Brian Charles Chatton (born 19 July 1948 in

Farnworth Farnworth is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, southeast of Bolton, 4.3 miles south-west of Bury (7 km), and northwest of Manchester. Historically in Lancashire, Farnworth lies on the River Ir ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

, England) is an English keyboardist, author and songwriter. He played with bands like the Warriors with singer Jon Anderson and then formed another group named Hickory with drummer and singer Phil Collins, they changed their name for Flaming Youth. Then he joined ex-bassist of

The Nice The Nice were an English progressive rock band active in the late 1960s. They blended rock, jazz and classical music and were keyboardist Keith Emerson's first commercially successful band. The group was formed in 1967 by Emerson, Lee Jack ...

, Lee Jackson, when the latter formed the second lineup of a band called Jackson Heights.

Biography

Early years

Chatton was born in

, England. From 1950 to 1965, the family lived in

Kearsley Kearsley ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. The population at the 2011 census was 14,212. Historically part of Lancashire, it lies northwest of Manchester, southwest of Bury and south of ...

. From 1961, Chatton was in The Three Jets with lead guitarist

Barry Reynolds Barry Reynolds (born 27 October 1949, in Bolton, Lancashire) is a British guitar player, songwriter, composer and producer, best known for his long-lasting collaboration with Marianne Faithfull. Reynolds first emerged with the band Pacific Drift ...

(b. 27 October 1949, Bolton, Lancashire, England) and drummer Johnny Pickup. From November 1965 to 1967, Chatton was in the Warriors, with Jon Anderson on vocals, his brother Tony Anderson on vocals and harmonica, Rod Hill and Mike Brereton on guitars, Dave Foster on bass (later in

Badger Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the family Mustelidae (which also includes the otters, wolverines, martens, minks, polecats, weasels, and ferrets). Badgers are a polyphyletic rather than a natural taxonomic grouping, being united by ...

with ex-Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye) and future King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace. Jon would eventually join Yes. When Chatton and Anderson moved to London, Chatton met Phil Collins and they formed a band to back John Walker of

The Walker Brothers The Walker Brothers were an American pop group of the 1960s and 1970s which included Noel Scott Engel (eventually known professionally as Scott Walker), John Walker (born John Joseph Maus, but using the name Walker since his teens) and Gary Le ...

. Leaving Walker, the pair formed their own band, Hickory, which then evolved into Flaming Youth.

1970s

He played keyboards in Jackson Heights from their second album on. Around 1974, he was in

Snafu SNAFU is an acronym that is widely used to stand for the sarcastic expression Situation normal: all fucked up. It is a well-known example of military acronym slang. It is sometimes bowdlerized to "all fouled up" or similar. It means that the ...

for a short period, alongside

Micky Moody Michael Joseph "Micky" Moody (born 30 August 1950) is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden ...

and Colin Gibson. He appeared on their third album, '' All Funked Up'', released 1975. He was on the first ''

Rock Follies ''Rock Follies'' (together with its sequel, ''Rock Follies of '77'') was a musical drama shown on British television in the 1970s. The storyline followed the ups and downs of a fictional female rock band called the Little Ladies, as they strugg ...

'' album in 1976. He joined a band put together by Chas Chandler (Animals) and backed

Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band the Animals and funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, pow ...

for 8 months, which included dates with both Santana, and Journey at Wembley Stadium. He also wrote the music for Eric's lyrics for a movie featuring Terence Stamp, called "Les Human." He did various sessions in London, playing with Ginger Baker. 3–5-year touring, recording and touring with John Miles band. Toured in America for first time. Roger Glover (Deep Purple) Mike Giles (King Crimson) Jack Green (Marc Bolan/Pretty Things) played on 4 of Jack's albums. Nico McBrain, Pat Travers, Iron Maiden, John Porter, Shep Pettibone (Producer – Pet Shop Boys) In July 1979, Chatton joined Anderson, Allan Holdsworth,

Jack Bruce John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish bassist, singer-songwriter, musician and composer. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and ‍bassist ‍of British rock band Cream. After the group disband ...

and Adrian Tilbrook for a one-off performance in London as The All-Star Rock Band.

1980s

He wrote "Take My Love and Run" for The Hollies, their last Polydor single, released in 1981. He also appeared with The Hollies when they promoted the single on TV. He wrote further material for the band's next album, ''What Goes Around''. He toured with

Meatloaf Meatloaf is a dish of ground meat that has been combined with other ingredients and formed into the shape of a loaf, then baked or smoked. The final shape is either hand-formed on a baking tray, or pan-formed by cooking it in a loaf pan. ...

in 1984. He co-wrote the title track of '' Madness, Money & Music'',

Sheena Easton Sheena Shirley Easton (; born 27 April 1959) is a Scottish singer and actress. Easton came into the public eye in an episode of the first British musical reality television programme '' The Big Time: Pop Singer'', which recorded her attempts to ...

's third album. In the 1980s, he was in Boys Don't Cry, who had a hit single with "

I Wanna Be a Cowboy "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" is a single by British pop- rock group Boys Don't Cry. The song was written by four of the band members—Brian Chatton, Nick Richards, Nico Ramsden and Jeff Seopardi—and was released in July 1985 as the first new singl ...

". They also included their own version of "Take My Love and Run" on certain versions of their first full-length album. They released three albums during the 80s and reformed to release new material in 2014.

Other work

He later collaborated on the ''Uzlot'' project with Jon Anderson. It stood for over 30 years and then material from this was re-worked and included on Anderson's ''1000 Hands'' solo album, which was released in March 2019. He wrote 7 of the 11 songs =, played some keyboards and sang some backing vocals. Guests on 1000 Hands playing Brian's material include: Chick Corea,

Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was inducted into the ''Mode ...

, Jean Luc Ponty,

Steve Howe Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to le ...

, Alan White, Ian Anderson and many more. He has also worked with

BB King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shim ...

, Robin Gibb, Keith Emerson, Alan White,

Brian Auger Brian Albert Gordon Auger (born 18 July 1939) is an English jazz rock and rock music keyboardist who specialises in the Hammond organ. Auger has worked with Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Sonny Boy Williamson, a ...

Albert Lee Albert William Lee (born 21 December 1943) is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked, both in the studio and on tour, with many famous musicians from a wide range of genres. He has also mai ...

. He has also written music for TV and many adverts featured around the world.

Recent years

He now lives in California and self published his autobiography, ''Rolling with Rock Royalty'', in 2020. Promotional work for the book also involves former Yes keyboardist, Tony Kaye.

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

and Emily Chatton are his daughters.

Lists of collaborators

*B.B. King * Phil Collins *Meat Loaf+Neverland Express1985 *

The Hollies The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band ...

* Joe Cocker *

Ginger Baker Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...

* Keith Emerson * Jon Anderson * Tony Kaye * Alan White *

Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes. He was the longest-serving original member, having r ...

* Peter Frampton * Ian Wallace *Steve Holley *Pauli Cerra * Allan Holdsworth * Levon Helm *Laurence Juber *

Tim Bogert John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III (August 27, 1944 – January 13, 2021) was an American musician. He graduated in 1963 from Ridgefield Memorial High School in his hometown of Ridgefield, New Jersey. As a bass guitarist and vocalist he was best ...

*Raymond Gomez *Kevin Eubanks (Tonight Show) *Don Peake *

Carmine Appice Carmine Appice ( , born December 15, 1946) is an American rock drummer. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge; Cactus; the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice; Rod Stewart; King Kobra; and Blue Murder. He is also Vinny Appice's ...

* Steve Lilliwhite *

Mel Collins Melvyn Desmond Collins (born 5 September 1947, Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician. Collins has played in several progressive rock groups, having been a member of King Crimson on two occasions (the first from ...

Ian Paice Ian Anderson Paice (born 29 June 1948) is an English musician, best known as the drummer and last remaining original member of the rock band Deep Purple. He is often cited as one of the greatest drummers of all-time. He remains the only membe ...

Denny Laine Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines, 29 October 1944) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Wings, with whom he played from 1 ...

Cozy Powell Cozy Powell (born Colin Trevor Flooks; 29 December 1947 – 5 April 1998) was an English rock drummer who made his name with major rock bands and artists such as The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Gary Moore, Robert Plant, B ...

* Robin Gibb * Richie Blackmore *

Alvin Lee Alvin Lee (born Graham Anthony Barnes; 19 December 1944 – 6 March 2013) was an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist of the blues rock band Ten Years After. Early life He w ...

*Barry Barlow *Boz Burrell * Mick Ralphs * Chris DeBurgh *Mo Foster * BJ Cole *

Clive Bunker Clive William Bunker (born 30 December 1946) is a British drummer. Bunker is best known as the original drummer of the rock band Jethro Tull, playing in the band from 1967 until 1971. Never a self-professed technical drummer, Bunker engage ...

* Julian Colbeck *Deon Estus (Wham) *Roger Glover (Deep Purple) *Mike Giles (King Crimson) *Jack Green (Marc Bolan/Pretty Things) played on 4 of Jack's albums. *Dave Carlock (TUBES, Pink), *Nico McBrain (Pat Travers, Iron Maiden) *John Porter *Shep Pettibone (Producer – Pet Shop Boys) *Pat Travers (3 albums & live work) *John Miles (Tina Turner, Joe Cocker) *Mike Slamer *Chester Thompson (Genesis) *Andy MacKay (Roxy Music) * Lemmy *

Hans Zimmer Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Oscars and four Grammys, and has been nominated for two Emmys and a Tony. Zimmer was also named on the list of Top 100 Living G ...

*Mike & Tim Franklyn (Bruce Hornsby, Joe Walsh) *Danny Lehrman *Rob Vukelich studio owner / engineer / producer Several solo projects + Uzlot with Jon Anderson *John Altman *James Zota Baker ( War / Edgar Winter / Amanda Haley ) *Irvin Magic Kramer (Ray Charles) *Ted Springman (Tony Kaye) *Scott Moyer (session musician) *Clem Burke (Blondie)

Discography

Solo

*''Playing for Time'' (1981), as Chatton, with Phil Collins among others *''Spellbound'' (1989)Brian Chatton – ''Spellbound''
Discogs.com, Retrieved 18 February 2017. *''Chatton Classic Covers – Chapter One'' (2000) *''Industrial Variety'', library music

The Warriors

- Single : *''You Came Along/Don't Make Me Blue'' (1964) - Albums : *''Bolton Club'' (2003) *''The Lost Demos'' (2020)

Flaming Youth

- Singles : *''Guide Me, Orion/From Now On (Immortal Invisible)'' (1969) *''Man, Woman And Child/Drifting'' (1969) *''From Now On (Immortal Invisible)/Space Child'' (1969) *''Guide me, Orion/Earthglow/Pulsar/From now on ( Immortal Invisible )'' (1969) - Album : *''Ark 2'' (1969)

Jackson Heights

*''The Fifth Avenue Bus'' (1972) *''Ragamuffin's Fool'' (1973) *''Bump 'n' Grind'' (1973)

Snafu

*'' All Funked Up'' (1975; CD reissue 2000)

Rock Follies

*''

'' (1976)

John Miles

*'' More Miles Per Hour'' (1979) *''Sympathy'' (1980) *'' Miles High'' (1981)

Boys Don't Cry

*''Don't Talk to Strangers'' (EP) (1983), before he was an official member *''Boys Don't Cry'' (1986) *''Who the Am Dam Do You Think We Am?'' (1987) *''White Punks on Rap'' (2009), with unreleased songs from 1983 to 1999 *''Hear It Is'' (2014)

Sessions

* Andy Mackay, '' In Search of Eddie Riff'' (1974) *

Alan Hull James Alan Hull (20 February 1945 – 17 November 1995) was an English singer-songwriter and founding member of the Tyneside folk rock band Lindisfarne. Career Hull was born at 68 Sutton's Dwellings, Adelaide Terrace, Benwell, Newcastle upon ...

, ''

Squire In the Middle Ages, a squire was the shield- or armour-bearer of a knight. Use of the term evolved over time. Initially, a squire served as a knight's apprentice. Later, a village leader or a lord of the manor might come to be known as a ...

'' (1975) * Brian Parrish, ''Love on My Mind'' (1976) *

Pat Travers Patrick Henry Travers (born April 12, 1954) is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career in the mid-1970s. Early life Travers was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Soon after picking up the guitar at ag ...

, ''Pat Travers'' (1976) *Vapour Trails, ''Vapour Trails'' (1979) *Jack Green, ''Humanesque'' (1980) *Jack Green, ''Reverse Logic'' (1981) *

, ''What Goes Around'' (1983) * Keith Emerson, ''Best Revenge'' (1986) *

, ''Halfway to Somewhere'' (1995) * Jon Anderson, '' 1000 Hands: Chapter One'' (2019)

References

External links

Official website

''Rolling with Rock Royalty''
Chatton's autobiography {{DEFAULTSORT:Chatton, Brian 1948 births Living people English keyboardists English rock keyboardists English male songwriters English expatriates in the United States People from Farnworth Flaming Youth (band) members