Chris White (musician)
Encyclopedia
Chris White was the bass guitar
ist and songwriter
with the 60s British Invasion
band The Zombies
.
Although born in Barnet
, Hertfordshire
, he was brought up in Markyate
where his parents owned a village shop. He replaced the band's initial bassist, Paul Arnold.
White was one of the band's two main songwriter
s, alongside Rod Argent
, and penned two tracks on their USA debut LP, The Zombies
released in January 1965. On the UK debut release, Begin Here
, he had four tracks, one co-written with Argent. For the Zombies' performances in the 1965 film Bunny Lake Is Missing
White wrote "Nothing's Changed" and "Remember You". He also wrote seven of the twelve songs on the group's final album and generally acknowledged masterpiece, Odessey and Oracle
, with Argent contributing the remainder.
White, though not the band's main vocalist, contributed lead vocals to "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)" and sang a verse of "Brief Candles".
His song "I Love You
", originally recorded by The Zombies in 1965, was a hit for the band People!
in 1968.
Following the demise of The Zombies, White contributed songwriting and production work to Colin Blunstone
's solo career and Rod Argent's new band, Argent
. In a later role as a record company A&R man, he was instrumental in discovering the band Dire Straits
. In 2007, as part of the group White Circle, he co-wrote, co-produced and performed on the album The Key. Key members of White Circle are Chris White, Matthew White, Vivienne Boucherat, and Bianca Kinane.
Also in 2007/2008, White co-produced and played on the album Featherhead for his youngest son, the London based singer/songwriter JJ White.
In March 2008, White began a series of live performances with the other three surviving members of The Zombies, including the first complete performances of the album Odessey and Oracle, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of its release.
White currently resides in London.
). Later he was member of the The Surfonics
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
with the 60s British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
band The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
.
Although born in Barnet
Barnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, he was brought up in Markyate
Markyate
Markyate is a village and civil parish in north-west Hertfordshire close to the border with Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.-Geography:Having a number of former names, including Markyate Street and Mergyate, it has been a part of all three counties since it was first founded as the county...
where his parents owned a village shop. He replaced the band's initial bassist, Paul Arnold.
White was one of the band's two main songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s, alongside Rod Argent
Rod Argent
Rod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
, and penned two tracks on their USA debut LP, The Zombies
The Zombies (album)
-Personnel:*Rod Argent - keyboards, vocals*Colin Blunstone - guitar, vocals*Paul Atkinson - guitar*Chris White - bass*Hugh Grundy - drums...
released in January 1965. On the UK debut release, Begin Here
Begin Here
Begin Here is the debut album by the British pop rock band The Zombies, released in March 1965. The American version repeated many of the tracks from it, but, as was common in those days, deleted some cuts and substituted some others.The 1999 CD reissue on Big Beat expands the track lineup...
, he had four tracks, one co-written with Argent. For the Zombies' performances in the 1965 film Bunny Lake Is Missing
Bunny Lake Is Missing
Bunny Lake Is Missing is a 1965 British psychological thriller film directed and produced by Otto Preminger, who filmed it in black and white widescreen format in London. It was based on the novel of the same name by Merriam Modell. The score is by Paul Glass and the opening theme is often heard as...
White wrote "Nothing's Changed" and "Remember You". He also wrote seven of the twelve songs on the group's final album and generally acknowledged masterpiece, Odessey and Oracle
Odessey and Oracle
Odessey and Oracle is the third studio album by British pop rock band The Zombies, released on 19 April 1968 by Date Records. It is among the most critically acclaimed albums of popular music.-Album information:...
, with Argent contributing the remainder.
White, though not the band's main vocalist, contributed lead vocals to "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)" and sang a verse of "Brief Candles".
His song "I Love You
I Love You (The Zombies song)
-People! :The cover version by People!, released in February 1968 was a #14 hit in the USA and went to #1 in Japan...
", originally recorded by The Zombies in 1965, was a hit for the band People!
People!
People! was a one-hit wonder rock band that was formed in San Jose, California in 1965. They started out playing "Top 40" music like most artists but ended up releasing three albums of mostly original material. Their greatest chart success came with their summer hit single "I Love You", a song...
in 1968.
Following the demise of The Zombies, White contributed songwriting and production work to Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone is an English pop singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group The Zombies, and for his participation on various albums with The Alan Parsons Project.-Biography:...
's solo career and Rod Argent's new band, Argent
Argent (band)
Argent are an English rock band founded in 1969 by keyboardist Rod Argent, formerly of The Zombies.-Career:The first three demos from Argent, recorded in the autumn of 1968 featured Mac MacLeod on bass guitar though he was not meant to become a member of the group.Original members of the band were...
. In a later role as a record company A&R man, he was instrumental in discovering the band Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
. In 2007, as part of the group White Circle, he co-wrote, co-produced and performed on the album The Key. Key members of White Circle are Chris White, Matthew White, Vivienne Boucherat, and Bianca Kinane.
Also in 2007/2008, White co-produced and played on the album Featherhead for his youngest son, the London based singer/songwriter JJ White.
In March 2008, White began a series of live performances with the other three surviving members of The Zombies, including the first complete performances of the album Odessey and Oracle, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of its release.
White currently resides in London.
Not to be confused with..
He is not the singer and songwriter Chris White who had a top 40 UK hit in 1976 with the song "Spanish Wine" and released the album Mouth Music (1976, Charisma RecordsCharisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
). Later he was member of the The Surfonics
External links
- http://www.whitecirclemusic.co.uk/ White Circle