- published: 08 Jun 2012
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William Bradford "Bill" Champlin (born May 21, 1947, Oakland, California) is an American singer, guitarist, keyboard player, arranger, producer, and songwriter. His performance work is principally associated with the bands Chicago and the Sons of Champlin. He has won multiple Grammy Awards for songwriting.
As a child, Champlin demonstrated a talent for piano, and eventually picked up the guitar after being inspired by Elvis Presley. He started a band, The Opposite Six, while at Tamalpais High School, in Mill Valley, California and went on to study music in college, but was encouraged by a professor to drop out of school and pursue music professionally.
The Opposite Six, Champlin's band from high school, changed their name to the Sons of Champlin, and eventually recorded a number of well-reviewed but poorly-selling albums (including Loosen Up Naturally and Circle Filled With Love) by 1977, when the 30 year old Champlin moved to Los Angeles.
In LA he began extensive studio session work. He was especially in demand for his singing, appearing on hundreds of recordings throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) awarded Champlin the Most Valuable Player peer award for male background vocalists in 1980.
Love lost her way again
I stayed at home
another sleepless night
here by a telephone that never seems
to ring a ray to hope
into a man so all alone
I tried to let you go
time after time
I lost my mind
suddenly late last night you finally called
and all my dreams came true today
you're comin' home to stay
Tonight, tonight
you'll be back in my arms
and back in my life
so right, so right
we'll never have to say
goodbye because
Tonight, tonight
the love we used to have
is gonna return
Tonight, tonight
the love that went away
is comin' home to stay
You are my happiness
one kiss can change the past
and cast it all away
nothin' will ever change the way I feel
and I can hardly wait to see you
you're comin' home at last
Tonight, tonight
you'll be back in my arms
and back in my life
so right, so right
we'll never have to say
goodbye because
Tonight, tonight
the love we used to have
is gonna return
Tonight, tonight
the love that went away
is comin' home to stay
You are my love
my everlasting love