Christopher Blenkinsop
Encyclopedia
Christopher Blenkinsop (born 7 March 1963) is an English-German writer, composer, musician and producer, and a member of the band 17 Hippies
.
(Philippines
) to an English mother and German father, Blenkinsop led a nomadic existence throughout his childhood living in Cairo
, Teheran, Singapore
, Jakarta
, before his family finally settled in then West Germany
in the late 1970s, where he finished high school.
As a member a musical family the young Blenkinsop was given classical music training from a young age. However, when his mother died when he was 14, he "stopped all classical music ... let [his] grow long and started playing bass in rock bands." Nevertheless, his strong musical foundation meant that he found he was able to play other instruments with ease and so became a popular stand in musician for bands,
He is a composer for theatre and film music, and co founder and musical head of the Berlin based band 17 Hippies. Blenkinsop currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
He is a grandnephew of Arthur Blenkinsop
.
17 Hippies
17 Hippies is a band from Berlin, Germany, playing largely on acoustic instruments. Their music is a confection of various folk influences. They are most popular in their native Germany and France.-History:...
.
Biography
Born in ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
(Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
) to an English mother and German father, Blenkinsop led a nomadic existence throughout his childhood living in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Teheran, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, before his family finally settled in then West Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the late 1970s, where he finished high school.
As a member a musical family the young Blenkinsop was given classical music training from a young age. However, when his mother died when he was 14, he "stopped all classical music ... let [his] grow long and started playing bass in rock bands." Nevertheless, his strong musical foundation meant that he found he was able to play other instruments with ease and so became a popular stand in musician for bands,
"People would often say, 'You sit in with this band and play whatever is needed'. I played clarinet in one band, accordion in another. I played in a pick-up band for US artists touring in Europe - we did acoustic or electric set-ups where I played guitar, or bass or piano."
He is a composer for theatre and film music, and co founder and musical head of the Berlin based band 17 Hippies. Blenkinsop currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
He is a grandnephew of Arthur Blenkinsop
Arthur Blenkinsop
Arthur Blenkinsop was a British Labour Party politician.Blenkinsop was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle and the College of Commerce, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and became a chartered secretary....
.