Chick Churchill
Encyclopedia
Chick Churchill is the keyboard
player of the British
late 1960s to 70s rock band
, Ten Years After
.
at the age of six and studied classical music
until he was fifteen. He became interested in blues
and rock music
, and joined his first band Sons of Adam in Nottingham
. Churchill then met Alvin Lee
of The Jaybirds. At first, Churchill joined the band as its road manager
, but he soon became the keyboard player.
In November 1966 there was a name change to Ten Years After. With this group, Churchill played at major rock festival
s including Woodstock
in 1969, and the Isle of Wight Festival
on 29 August 1970.
In 1973 he recorded a solo album You and Me (Chrysalis 1051)
Ten Years After broke up in 1976 and Churchill became Professional Manager at Chrysalis Music
; the company was then owned by his manager
, Chris Wright
. In 1977, he left to found Whitsett Churchill Music Publishing with Tim Whitsett
, publishing and promoting American
artists, especially from the south.
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
late 1960s to 70s rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
, Ten Years After
Ten Years After
Ten Years After is an English blues-rock band, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1973, Ten Years After scored eight Top 40 albums on the UK Albums Chart...
.
Career
Churchill began playing the pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at the age of six and studied classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
until he was fifteen. He became interested in blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, and joined his first band Sons of Adam in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. Churchill then met Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
of The Jaybirds. At first, Churchill joined the band as its road manager
Road manager
In music industry, a Road Manager is a person who works with small to mid-sized tours...
, but he soon became the keyboard player.
In November 1966 there was a name change to Ten Years After. With this group, Churchill played at major rock festival
Rock festival
A rock festival, or a rock fest, is a large-scale rock music concert, featuring multiple acts.The first rock festivals were put on in the late 1960s and were important socio-cultural milestones. In the 1980s a minor resurgence of festivals occurred with charity as the goal.Today, they are often...
s including Woodstock
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
in 1969, and the Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival 1970
The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held between 26 and 31 August 1970 at East Afton Farm an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970 and widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of...
on 29 August 1970.
In 1973 he recorded a solo album You and Me (Chrysalis 1051)
Ten Years After broke up in 1976 and Churchill became Professional Manager at Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music
Chrysalis Music is a British independent music publisher.The company's roots started in west London in 1967 when Chris Wright and Terry Ellis formed the Ellis-Wright Agency. It was formed to manage and book the bands Ten Years After, and Clouds. Ten Years After was managed by Wright, while Clouds...
; the company was then owned by his manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, Chris Wright
Chris Wright
-Sports:* Chris Wright , plays for Essex County Cricket Club* Chris Wright , a guard at Georgetown University* Chris Wright , a forward at the University of Dayton...
. In 1977, he left to found Whitsett Churchill Music Publishing with Tim Whitsett
Tim Whitsett
Tim Whitsett is an American music publisher, musician, songwriter, producer, author, and consultant. He was born in Jackson, Mississippi.-Biography:...
, publishing and promoting American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artists, especially from the south.