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Gavin Christopher
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Gavin Christopher
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Gavin Christopher (May 1, 1949 – March 3, 2016) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician, and producer.

Early life and career

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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 signed his first recording contract with Island Records. He would later moved back to Los Angeles, California 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".

Gavin's sister is dance music vocalist Shawn Christopher.

Gavin Christopher died on March 3, 2016, in Chicago of esophagus failure at the age of 66. He is survived by his daughter Chloe Zae Jackson.[1]

Solo discography

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Albums

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Singles

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  • 1976: "Good Stuff"
  • 1976: "Love Has a Face of Its Own"
  • 1979: "Feelin' the Love" (U.S. R&B #77)[2]
  • 1985: "Best Part of the Night" (Jeff Lorber feat. Gavin Christopher)
  • 1986: "One Step Closer to You" (U.S. #22, U.S. R&B #25, U.S. Dance #9, U.K. #99)
  • 1986: "Back in Your Arms"
  • 1988: "You Are Who You Love" (U.S. R&B #10)[2]
  • 1988: "Can't Put Out the Fire"

Miscellaneous appearances

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The following is a partial listing of recordings Christopher appears on and produced

  • 1979: Gavin Christopher Gavin Christopher - Percussion, Piano, Conga, Vocals, Clavinet, Producer
  • 1979: Gonna Getcha Love Charles Jackson - producer' Keyboards, Vocals
  • 1980: Monster Herbie Hancock - Vocals
  • 1981: Magic Windows Herbie Hancock - Vocals, Bass Arrangement
  • 1982: Paradise Leroy Hutson - Background Vocals
  • 1985: They Said It Couldn't Be Done Grandmaster Flash - producer, Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, Keyboards, Programming, producer, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Mixing, Synthesizer Bass, Simmons Drums, System Programming
  • 1986: Beware (The Funk Is Everywhere) Afrika Bambaataa - Producer
  • 1987: Gavin Gavin Christopher Mic MurphyDavid Frank - Keyboards, Vocals producers
  • 1990: Brilliant! Kym Mazelle - Vocal Arrangement
  • 1992: "Don't Lose the Magic" (Shawn Christopher) - producer, songwriter
  • 1993: Club Classics 1982–1984, Vol. 1 Various Artists - producer, Arranger, producer, Mixing
  • 1993: Soul Mission Soul Mission - Vocals
  • 1995: Best Disco in Town: The Best of the Ritchie Family The Ritchie Family - Producer
  • 1996: Adventures of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & the Furi Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five/Mel - Producer
  • 1997: Too Much Woman Brigette McWilliams - Background Vocals
  • 1997: Whatever Happened to the Blues Phil Upchurch - Vocals
  • 2000: Best of Herbie Hancock: The Hits Herbie Hancock - Arranger, Vocals
  • 2001: Breakin' Arthur Baker - Piano, Vocals
  • 2001: Mr. Funk Herbie Hancock - Chant
  • 2002 Bullet Proof Bruce Conte - Vocals
  • 2002: Evolution Will Not Be Televised Aquabox - Vocals, Background Vocals, Produce
  • 2002: Herbie Hancock Box Herbie Hancock - Vocals
  • 2004: D'Soca Zone 5th Spin Various Artists - Producer
  • 2006: Chicago LP Chicago's Finest - Background Vocals producer
  • 2006: Definitive Groove Collection Grandmaster Flash Producer, Original Recording - Producer
  • 2006: Everyday People Project Steve Harvey - Background Vocals
  • 2006: Fresh and Furious: Hip Hop's Beginning Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, Keyboards, Programming, Tom-Toms, Gavin Christopher Producer, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Mixing]
  • 2007: Daily News [Circuit City Exclusive] Donnie - Background Vocals
  • 2007: Daily News Donnie - Background Vocals [Gavin Christopher [Island] Gavin Christopher ] Guitar, Piano, Conga, Keyboards, Vocals, Background Vocals, Clavinet, producer
  • Heat for the Feets Lee Garrett - Background Vocals
  • One Step Closer Gavin Christopher - Synthesizer, Keyboards, Background Vocals, producer
  • Way Ian Martin - Vocals
  • 2008: Cleveland brown.


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

References

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Gavin Christopher

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Gavin Christopher (May 1, 1949 – March 3, 2016) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician, and producer known for his 1986 hit "One Step Closer to You," which achieved success across pop, R&B, and dance charts, as well as his extensive collaborations and songwriting in the funk, soul, and hip-hop genres. He also earned recognition for his follow-up Top 20 single "You Are Who You Love" in 1988 and his vocal and writing contributions to albums by Herbie Hancock, including the notable track "Stars in Your Eyes." Born and raised in Chicago into a musical family, Christopher began performing early in his career alongside artists such as Oscar Brown Jr., Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield. He was a member of the group Lyfe, where he worked with Chaka Khan, and later joined High Voltage alongside future Rufus members. After relocating to Los Angeles, he signed with Island Records and released his debut solo album in 1976, followed by further releases in the late 1970s and 1980s, including his signature album One Step Closer on EMI Manhattan Records. Christopher's career extended into production work in hip-hop, collaborating with artists such as Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa, and he continued contributing vocals to tracks into the 2010s. He passed away on March 3, 2016, at the age of 66 due to congestive heart failure, leaving a legacy spanning over four decades in music.

Early life

Childhood and early influences

Gavin Christopher was born Gavin Christopher Wright on May 1, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the city's vibrant Black music scene, beginning to play music at an early age amid the rich traditions of soul, jazz, and R&B that defined Chicago's South and West Sides. As a teenager, Christopher was mentored by Oscar Brown Jr., joining his revue in 1966, an experience that expanded his horizons beyond the local West Side dance scene and exposed him to new cultural influences through performances at North Side venues like the Happy Medium. This early association with Brown, along with influences from Donny Hathaway, Baby Huey, and later Curtis Mayfield, shaped his development as a singer and songwriter within Chicago's dynamic musical community.

Initial bands and professional start

Christopher's professional music career began in Chicago with the band Lyfe, where he first met and performed alongside Chaka Khan. The group performed on the local club circuit, providing Christopher with early experience in the R&B and funk scene. After Khan left Lyfe to join Rufus, Christopher became a member of High Voltage, a group that also included Bobby Watson, Tony Maiden, and Lalomie Washburn, musicians who later joined Rufus. This period marked his initial entry into professional bands and established key connections in the Chicago music community that influenced his subsequent opportunities.

Music career

Collaborations with Rufus and Chaka Khan

Gavin Christopher had a significant songwriting association with Rufus featuring Chaka Khan during the mid-1970s, contributing key tracks to their albums Rufusized and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. He wrote the single "Once You Get Started" for Rufusized (1974), a horn-driven funk track that became one of the band's major hits. For the 1975 album Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, he wrote three tracks: "Fool's Paradise", "Have a Good Time", and "Dance Wit Me", with "Dance Wit Me" released as a single and becoming a notable release for the group. These contributions reflected his close association with the band during Chaka Khan's tenure as lead singer.

Solo recording career

Gavin Christopher embarked on his solo recording career with the release of his self-titled debut album on Island Records in 1976. The album included the single "Good Stuff." He followed with another self-titled album in 1979 on RSO/Polydor, which featured the single "Feelin' the Love," peaking at number 77 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. After a hiatus from solo releases, Christopher signed with EMI Manhattan Records and achieved his greatest commercial success with the 1986 album One Step Closer. The lead single "One Step Closer to You" became a significant hit, reaching number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number 9 on the Dance Club Songs chart, and number 99 in the UK Singles Chart. Christopher continued with the 1988 album Gavin, also on EMI Manhattan, which included the R&B single "You Are Who You Love," peaking at number 10 on the Billboard R&B chart. Additional singles from this period were "Back in Your Arms" in 1986 and "Can't Put Out the Fire" in 1988.

Production, songwriting, and other collaborations

Gavin Christopher enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter, producer, and session vocalist, contributing to a diverse range of projects spanning jazz, R&B, funk, and early hip-hop. One of his most notable collaborations was with jazz musician Herbie Hancock, where Christopher co-wrote and performed lead vocals on the track "Stars in Your Eyes" from the album Magic Windows (1981). Christopher was also active in the developing hip-hop scene during the 1980s, where he produced and wrote for pioneering acts. He worked on projects with Grandmaster Flash, including production and writing contributions to the track "Girls Love the Way He Spins." He similarly produced for Afrika Bambaataa and provided production work for The Ritchie Family. He collaborated with a young Mariah Carey in the late 1980s, writing songs with her during the formative stages of her career prior to her signing with Columbia Records. Within his family, Christopher produced and co-wrote "Don't Lose the Magic" for his sister Shawn Christopher, which appeared on her 1992 album Same Time, Same Place. Among his other songwriting credits, he co-wrote "Best Part of the Night" for Jeff Lorber, featured on Lorber's 1985 album Step by Step.

Film and television contributions

Soundtrack placements and music licensing

Gavin Christopher's compositions and performances have been licensed for use in film and video game soundtracks. His song "I've Got The Hots," which he wrote, was featured in the 1985 action film Sudden Death. His music is also credited on the soundtracks of the 2016 psychological thriller Split and the 2011 first-person shooter video game Bulletstorm. These placements reflect the ongoing licensing of his work in visual media, primarily through existing songs rather than original scores composed specifically for those projects. Christopher additionally served as composer for the music videos Chaka Khan: Life Is a Dance (1979) and his own One Step Closer to You (1986).

Music videos and television appearances

Gavin Christopher appeared in music videos and on television shows primarily to promote his solo music career in the mid-1980s. He starred in the official music video for his hit single "One Step Closer to You" (1986), where he performed the song as the lead artist. The video was directed by Rocky Schenck and served as a visual accompaniment to the track from his self-titled album. On television, Christopher was a guest performer on the music variety program Soul Train in a 1986 episode that aired on September 20, sharing the spotlight with Midnight Star. He also made appearances on American Bandstand, performing his material in two episodes spanning 1986 to 1988. In one 1986 episode, he performed "One Step Closer to You" and "Back in Your Arms," while in a 1988 episode, he sang "You Are Who You Love." These television spots highlighted his vocal performances and contributed to the visibility of his R&B/pop crossover hits during that period.

Personal life

Family

Gavin Christopher was the brother of singer Shawn Christopher. His sister contributed backing vocals to his 1979 self-titled album and he co-wrote her 1992 song "Don't Lose the Magic." He occasionally collaborated with his sister on musical projects.

Death

Gavin Christopher died on March 4, 2016, at the age of 66 due to congestive heart failure. He had been ill with the condition for several years prior to his passing.
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