Christopher Robert "Chris" Stainton (born 22 March 1944) is an English

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

, keyboard player, bassist and songwriter, who first gained recognition with

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of son ...

in the late 1960s. In addition to his collaboration with Cocker, Stainton is best known for his work with

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

Andy Fairweather Low Andrew Fairweather Low (born 2 August 1948) is a Welsh guitarist and singer. He was a founding member and lead singer of 1960s pop band Amen Corner (band), Amen Corner, and in recent years has toured extensively with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton ...

and

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...

Career

Stainton was born in

Woodseats Woodseats is a district of Sheffield, South Yorkshire in the Graves Park ward. Historically, Norton Woodseats () was a village that straddled Derbyshire Lane running from Four Lane Ends to Bolehill (now part of Graves Park), originally in De ...

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...

, England. After passing his eleven-plus examination, Stainton attended Rowlinson Technical School, Norton, Sheffield. Stainton's musical career began in 1960, when he played bass guitar with a local Sheffield band, 'Johnny Tempest and the Mariners'. The Mariners became 'The Cadillacs', before Stainton joined Joe Cocker in

The Grease Band The Grease Band was a British rock band that originally formed as Joe Cocker's backing group. They appeared with Cocker during the 1960s, including his performance at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969. The band's name derived from an inte ...

during 1966. Stainton co-wrote "Marjorine", Cocker's first

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

in 1968. Chris played bass guitar on Joe Cocker's subsequent number 1 hit

With a Little Help from My Friends "With a Little Help from My Friends" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, from their 1967 album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. It was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and sung by drummer Ringo Starr (as Sgt. Pe ...

. His time as a Cocker backing musician came to a zenith on the '' Mad Dogs & Englishmen''

tour Tour or Tours may refer to: Travel * Tourism, travel for pleasure * Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service * Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus * Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...

, in the United States and Canada in 1970. His initial involvement with Cocker lasted until the end of 1972. Throughout that decade Chris Stainton appeared with musicians such as

Spooky Tooth Spooky Tooth were an English rock band originally formed in Carlisle in 1967. Principally active between 1967 and 1974, the band re-formed several times in later years. History Prior to Spooky Tooth, four of the band's five founding members h ...

(1970), The Chris Stainton Band (1972–73), Tundra (1974),

Bryn Haworth Bryn Haworth (born 29 July 1948) is a British Christian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer of Jesus music in mainstream rock. Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s ...

Band (1976–77),

Boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: * Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing *Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

(1977),

Maddy Prior Madelaine Edith Prior MBE (born 14 August 1947) is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span. She was born in Blackpool and moved to St Albans in her teens. Her father, Allan Prior, was co-creator of the police dr ...

Band (1978), Rocks (1978) and

Elkie Brooks Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder; 25 February 1946) is an English rock, blues and jazz singer. She was a vocalist with the bands Dada and Vinegar Joe, and later became a solo artist. She gained her biggest success in the late 1970s and 1980 ...

(1978). By 1979 he teamed up with

for the first time, beginning an intermittent working relationship that has lasted to the present time. He joined Clapton on

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served as the bassist, but following the departure of singer-so ...

's ''

The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking ''The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking'' is the debut solo studio album by English singer and musician Roger Waters; it was released in 1984, the year before Waters announced his departure from Pink Floyd. The album was certified gold in the Un ...

''tour during 1984, and also toured again with Joe Cocker on and off from 1988 until 2000. In 1985 Stainton and Clapton both appeared in the

George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian c ...

-produced film ''

Water Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...

'' in a mock 'charity concert' – the Concert for Cascara. In November 2002, Chris appeared at the

Concert for George The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organised by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and his son, Dhani, and arrang ...

, and has more recently appeared as one of

Bill Wyman William George Wyman (né Perks; born 24 October 1936) is an English musician who achieved international fame as the bassist for the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1993. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member ...

's Rhythm Kings. Stainton has been a member of the Eric Clapton band virtually full-time since 2002, touring worldwide almost every year until the present time. He toured with Clapton on his 2008 North American and European tour, which included a three-night collaboration with

Steve Winwood Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born 12 May 1948) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter whose genres include blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock, and pop rock. Though primarily a keyboard player and vocalist prominent for his disti ...

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

in February 2008, and toured with Winwood and Clapton in 2009 and 2010. In July 2012, Stainton was announced as a keyboardist for The Who's 2012–2013 Quadrophenia & More Tour (he played piano on three songs on the original ''

Quadrophenia ''Quadrophenia'' is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released as a double album on 26 October 1973 by Track Records. It is the group's third rock opera, the two previous being the "mini-opera" song "A Quick One, Whil ...

'' album, "The Dirty Jobs", " 5:15", and "Drowned"). He performed with the band at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. However, he subsequently withdrew prior to the start of the tour, to join Clapton on his tour of the US and Europe, that ultimately ended at O2 Arena Prague on 19 June 2013. Stainton toured with Clapton in Japan, the Middle East and Europe in 2014. On 11 September 2015, he was honoured and performed with the

Tedeschi Trucks Band The Tedeschi Trucks Band () is an American blues and blues rock group based in Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 2010, the band is led by married couple Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. Their debut album, '' Revelator'' (2011), won the 2012 Gramm ...

in a tribute/reunion concert for

, at the Lockn' Festival in Arrington, Virginia. The concert honoured Joe and the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour. Alumni included from the 1970 Tour included

Leon Russell Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock and ...

Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on '' Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and t ...

Claudia Lennear Claudia Lennear (born Claudia Joy Offley; 1946) is an American soul singer and educator. Lennear began her performing with the Superbs before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She was also a background vocalist for various acts ...

, Bobby Jones, Pamela Polland, Matthew Moore, Daniel Moore, Chuck Blackwell and Bobby Torres and original Tour photographer

Linda Wolf Linda Ann Wolf (born March 17, 1950) is an American photographer and author. She is one of the first female rock and roll photographers. Wolf also makes fine art photography with an emphasis on women and global photojournalism. Early life Wolf ...

. Wolf's iconic photographs from the 1970 Tour introduced the concert to the audience. A documentary movie of the reunion and concert to be released in 2016, directed by Jojo Pennebaker, son of

D. A. Pennebaker Donn Alan Pennebaker (; July 15, 1925 – August 1, 2019) was an American documentary filmmaker and one of the pioneers of direct cinema. Performing arts and politics were his primary subjects. In 2013, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sci ...

and Jesse Lauter. Chris Stainton played on

's 2016 album ''

I Still Do ''I Still Do'' is the twentieth studio album by English musician Eric Clapton, and was released through the independent Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records label. The album is a combination of new material written by Clapton and classic songs, ...

'' and subsequently joined Clapton for a brief tour of Japan in April 2016. As of June 2022, he is currently on tour with Eric Clapton.

Discography

**''The Last Puff'' (1970, Island) **''The Best of Spooky Tooth'' (1970, Island) (

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

) *

**''

'' (1970, Shelter) **''

Leon Russell and The Shelter People ''Leon Russell and the Shelter People'' is the second solo album by the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leon Russell. Released in 1971, it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 200 in the United States. The album has gold certificat ...

'' (1971, Shelter) *

Don Nix Don Nix (born September 27, 1941, Memphis, Tennessee, United States) is an American songwriter, composer, arranger, musician, and author. Although cited as being "one of the more obscure figures in Southern soul and rock", he is a key figure in ...

**''Living By the Days'' (1971, Elektra) *

**''

'' (1969, A&M) **''

Joe Cocker! ''Joe Cocker!'' is the second studio album by English singer Joe Cocker, released in November 1969. Following the template of his first LP, the album features numerous covers of songs originally performed by Bob Dylan ("Dear Landlord"), the B ...

'' (1969, A&M) **'' Mad Dogs and Englishmen'' (1970, A&M) **''

'' (1972, A&M) **''One Night of Sin'' (1989) **''Night Calls'' (1991, Capitol) **'' Have a Little Faith'' (1994, Capitol) **''Long Voyage Home'' (1995) **''Across from Midnight'' (1997, Capitol) **''Organic'' (1996) *

**''

'' (1973, Track) (2-LP) **''

Tommy Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...

'' (Polydor, 1975) (2-LP) *

**'' Sunny Side of the Street'' (1974, Island) **'' Keep the Ball Rolling'' (1979, A&M) *

Jim Capaldi Nicola James Capaldi (2 August 1944 – 28 January 2005) was an English singer-songwriter and drummer. His musical career spanned more than four decades. He co-founded the progressive rock band Traffic in 1967 with Steve Winwood with whom he co ...

**''

Whale Meat Again ''Whale Meat Again'' is the second studio album by the British musician Jim Capaldi, released by Island Records in 1974. Like his first solo album, it failed commercially in his native United Kingdom but did better in the United States. With help ...

'' (1974, Island) *

**''Amazing Grease'' (1975, Goodear) * Ian Hunter **''All-American Alien Boy'' (1976, CBS) **''Once Bitten Twice Shy'' (2000) *

**''Changing Winds'' (1978, Chrysalis) **''Memento: the Best of Maddy Prior'' (1995) * Stephen Bishop **''Red Cab to Manhattan'' (1980, Warner) *

**'' Just One Night'' (1980) **'' Another Ticket'' **''

Money and Cigarettes ''Money and Cigarettes'' is the eighth solo studio album by Eric Clapton, recorded after his first rehabilitation from alcoholism. Produced by Clapton and Tom Dowd with, apart from Albert Lee, a new backing band of veteran session musicians inc ...

'' **'' Behind the Sun'' **''

From The Cradle ''From the Cradle'' is the twelfth solo studio album by Eric Clapton released on 13 September 1994 by Warner Bros. Records. A blues cover album and Clapton's follow-up to his successful 1992 live album, ''Unplugged,'' it is his only UK numbe ...

'' **''

Pilgrim A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on Pilgrimage, a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the a ...

'' **'' Back Home'' **'' Live in Hyde Park'' (1997) **''

Sessions for Robert J ''Me and Mr. Johnson'' is the fifteenth solo studio album recorded by Eric Clapton. It consists of covers of songs written and originally recorded by Robert Johnson. Released in March 2004 by Reprise Records, with the cover painted by Sir Pe ...

'' (2004) **''

Old Sock ''Old Sock'' is the nineteenth solo studio album by Eric Clapton. It includes the two new compositions "Gotta Get Over" and " Every Little Thing", as well as covers. Several notable musicians were involved in the album, including Steve Winwo ...

'' (2013) **''

'' (2016) **'' Live in San Diego'' *

Marianne Faithfull Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (born 29 December 1946) is an English singer and actress. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single " As Tears Go By" and became one of the lead female artists during the British I ...

**''

Dangerous Acquaintances ''Dangerous Acquaintances'' is the eighth studio album by English singer Marianne Faithfull. It was released on 1 September 1981 by Island Records. The album was seen by reviewers as a disappointing follow-up to Faithfull's '' Broken English'', ...

'' (1981, Island) **''A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology'' (1998) *

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 ...

Band **''RX5'' (1981, Avatar) *

Gary Brooker Gary Brooker (29 May 1945 – 19 February 2022) was an English singer and pianist, and the founder and lead singer of the rock band Procol Harum. Early life Born in Hackney Hospital, East London, on 29 May 1945, Brooker grew up in Hackney ...

**''Lead Me to the Water'' (1982, Mercury) *

Pete Townshend Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. Townsh ...

**'' All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes'' (1982, Atlantic) *

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

**''

Old Wave ''Old Wave'' is the ninth studio album by English rock musician Ringo Starr. It was originally released in June 1983, on the label Bellaphon, and is the two-year follow-up to his 1981 album '' Stop and Smell the Roses''. The title is a play on ...

'' (1983) **'' Starr Struck: Best of Ringo Starr, Vol. 2'' (1989) *

Simon Townshend Simon Townshend (; born 10 October 1960) is a British guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is the younger brother of the Who's guitarist Pete Townshend, and is most associated with The Who and the various side projects of its original members ...

(the younger brother of

) **'' Sweet Sound'' (1983 and 1984, Polydor) *

**''Taxi'' (1993) * B. B. King **''

Deuces Wild ''Deuces Wild'' is a 2002 American crime drama film directed by Scott Kalvert and written by Paul Kimatian and Christopher Gambale, who also created the story. The film stars Stephen Dorff, Brad Renfro, James Franco, Matt Dillon, and Fairuza Ba ...

'' (1997, MCA) **''Here and There: the Uncollected B. B. King'' (2001) *

Eros Ramazzotti Eros Walter Luciano Ramazzotti (; born 28 October 1963) is an Italian pop singer, musician and songwriter. He is popular in Italy and most European countries, and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, as he has released most of his albums in bo ...

**''Eros Live'' (1998) *

The Alarm The Alarm are a Welsh rock band that formed in Rhyl, Wales, in 1981. Initially formed as a punk band, the Toilets, in 1977, under lead vocalist Mike Peters, the band soon embraced arena rock and included marked influences from Welsh languag ...

**''Best of the Alarm & Mike Peters'' (1998) **''Eye of the Hurricane'' (expanded) (2002) * Jimmy Smith **''Dot Com Blues'' (2001) *

David Gilmour David Jon Gilmour ( ; born 6 March 1946) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and member of the rock band Pink Floyd. He joined as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1967, shortly before the departure of founding member Syd Barrett. P ...

**''

On an Island ''On an Island'' is the third solo studio album by Pink Floyd member David Gilmour. It was released in the UK on 6 March 2006, Gilmour's 60th birthday, and in the US the following day. It was his first solo album in 22 years since '' Abou ...

'' (2006) *''

'' **''The Very Best of Andy Fairweather Low (2008)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stainton, Chris 1944 births Living people English pianists English keyboardists English songwriters English session musicians Musicians from Sheffield Spooky Tooth members 21st-century pianists The Grease Band members

Career

Discography

See also

References

External links