Terrence William "Blondie" Chaplin (born 7 July 1951) is a South African singer and guitarist from

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

, where he played in the band

the Flames The Flames was a musical rock group from Durban in South Africa. They performed across London in the late 1960s, where they met Brian Jones, Keith Moon, Keith Richards, Jerry Garcia, Miles Davis and Carl Wilson. They later traveled to Los Ange ...

in the mid to late 1960s. From 1972 to 1973, he was a member of

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by the ...

and contributed to their albums '' Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"'' (1972) and ''

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...

'' (1973). He was a long-term backing vocalist, percussionist, and acoustic rhythm guitarist for

the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...

on their recordings and tours over a 15-year period, starting in 1997. Chaplin has released two solo albums, ''Blondie Chaplin'' (1977) and ''Between Us'' (2008).

Biography

Chaplin grew up in South Africa under

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

where he was classified as Coloured. Both Chaplin and

Ricky Fataar Ricky Fataar (born 5 September 1952) is a South African-English multi-instrumentalist of Cape Malay descent, who has performed as both a drummer and a guitarist. He gained fame as an actor in ''The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash'', a spoof on ...

were members of Durban-based rock band

The Flames The Flames was a musical rock group from Durban in South Africa. They performed across London in the late 1960s, where they met Brian Jones, Keith Moon, Keith Richards, Jerry Garcia, Miles Davis and Carl Wilson. They later traveled to Los Ange ...

, which they joined at ages 13 and 9, respectively. Their 1968 album ''Soulfire'' produced a hit in South Africa: the band's cover of "

For Your Precious Love "For Your Precious Love" is a song written by Arthur Brooks, Richard Brooks and Jerry Butler, and performed by Jerry Butler and The Impressions in 1958. The song was ranked #335 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in ...

" was #1 on white radio for thirteen weeks. Beach Boy Carl Wilson heard The Flames while the band was performing in London. Wilson signed them to the Beach Boys'

Brother Records Brother Records, Inc. (BRI) is an American holding company and record label established in 1966 that owns the intellectual property rights of the Beach Boys, including "The Beach Boys" trademark. It was founded by brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis ...

label and produced their self-titled album, ''The Flame'' (changed from Flames, to avoid confusion with

The Famous Flames The Famous Flames were an American Rhythm and blues, Soul vocal group founded in Toccoa, Georgia, in 1953 by Bobby Byrd. James Brown first began his career as a member of the Famous Flames, emerging as the lead singer by the time of their firs ...

who were backup singers with James Brown), which featured soulful rock/pop songs in the vein of The Beach Boys and

Badfinger Badfinger were a Welsh rock band formed in Swansea, who were active from the 1960s to the 1980s. Their best-known lineup consisted of Pete Ham (vocals, guitar), Mike Gibbins (drums), Tom Evans (bass), and Joey Molland (guitar). They are rec ...

. The Flames were the only band aside from The Beach Boys to record for Brother Records. Chaplin, along with drummer

, joined the Beach Boys when original drummer

Dennis Wilson Dennis Carl Wilson (December 4, 1944 – December 28, 1983) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best remembered as their drummer and as the middle brother of bandmates Brian and Carl Wilson. ...

suffered a hand injury that left him unable to play the drums for almost two years. For the Beach Boys, it was a period in which long-time member

Bruce Johnston Bruce Arthur Johnston (born Benjamin Baldwin; June 27, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who is a member of the Beach Boys. Johnston also collaborated on many records with Terry Melcher (his bandmate in Bru ...

had departed the band, and one-time leader Brian Wilson's participation in the group was very limited. As a result, Chaplin and Fataar joined the Beach Boys as full-fledged members and not merely as backing musicians. Chaplin left the group in 1973 after a dispute with the Beach Boys' management; Fataar left the band the following year. Chaplin sang lead on various Beach Boys songs from two studio albums, '' Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"'' and ''

'', and plays on the live album '' The Beach Boys in Concert.'' "

Sail On, Sailor "Sail On, Sailor" (mislabeled "Sail On Sailor" on original pressings) is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1973 album ''Holland''. It was written primarily by Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson with Ray Kennedy, Tandyn Almer, an ...

" from the album ''

'', on which he is the lead singer, is his "signature song". Following his time with the Beach Boys, Chaplin recorded a self-titled album, released on

Asylum Records Asylum Records is an American record label, founded in 1971 by David Geffen and partner Elliot Roberts. It was taken over by Warner Communications (now the Warner Music Group) in 1972, and later merged with Elektra Records to become Elektra/Asylu ...

in 1977. He also performed on

Rick Danko Richard Clare Danko (December 29, 1943 – December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician, bassist, songwriter, and singer, best known as a founding member of the Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. During ...

's self-titled début album, which also featured each of Rick's former bandmates from The Band in addition to

Ronnie Wood Ronald David Wood (born 1 June 1947) is an English rock musician, best known as an official member of the Rolling Stones since 1975, as well as a member of Faces and the Jeff Beck Group. Wood began his career in 1964, playing guitar with a ...

, Eric Clapton,

Doug Sahm Douglas Wayne Sahm (November 6, 1941 – November 18, 1999) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in San Antonio, Texas. Sahm is regarded as one of the main figures of Tex-Mex music, and as an important per ...

, and Danko's brother,

Terry Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence (given name), Terence or Terrier (masculine). People Male * Terry Albrit ...

. Chaplin went on to tour with the

David Johansen David Roger Johansen (sometimes spelled ''David Jo Hansen''; born January 9, 1950) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal proto-punk band the New York Dolls. He is also known for his work under ...

group and participated in producing Johansen's third solo album ''

Here Comes the Night "Here Comes the Night" is a 1964 song, written by Bert Berns. It became a hit for Northern Irish band Them, fronted by Van Morrison, in March 1965, charting at No. 2 in the UK and No. 24 in the US. Them's single is listed at either No. 33 or No. ...

,'' on which Chaplin played guitar and sang backing vocals and co-authored seven tracks. During the late 1980s Chaplin toured with The Band, replacing some of

Richard Manuel Richard George Manuel (April 3, 1943 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, best known as a pianist and one of three lead singers in The Band, for which he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and ...

's vocals and playing guitar and, occasionally, drums. During the 1980s, Chaplin also toured with a band featuring

and

Paul Butterfield Paul Vaughn Butterfield (December 17, 1942May 4, 1987) was an American blues harmonica player, singer and band leader. After early training as a classical flautist, he developed an interest in blues harmonica. He explored the blues scene in his n ...

, and was guitarist and vocalist, as well as contributing a tune as songwriter, on Butterfield's last studio album, ''The Legendary Paul Butterfield Rides Again,'' released in 1986. Chaplin was also a featured player in former

Byrds The Byrds () were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) remaining the sole cons ...

members Gene Clark and Michael Clarke's then new band, The 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Byrds, also known as the Tribute to the Byrds. Chaplin appeared on the

Jennifer Warnes Jennifer Jean Warnes (born March 3, 1947) is an American singer and songwriter. She has performed as a vocalist on a number of film soundtracks. She has won two Grammy Awards, in 1983 for the Joe Cocker duet "Up Where We Belong" and in 1987 for ...

albums ''

Shot Through the Heart ''Shot Through the Heart'' is a 1998 television film directed by David Attwood, shown on the BBC and HBO in 1998, which covers the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. The film is based on a true story and an article called ''Anti-Sniper' ...

'', '' The Hunter'', and ''The Well''. Chaplin also played on '' High on the Hog'', the ninth studio album by The Band, released in 1996, to which he also contributed his composition, "Where I Should Always Be." Chaplin toured with former Rolling Stones guitarist

Mick Taylor Michael Kevin Taylor (born 17 January 1949) is an English guitarist, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1967–1969) and the Rolling Stones (1969–1974). As a member of the Stones, he appeared on: ''Let It Bleed'' ...

and performed on his live album, ''Stranger in This Town''. Starting in 1997, with the recording and release of the '' Bridges to Babylon'' album and subsequent tour, and, for some 15 years following, Chaplin served as a backing vocalist, percussionist, and, at times, backing guitar player for

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...

, in the recording studio and on the road. The ''Bridges to Babylon'' album lists Chaplin's credits as backing vocals, tambourine, piano, bass guitar, percussion, shakers, and maracas. Chaplin is the vocalist, songwriter, and lead guitar player with Skollie, a band formed with fellow South Africans Keith Lentin on bass and Anton Fig (of the

CBS Orchestra Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band is an American musical ensemble led by Paul Shaffer. It was David Letterman's house band for 33 years. The band formed in 1982 to serve as house band for NBC's ''Late Night with David Letterman'' ...

) on drums. Chaplin has recorded three solo albums, most recently ''Between Us'' in 2006. In late 2013, Chaplin was featured at select shows of former Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson and guitarist Jeff Beck. Chaplin also appears on Wilson's 2015 album ''

No Pier Pressure ''No Pier Pressure'' is the tenth studio album by American musician Brian Wilson, released April 7, 2015 on Capitol Records. Originally planned as a follow-up to the Beach Boys' 2012 reunion album '' That's Why God Made the Radio'', ''No Pier ...

'', on which he is the featured vocalist on the song, "Sail Away", and he then went on tour as a featured performer, along with

Al Jardine Alan Charles Jardine (born September 3, 1942) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best known as the band's rhythm guitarist and for occasionally singing lead vocals on singles such as " Help Me, Rh ...

, for Brian Wilson's 2015 tour, with Rodriguez as the opening act. He joined Wilson's

Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour The ''Pet Sounds'' 50th Anniversary World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American musician Brian Wilson held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beach Boys' album ''Pet Sounds'' (1966). Scheduled for more than 100 dates, it marks Wil ...

in 2016, performing alongside the touring band and has continued to tour with Wilson through 2021. On 29 September 2017, Big Noise's Al Gomes and Connie Watrous presented a plaque from

Roger Williams University Roger Williams University (RWU) is a private university in Bristol, Rhode Island. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams. The school enrolls over 5,000 students and employs over 480 academic st ...

to Chaplin at The Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Chaplin's response to the sold-out audience at the "Brian Wilson Presents Pet Sounds" show: "I played a lot in these parts in 1971, and it's nice to be remembered this way." The plaque commemorates

The Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by the ...

' 22 September 1971 concert at The Ramada Inn in

Portsmouth, Rhode Island Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,871 at the 2020 U.S. census. Portsmouth is the second-oldest municipality in Rhode Island, after Providence; it was one of the four colonies which merged ...

(now RWU's Baypoint Inn & Conference Center).

Discography

Other albums and videos from the Blondie Chaplin catalog: * The Flames – '' That's Enough'', 1967 * * The Flames – '' Burning Soul!'', 1967 * * The Flames – '' Soulfire!!'', 1968 * The Flames – ''The Flame'',

, 1970 * The Beach Boys – '' Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"'', 1972 * The Beach Boys – ''

'', 1973 * The Beach Boys – '' The Beach Boys in Concert'', 1973 *

– ''

Here Comes The Night "Here Comes the Night" is a 1964 song, written by Bert Berns. It became a hit for Northern Irish band Them, fronted by Van Morrison, in March 1965, charting at No. 2 in the UK and No. 24 in the US. Them's single is listed at either No. 33 or No. ...

'', Blue Sky Records, 1981 *

– ''The Legendary Paul Butterfield Rides Again'', Amherst Records, 1986 * Anton Fig – "In The Groove", DVD, 1994 * Blondie Chaplin – ''Fragile Thread'', unreleased (but in circulation), 2001 *

– ''

Cryin' Heart Blues ''Cryin' Heart Blues'' is a seventeen-track 2005 compilation of studio sessions and live recordings by Rick Danko, the late bassist of The Band. The album was taken from a wide variety of sources, dating from the sessions for Danko's eponymous fi ...

'', 2005 * Anton Fig – ''Figments'', 2002 (with Brian Wilson singing backup vocals on "Hand on My Shoulder", one of several songs on the album composed by Chaplin with Fig) * Lou Pallo of Les Paul's Trio – ''Thank You Les / Tribute to Les Paul'', CD & DVD 2012 * Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa – ''

Seesaw A seesaw (also known as a teeter-totter or teeterboard) is a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, most commonly located at the midpoint between both ends; as one end goes up, the other goes down. These are most commonly found a ...

'', 2013 * Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa – ''Live in Amsterdam'', CD & DVD, 2014 * Brian Wilson – ''

'', 2015 Additional performances are on the following recordings: * Bonnie Raitt – '' Nine Lives'' * Ray Ohara – ''Picaresque'', (released 1988 in Japan and on which Blondie was principal songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist on all songs) * a Keith Richards-produced project,

Wingless Angels ''Wingless Angels'' is an album released in 1975 and it is the eighth album by folk musician John Stewart, former member of the Kingston Trio. Track listing All compositions by John Stewart except where noted. Side one # "Hung on the Heart ...

(featuring singers from Jamaica) * ''Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner Project'' * ''Two Faced'' by Freida Parton (Dolly Parton's sister) *

Renée Geyer Renée Rebecca Geyer (born 11 September 1953) is an Australian singer who has long been regarded as one of the finest exponents of jazz, soul and R&B idioms. She had commercial success as a solo artist in Australia, with " It's a Man's Man's ...

– '' So Lucky'' and her self-titled album *

Elliott Murphy Elliott James Murphy (born March 16, 1949) is an American rock singer-songwriter, novelist, record producer and journalist living in Paris. Biography Elliott Murphy was born in Rockville Centre, New York, grew up in Garden City, Long Island ...

– ''Change Will Come'' and ''Paris/New York'' * Paul Shaffer – ''The World’s Most Dangerous Party'' * The Parlor Dogs – ''Social Harem'' * Sir Mack Rice – ''This What I Do'' *

Chris Whitley Christopher Becker Whitley (August 31, 1960 – November 20, 2005) was an American blues/rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. During his 25-year career he released more than a dozen albums, had two songs in the top 50 of the Billboard mains ...

– '' Rocket House'' * Marsha Hansen's ''My Soul Is a Witness'' (a CD accompanying a book with that title) * ''Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute'' album *

Hubert Sumlin Hubert Charles Sumlin (November 16, 1931 – December 4, 2011) was a Chicago blues guitarist and singer, best known for his "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic suspensions" as a member of Howlin ...

– ''About Them Shoes''

References

External links

Blondie Chaplin.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaplin, Blondie 1951 births Living people South African rock musicians The Beach Boys members South African songwriters South African record producers Rock guitarists Rock singers Coloured South African people