Christopher North (Ambrosia)

Christopher Reed North (born January 26, 1951) is the founding keyboardist for the American progressive rock band Ambrosia.

Christopher North
Background information
Born (1951-01-26) January 26, 1951
San Francisco, California
GenresRock, Blues, R&B, Prog, Funk
InstrumentsHammond Organ Keyboard
Years active1964–present
Associated actsAmbrosia

Career

North was born in San Francisco. He grew up in San Pedro, California, playing in various bands through junior high and high school. Some of the early bands he played with were The Proones, The Livin End, and Thee Exceptions. In 1968 he formed the psychedelic rock band Blue Toad Flax with Tom Trefethen playing organ and singing lead vocals.[1]

Christopher North performing with Ambrosia

In 1970 he formed the progressive rock band Ambrosia with David Pack, Joe Puerta and Burleigh Drummond.[2] He is known for his very intense live performances.[3][4][5]

North and the other members of Ambrosia contributed to the album Tales of Mystery and Imagination by The Alan Parsons Project.[6]

He played organ and piano on the hit songs "Galilee" and "Rock 'N' Roll Preacher" from the debut album by Chuck Girard and also on Girard's 1980 album The Stand. North played organ on the John Lennon tribute single "Johnny's Gone Away" written and produced by Tom Trefethen with Alan Parsons as executive producer.[7]

North with Ambrosia

In 2014 North played on the song "The Soft Parade" from Light My Fire: A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors.

North is listed on the All Time Hammond Pops list three times for his solos on Ambrosia hits “Holdin' on to Yesterday”, “Biggest Part of Me” and “You're the Only Woman (You & I)”. He was also listed from 1976-1981 as one of the top multi-keyboardists by Keyboard Magazine at which time they discontinued the list. [8]

Discography
Date Title Label Charted Country Catalog Number
as part of Ambrosia
1975 Ambrosia 20th Century Fox 22 US
1976 Somewhere I've Never Travelled 20th Century Fox 79 US
as a guest musician
1978 Life Beyond L.A. Warner Bros. 19 US
1980 One Eighty Warner Bros. 25 US
1982 Road Island Warner Bros. 115 US
1997 Anthology Warner Bros. US
2002 Essentials Warner Bros. US
2003 How Much I Feel and Other Hits Rhino Flashback US

Singles
Year Title Chart positions[9] Album
US US
AC		 AU
1975 "Holdin' on to Yesterday" 17 — — Ambrosia
"Nice, Nice, Very Nice" 63 — —
1976 "Magical Mystery Tour" 39 — — All This and World War II
"Can't Let a Woman" 102 — — Somewhere I've Never Travelled
"Runnin' Away" — — —
1978 "How Much I Feel" 3 11 30 Life Beyond L.A.
"Life Beyond L.A." — — —
"If Heaven Could Find Me" 107 — —
1980 "Biggest Part of Me" 3 3 — One Eighty
"You're the Only Woman (You & I)" 13 5 —
"No Big Deal" 105 — —
1981 "Outside" 102 — — Inside Moves soundtrack
1982 "Feelin' Alive Again" — — — Road Island
"How Can You Love Me" 86 — —
"For Openers (Welcome Home)" — — —
1997 "I Just Can't Let Go" — 26 — Anthology
2004 "Biggest Part of Me" (Remix) — 31 — Non-album single
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References
  1. Tom Trefethen:Information from Answers.com
  2. Huey, Steve. "Ambrosia: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  3. LA Times Ambrosia Concert review from the Santa Monica Civic 1977
  4. Crawdaddy Magazine Ambrosia Part 2 1978
  5. Ambrosia page on ProgArchives.com
  6. the Trades article Interview: Alan Parsons: The Artist and Scientist of Sound Recording
  7. Mostly Pink
  9. "US single chart positions". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
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