Chris Thompson (English musician)
Chris Thompson (also known as Chris Hamlet Thompson) is an English singer and guitarist known both for his work with Manfred Mann's Earth Band and for his solo accomplishments.
Biography
Thompson was born on 9 March 1947 in the United Kingdom but raised in New Zealand. His early musical experience was whilst still at school in a band (Paragons),that played at the weekly church youth club dances. Later as his talent became clear the band was reformed as Dynasty with other musicians and achieved much local success on the NZ music scene.
In 1973 he returned to England to pursue a music career, joining Manfred Mann's Earth Band the following year.
In 1978 he featured in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, where he sang the lyrics for the song "Thunder Child". After several years with Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Thompson left in 1979 and formed the Los Angeles band Night, which enjoyed two hits during its lifetime. One of them, "If You Remember Me," the theme song for Franco Zeffirelli's remake of The Champ (1979 film), was initially credited solely to Thompson; later pressings of the single were credited to "Chris Thompson and Night." After the band broke up in 1982, he rejoined the Earth Band.
In 1981, Thompson released his debut album, Out Of The Night. This was followed by five more albums, most recently Won't Lie Down (2001).
In 1986 Thompson sang vocals on a solo Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) album. The album featured performances by such artists as Steve Howe (Yes), Brian May (Queen), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Ian Mosley (also from Marillion), and Bonnie Tyler. However, the album, entitled Feedback 86, was not released until 2002.
In 1990 Thompson recorded the single, "This Is The Moment", as the official theme song for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. [1]
In 2006 he joined Jeff Wayne for a second time to tour as The Voice of Humanity in the live version of The War of the Worlds. According to the special features of disc two of the War of The Worlds Live Dvd, it is mentioned that Chris designed some artwork for The War Of The Worlds.
Thompson has been featured on several albums by artists such as Alan Parsons, Jan Hammer, Steve Hackett, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Oldfield, and Sarah Brightman, as well as providing back up vocals for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, and later for Brian May of Queen, during his first few solo concerts, in South America in 1992.
As a songwriter, his greatest success is John Farnham's single "You're the voice" which reached top 10 - positions in many countries across the world.
Thompson has also been involved with the SAS band (Spike's All Star Band) where he has performed numerous songs, especially the one done by Thompson with Manfred Mann's Earth Band, "Blinded By the Light."
Discography
With Manfred Mann's Earth Band
- The Roaring Silence (1976)
- Watch (1978)
- Angel Station (1979)
- Chance (1980)
- Somewhere in Afrika (1982)
- Budapest Live (1983)
- Criminal Tango (1986)
- Soft Vengeance (1996)
- Mann Alive (1998)
- 2006 (2004)
Solo
- Out Of The Night (1981)
- Radio Voices (1983)
- High Cost Of Living (1986)
- Beat Of Love (1989)
- Backtrack 1980-1994 (1999)
- Won't Lie Down (2001)
- Rediscovery (2004)
- Timeline (2005)
- If You Remember Me (2006)
With Night
- Night (1979)
- Long Distance (1981)
With Peter Maffay
- Tabaluga and the Magic Jadestone (1988)
With Mike Oldfield
- Earth Moving (1989)
With Alan Parsons
- Try Anything Once (1993)
- Live (1994)
With SAS Band
- SAS Band (1997)
- The Show (2001)
With Mads Eriksen
- Redhanded (2001)
- Rediscovery (2004)
With Leslie Man Doki
- Soulmates (2002)
- Jazz Cuts (2003)
With Michael Ernst
- Excalibur (2004)
With Sarah Brightman
- How Can Heaven Love Me (1995)
- I Will Be with You (Where the Lost Ones Go) (Pokémon 10: The Rise of Darkrai) (2007)