Gavin Christopher (May 1, 1949 – March 3, 2016) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician, and producer.
Early life and careeredit
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he started out playing music at a very early age. Having been schooled by the likes of Oscar Brown Jr., Donny Hathaway, Baby Huey and later on Curtis Mayfield, he honed his writing and singing skills and began his career, first in a band called Lyfe (which also included Chaka Khan). Khan then left and joined Rufus (scoring several pop and R&B hits with them). Christopher later joined another band called High Voltage with future Rufus members Bobby Watson (bassist) and Tony Maiden, as well as Lalomie Washburn, who later wrote several Rufus songs. Christopher himself would also become associated with Rufus, as he penned the song "Once You Get Started", which was later recorded by the band and hit #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. He also wrote three songs on Rufus' next album, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan: "Dance Wit Me" (another big hit), "Fool's Paradise," and "Have A Good Time."
Christopher relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he was signed to his first recording contract with Island Records. He later moved back to Chicago to record and work with Curtis Mayfield on the Curtom/RSO record label. He worked with Herbie Hancock, writing and singing on several of his albums. Christopher also penned the Hancock song, "Stars in Your Eyes".
Following a move to New York City, Christopher signed with EMI Manhattan Records and scored his biggest single, "One Step Closer to You" (his only Hot 100 hit as an artist, #22 in 1986) and another major R&B hit two years later with "You Are Who You Love." He also produced music for artists such as Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa and The Ritchie Family, as well as mentored and worked with a young Mariah Carey prior to her getting her big break. He was heavily involved in the early hip-hop scene, writing such hits as "Girls Love the Way He Spins", "Sign of the Time", "We Gonna Rock America" and "All Night All Right".
Heat for the Feets Lee Garrett - Background Vocals
One Step Closer Gavin Christopher - Synthesizer, Keyboards, Background Vocals, producer
Way Ian Martin - Vocals
A partial list of albums Gavin Christopher's songs appear on:
Aquabox – Evolution Will Not Be Televised
Loletta Holloway – "Crash Goes Love" (1987)
Beatstreet – "Breakdance"/vocals (1987)
Average White Band – Feel No Fret
Candy Dulfer – For the Love of You
Kenny Dope – Strange Games and Funky Things, Vol. 3
Grandmaster Flash – They said it couldn't be done
Adventures of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel Shango funk theology
Africa Bambatta
Herbie Hancock – Best of Herbie Hancock: The Hits Herbie Hancock Monster
Chaka Khan – Life Is a Dance (The Remix Project)
Manila Thriller – Please
Brigette McWilliams - Too Much Woman
Rufus – Rufusized
Rufus & Chaka Khan – Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
Rufus & Chaka Khan – Stompin' at the Savoy (Live)
Original Soundtrack Prefontaine
Referencesedit
^""One Step Closer To You" singer Gavin Christopher dies". SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2016.