Christopher North (Ambrosia)

Last updated
Christopher North
Northambrosia.jpg
Background information
Born (1951-01-26) January 26, 1951 (age 74)
San Francisco, California
Genres Progressive rock, soft rock, art rock
Instrument(s) Hammond Organ, keyboards
Years active1964–present

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

Contents

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 Crn4ambrosia.png
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]

North and the other members of Ambrosia contributed to the album Tales of Mystery and Imagination by The Alan Parsons Project. [5]

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. [6]

North with Ambrosia Cnorthambrosia.jpg
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. [7]

Discography

North with Ambrosia in 2017 Crn5ambrosia.png
North with Ambrosia in 2017

Albums with Ambrosia

DateTitleLabelChartedCountryCertifications
as part of Ambrosia
1975 Ambrosia 20th Century Fox22US
1976 Somewhere I've Never Travelled 20th Century Fox79US
1978 Life Beyond L.A. Warner Bros.19US
1980 One Eighty Warner Bros.25US RIAA: Gold [8]
1982 Road Island Warner Bros.115US
1997AnthologyWarner Bros.US
2002EssentialsWarner Bros.US
2003How Much I Feel and Other HitsRhino FlashbackUS

Live Albums with Ambrosia

YearAlbum detailsChart peak positions
U.S.
2002Live at The Galaxy
  • Released: May 2002
  • Labels: Coach House
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
2007Standing Room Only
  • Released: 2007
  • Labels: CMG, Sony/BMG
  • Formats: CD

Compilation Albums with Ambrosia

YearAlbum detailsChart peak positions
U.S.
1997 Anthology
  • Released: May 1997
  • Labels: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
2002The Essentials
  • Released: June 2002
  • Labels: Rhino/Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, cassette, digital
2003How Much I Feel and Other Hits
  • Released: April 2003
  • Labels: Collectables
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download

Singles with Ambrosia

YearTitleChart positions [9] CertificationsAlbum
US US
AC
AU CAN
1975"Holdin' on to Yesterday"174637Ambrosia
"Nice, Nice, Very Nice"63
1976"Magical Mystery Tour"39 All This and World War II
"Can't Let a Woman"102Somewhere I've Never Travelled
"Runnin' Away"
1978"How Much I Feel"311302
  • RIAA: Gold [8]
Life Beyond L.A.
"Life Beyond L.A."
"If Heaven Could Find Me"107
1980"Biggest Part of Me"3318
  • RIAA: Gold [8]
One Eighty
"You're the Only Woman (You & I)"13515
  • RIAA: Gold [8]
"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"26Anthology
2004"Biggest Part of Me" (Remix)31Non-album single

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. the Trades article Interview: Alan Parsons: The Artist and Scientist of Sound Recording
  6. Mostly Pink
  7. "HammondWiki - All Time Hammond Pop Hits".
  8. 1 2 3 4 "American certifications – Ambrosia". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  9. "US single chart positions". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-05-11.