, and all that were great, according to those in attendance.
In the fall of 2001, original guitarist, Terry Haggarty, left the band to pursue other musical endeavors.
He also introduced the band to his replacement, Tal Morris, who is a great guitarist and blended into the Sons’ line up very well.
Early in 2002, in an extraordinary partnership with the Expression Center for New Media, located in Emeryville, CA., the Sons were back on stage and back in the recording studio. This collaboration resulted in the release of a live CD and DVD, titled "Secret", which captured the magic of the Sons at their best, not just live ... but Alive. Dave Duncan, the Sons manager, had this to say, "This is not a nostalgia act. This is the real deal."
The Sons of Champlin have continued to tour as their schedules have permitted, mostly on the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest. And there have been more personnel changes, with Tal Morris, as well as the horn section, leaving the band to pursue other musical opportunities. Carmen Grillo, formerly of Tower of Power, and a close friend of Bill Champlin, became the newest member of the Sons.
The Sons first studio album in 28 years, “Hip Li’l Dreams” was released by Dig Music on August 23, 2005 to great reviews. This was a labor of love and includes some great guest artists.
On August 6, 2007, the UK label, Acadia Records, released a compilation of 3 Sons Ariola albums, “The Sons of Champlin”, affectionately know as Gold Mine, “Circle Filled With Love”, and “Loving Is Why”. The title of this 2 CD set is “The Ariola Years”.
In 2008, Dream Makers Music became the label for Sons of Champlin and are currently the distributors for both "Secret" and "Hip Li'l Dreams".
Thanks for stoppin by and checkin out the site. Hope you are diggin the new BEKKA BRAMLETT HIT SINGLE "WHAT'S ON MY MIND" CURRENTLY ROCKIN MUSIC ROW...AVAILABLE @ CD BABY...NOW...GET THIS GIRL!
so much music so little time ~ i can see i have a little catching up to do ~ how cool ~ old=new ~ thank you for spreading great music around the globe and locally ~ take care and peace to you and yours ~ moondancer
Sing, sing a song, Sing out loud, sing out strong, Sing of the good things, not bad, Sing of the happy, not sad . . .
Sing, sing a song, Make it simple, to last your whole life long, Don't worry that it's not good enough, For anyone else to hear, Just Sing, sing a song . . .
Thanks so kindly for the add, The Sons have truly been one of the greatest, funkiest,down to earth bands I've ever had the pleasure to hear-always good thangs to write about and a great band! From the "San Anselmo Church" to Forestville/Guerneville, to U. of O. parties you guys HAVE ALWAYS ROCKED! Thanks for allah-dat, love ya guys, Peace,C.
Sons, It's been a long strange trip, but this is "The Year of Music" one in which American's learn to Appreciate our wonderful musical heritage, of which, you are a very big part. In the 60's we had LOVE and today we have LOVE,so what have we lost? NOTHING Peace, Arlic
Thank you for the add and for your support of my music. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of "Twilight"....great to have you for a friend, Peace WC
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