Tamara Champlin

Tamara Champlin
Background information
Birth name	Tamara Matoesian
Born	United States
Genres	Rock, Americana, country
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Indie
Associated acts	Sons of Champlin, Bill Champlin & Tamara Champlin

Tamara Champlin is an American Singer/Songwriter who started her career as a session singer in Houston, Texas, later moving to Los Angeles. She has performed with and written for singers such as Elton John, Leon Russell, Nicky Hopkins, Andreas Carlsson, husband Bill Champlin and son Will Champlin. Tour Dates from 2010-2015 with Bill Champlin included California, Europe, Hawaii, Japan, South America, Kuwait and Iraq ; she is a full member of the Sons of Champlin, active in the Rhythmic Arts Project ^[1] to benefit children, and the Saving K-9 Lives Charity ^[2] encouraging adoption of shelter pets.

Early career

Tamara Champlin and Becky Conway @ "Gilley's"

Tamara Champlin's (then Matoesian) early career began as a "Gilley's" dancer and singer with Becky Bauch Williams (then Conway) in the Movie Urban Cowboy(Paramount Pictures 1980), followed by credits on Elton John's album The Fox in 1981, and future husband Bill Champlin's album Runaway. She went on her first road trip as part of Rita Coolidge's band to South Africa also in 1981.^[3] In films, she had lead vocal acknowledgment for "Heart of Glass" (composed with Bill Champlin and Bruce Gaitsch) from Caddyshack II;^[4] sang three songs in the Rob Lowe Movie Illegally Yours ^[5] where she also shared songwriting distinction with Bruce Gaitsch on "Who Wins" from that film; lastly with husband Bill Champlin and Rita Coolidge there were two songs performed on screen in the Jim Carrey Movie "Copper Mountain" (1983)

Writing collaborations followed including "Price of Love" (written with Jack Ponti and Vic Pepe) for the Baton Rouge Release;^[6] "If You're Not The One For Me" (written with Bruce Gaitsch), sung by Bill Champlin and Brenda Russell, from Tim Scott's "Keep This Love Alive", "Stone Cold" Released by Paul Rodgers (Queen/Bad Company) with his band the Law on their Album Laying Down The Law (1991) and was a background vocalist on Peter Cetera's Album World Falling Down.

Solo career

Tamara Champlin's^[7] Solo CD "You Won't Get To Heaven Alive" (Europe /1991) was released in the US in 1995 (Turnip).^[8] In addition to vocal and musical performances by many of the co-writers on this CD, industry greats such as Nicky Hopkins ^[9] Bill Champlin, Tris Imboden and Greg Mathieson also held contributing credits as players. "Tragic Black" (written with Michael Caruso and Cal Curtis) was Number 1 in Germany and "You Won't Get To Heaven Alive" (a collaboration with Randy Cantor and Michael Caruso) reached the top 20 in Spain ^[10]

Tamara with Bill Champlin

Also in 1995 she co-wrote three songs "Southern Serenade" (where she shared vocal credits); "God Sent Angels" (background vocals), "Someone Else" and performed a duet on a Bill Champlin/Greg Mathieson tune "Love Is Gonna find You" that were featured on Bill Champlin's ^[11] "He Started To Sing". On Champlin's Live CD "Mayday" (Champlin Records - 1996), she was part of the Band that toured in Europe to promote it. The Album included their duets of "Southern Serenade" and "Love Is Gonna Find You" with Tamara performing her own "Backstreets of Paradise".

There were a series of collection releases to follow where she was a guest lead vocalist and writer: "Make You A Believer" on "World Jam Volume 1;^[12] "Express Yourself" from Rocco Prestia's Solo Release "Everybody on the Bus" both in 1999; "Talkin' To Angels" from a charity project "Wings of Light-Songs of Inspiration" Released in 2001;^[13] Janey Clewer's "Love" CD (2012) ^[14] where she shared vocals on the title track (written by Janey Clewer) with Janey, Peter Cetera and Bill Champlin; "Voices in The Wind" from Frederic Slama's Release "Secrets of LA" (2013) ^[15][16] and was the featured vocalist on the tune "Circle of Danger" from Slama's 2014 release "LA Connection". In 2015, she released a Single "Dreamin' of Chagall" (Champlin/Caruso/Champlin) inspired by works of artist Marc Chagall.

Continuing during this time were her writing credits for other performers: "Saint Forgiveness" (Champlin/Gaitsch/Champlin) written for Bruce Gaitsch "Aphasia" Album in 1997; "Runaway Love" (Champlin/Caruso/Matkosky) recorded by both Rita Coolige on her "Thinkin' About You" Release ^[17] (1998) and was a top 40 Billboard Hit for Chris Ledoux's on his "One Road Man" Release ^[18] (1996). On Chicago's "What's It Gonna Be Santa" Christmas Release she and husband Bill Champlin (a 28-year member of the band) contributed a co-write that he sang "Bethlehem". Many collaborations with Michael Caruso ^[19] followed: "Shoo-Rah", "I'm Not Your Lover"; (Champlin/Caruso/Matkosky) recorded again, by Rita Coolige; "Louisiana Wind" written by Champlin, Caruso, Matkosky and Lecompt was featured on Mike LeCompt's "Can't Let Go"(2002);^[20] "Pretty Ugly", "Pretty When She Cries" (Champlin/Caruso) from a Perfect Day's Release "All Over Everything" (2004) and Bekka Bramlett's Hit on Music Row "What's On My Mind" (2009).^[21] Son, Will Champlin, became part of this writing team in 2004 and the trio wrote many songs that featured Will as the vocalist for his first 3 albums (2004-2009).^[22][23] Will Champlin later went on to be part of Heather Headley's Grammy Award Winning Album "Audience of One" and was a Season 5 finalist on The Voice.

In addition to the Studio work there was the live show in 2010 at Cafe 316 in Monterey, Ca, where she performed her own music and was accompanied by Bill and Will Champlin.^[24] Tamara was with the sold out tour in Scandinavia (2011) that featured Leon Russell, Bill Champlin, Joe Williams, Peter Friestedt,^[25] and again in 2016 as part of Champlin Williams Friestedt tour in Europe and Japan. In 2014 re-formed her own band - this time with husband Bill Champlin, Carmen Grillo, Johnny Griparic and Dave Raven entertaining at Genghis Cohen.^[26] In 2014-2016 she performed acoustically with Bill Champlin in the US, Europe, Japan, Hawaii and South America ^[27][28] and with the Sons of Champlin that toured steadily on the West Coast ^[29][30]

She was involved with a of the group of musicians organized by Lone Wolf Entertainment^[31] in 2011, that included husband Bill and son Will that traveled to Iraq and Kuwait to entertain US forces stationed there. In 2014 Tamara and Bill Champlin were part of a performance at Riverside, Ca in support of the Lone Survivor Foundation ^[32] dedicated to help wounded American service members and their families.^[33] She was associated with Eddie Tuduri Rhythmic Art Project ^[34] helping children with learning disabilities and has worked with and been part of concert performances for Saving K-9 Lives ^[35][36] founded by Jasmine and Bobby Kimball^[37]

Personal life

Tamara Champlin is the daughter of Gregor Matoesian and Kenarr Matoesian. She has three siblings Greg Matoesian,^[38] Michele Taylor^[39] and Matthew Matoesian. She is married to William Bradford (Bill) Champlin ; they and they have one child, William Christoper (Will) Champlin who has a daughter, Harper (Tamara and Bill's grandchild). Her extended family circle includes her step-children (Bill's daughter and son by his prior marriage) Amy Joy Kelly and Bradford Raymond Champlin along with their four children.

Discography

Tamara Champlin

• Featured singer/dancer at "Gilley's" in "Urban Cowboy" (Paramount Pictures - 1980)
• Background vocalist on Elton John's "The Fox" Album (Geffen - 1981)
• Background vocalist with Bill Champlin on Some Kind of Hero: title track from the Richard Pryor Movie featuring Richard Page on Lead Vocals (Paramount Pictures - 1980)
• Background vocalist on Don Johnson's Solo Album "Heartbeat" and singer/dancer on title track video (Epic/CBS- 1986)^[40]
• Lead vocals and co-write with Bill Champlin and Bruce Gaitsch on "Heart Of Glass" from "Caddyshack II" (Warner Bros - 1988)
• Lead Vocals on "Thinking About It" "Yesterday Only" and "Who Wins" (the last sharing co-writing credits with Bruce Gaitsch) featured in the Rob Lowe Film "Illegally Yours" (United Artists - 1988)
• Co-writing credit with Vic Pepe and Jack Ponti for the Baton Rouge song "Price of Love" from their Release "Lights Out On The Playground" (Atlantic Records - 1991)
• "If You're Not The One For Me" written by Tamara Champlin and Bruce Gaitsch was performed by Bill Champlin and Brenda Russell on Tim Scotts "Keep This Love Alive" ^[41] (GRP Records- 1991)
• "Stone Cold" (Champlin/Wilson co-write) recorded by Paul Rodger with his Band The Law from "Laying Down The Law" (Verve-Atlantic Records - 1991)
• "World Falling Down" Release by Peter Cetera; Tamara Champlin Background Vocals (Warner Bros - 1992)
• On Bill Champlin's "Burn Down the Night" CD, Tamara had a co-write credit on "Fly By The Light" and was a background vocalist on many tracks; On his "He Started To Sing" release she shared co-writes on "God Sent Angels", "Someone Else" and together they performed the duets "Love Is Gonna Find You" and another co-write "Southern Serenade"(Turnip - 1992,1995)
• Tamara Champlin's "You Won't Get To Heaven Alive" tracks included "Backstreets of Paradise" (Tamara Champlin/Terry Wilson), "You Won't Get To Heaven Alive" (Champlin/Caruso/Cantor), "Chasin' The Moon" (Champlin/Kevin Dukes), "Rock and Roll Tragedy"(Champlin/Dukes), "Purple Black and Blonde"(Champlin/Caruso/Curtis), "Stone Cold" (Champlin/Wilson), "Only Love"(Champlin/Cantor), "Crawl"(Champlin/Paris), "Meet My Maker"(Champlin/Wilson), "Tragic Black"(Champlin/Caruso/Curtis), "St. Anne's Wheel"(Champlin/Caruso/Champlin) and "Roll The Bones"(Champlin/Wilson) (Released 1991 in Europe; Turnip (US)1995)^[42]
• From Bruce Gaitsch "Aphasia" CD, she, Bill Champlin and Bruce Gaitsch wrote a tune called "St Forgiveness" (Thoughtscape Sounds - 1997)^[43][44]
• "Runaway Love" (Champlin/Caruso/Matkosky) was recorded by Rita Coolidge on her "Thinkin' About You" Rita Coolidge CD (Innerworks Records International 1998); and by Chris LeDoux on his "One Road Man" (Capitol-Nashville 1998). Also on "Thinkin' About You" were 2 other Champlin/Caruso/Matkosky tunes: "I'm Not Your Lover" and "Shoo-Rah"
• "Bethlehem" written by Bill and Tamara Champlin recorded by Chicago on their "What's It Gonna Be Santa" Christmas Release (Rhino - 1998, 2003)
• "Make You A Believer" from "World Jam Volume 1" (Worldwide Records - 1999)
• "Express Yourself" from Rocco Prestia's Solo Release "Everyone On The Bus"^[45] (Agat - 1999)
• "Miracles" from Jessica Folcker's Swedish Release "Dino" penned with Bill Champlin, Andreas Carlsson and Douglas Carr (SME Records, Inc - 2000)
• "Higher Ground" from the Doobie Brothers Release Sibling Rivalry written with Bill Champlin and Tom Johnston (Rhino - 2000)
• "Don't Get Me Dreamin'" written with Michael Caruso and Blaise Tosti for Stampede's "Amame" (Sony - 2000)
• "Sorry I'm in Love" written with Bill Champlin, Andreas Carlsson and Douglas Carr for Emilia Rydberg Release "Emilia" (Universal - 2000)
• "Living My Life Out Loud" written by Will Champlin and Tamara Champlin: title track of Lori Michael's CD (Reform Records - 2008). Also on the Release was a Tamara Champlin/Michael Caruso co-write "Pretty When She Cries" that was later featured and performed by Lori Michaels on the VH1 Series Single Ladies (Episode 7 of 2011 season)
• "Dreamin' Of Chagall" written with Bill Champlin and Michael Caruso and performed by Tamara Champlin (Released Champlinx2 Records - 2015)

External links

• Tamara Champlin Official Website
• Bill Champlin Official Website
• Sons of Champlin Official Website
• Michael Caruso Official Website
• Saving K-9 Lives
• The Rhythmic Arts Project
• Craig Carreno Photography
• Attila Aszodi Custom Designs

References