Sons of Champlin
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The Sons of Champlin is an American rock band, formed in the late 1960's and hailing from the San Francisco-Bay area. They are fronted by vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist Bill Champlin, who is also a member of the rock band Chicago.
Champlin started the Sons as the Opposite Six while still studying music in college. One of his professors encouraged Champlin to drop out of school and pursue music full-time. Champlin joined forces with guitarist Terry Haggerty, keyboardist/saxman Geoff Palmer, bassist David Schallock, and drummer James Preston to create a funky Hammond B-3-and-horns sound that was distinctive from the rest of the Bay Area’s psychedelic guitar bands (one bandsman referred to the music as "acid jazz").
The Sons released seven albums between 1968 and 1977, including Loosen Up Naturally, Welcome to the Dance, and Circle Filled With Love. The albums were generally well-reviewed, but were low sellers. In 1977, Champlin went solo, recording Single and Runaway before joining Chicago in 1981.
Briefly, the group went by the name Yogi Phlegm[1], as which they played the last concert at Bill Graham's Fillmore West, June 30, 1971.
In 1997, the Sons got together for a series of reunion gigs, then recorded and released their first live CD in 1998. In 2002, Champlin said it was, "too good not to continue," and the Sons have since put out several new CD's that please fans, Hip L'il Dreams and Secret among them (they have also remastered much of their back catalogue).
As of this writing, Champlin appears with original members Palmer, Schallock, and Preston. Guitarist Carmen Grillo has replaced Haggerty, and Tower of Power alumnus Mic Gillette handles trumpet, trombone, and tuba parts. The Sons generally feature guest artists on alto and tenor saxophone.
