Des Champ
Des Champ (9 July 1928 – 7 June 2006 in London, England) was a musician, bandleader, producer, and arranger.
Des Champ | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Desmond Herbert Champ |
| Born | 9 July 1928 London, England |
| Died | 7 June 2006 (aged 77) London, England |
| Genres | Rock, pop, electronic |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, producer, arranger |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1965–95 |
| Labels | Santa Ponsa |
In a musical career lasting over 35 years, Des gained notoriety in the British music business for his ground-breaking production and arrangement work in collaboration with partner Roger Easterby. Des first achieved chart success with Vanity Fare, whose "Hitchin' a Ride" sold a million copies in the US alone, but his most notable pop achievement was with glam-rock band Chicory Tip, whose "Son of My Father" featured a Moog synthesizer (a relatively obscure instrument at the time). "Son of My Father" went on to top the UK pop music charts for three weeks in early 1972 and was a seminal influence on 80s synthesizer bands like ABC. Later in his career, Des worked as musical director for Shirley Bassey, 5000 Volts, and Tony Monopoly, before finally taking a regular day job with the Orchestration Department at BBC Radio Two.
He died of cancer on 7 June 2006 in London.
Discography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1972 | "Son of My Father" |
External links
- Des Champ discography at Discogs
- Shirley and Johnny website
- The Bedside Bond Album
Authority control  |
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