Chris Difford

born on 4/11/1954 in Greenwich, England, United Kingdom

Chris Difford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chris Difford

Christopher Henry Difford, born 4 November 1954,[1] is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was a founding member and songwriter of the British group Squeeze.

Musical career

Born in Greenwich, London, Difford has written lyrics for over 30 years, most notably in partnership with Glenn Tilbrook. The two were primary members in Squeeze and Difford & Tilbrook. Some of their best-known songs are Tempted, Pulling Mussels (From the Shell), Black Coffee in Bed, Cool for Cats, Up the Junction and Annie Get Your Gun.

After the breakup of Squeeze in 1983 Difford continued writing songs with Glenn Tilbrook for artists such as Jools Holland,[2] Helen Shapiro, Billy Bremner and Elvis Costello. He has also written lyrics for music by Jools Holland, Elton John,[3] Wet Wet Wet,[4] Marti Pellow and others. He was involved with Tilbrook and John Turner in the creation of a musical, Labeled with Love, which was created using the songs of Squeeze.[5] The 1983 musical performed in Deptford was short-lived. In 1984 the pair released the album Difford and Tilbrook and had a minor hit in the UK with Love's Crashing Waves which reached 57 in the UK charts.[6] In 1985 Squeeze reunited, having hits in the U.S. with Babylon and On, Hourglass and 853-5937. Difford left the group in 1999 launching a solo career in 2003 with his album I Didn't Get Where I Am.[7] Difford was also manager of Bryan Ferry.[8]

In March 2010, Difford curated Songs In The Key Of London, an evening of music dedicated to the capital at the Barbican Centre, London.[9]

Personal life

Difford was raised in Greenwich. He has lived in New York with his first wife and their two children and in Rye, Sussex with the mother of his two youngest children. He lives just outside Brighton, Sussex with his wife, Louise, whom he married in April 2013.[10]

Solo discography

  • I Didn't Get Where I Am, 2003
  • South East Side Story, 2007
  • The Last Temptation of Chris, 2008
  • Cashmere if You Can, 2011, (SMMC Media SMMC1)

References

  1. Discogs.com
  2. Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues - Jools Holland at All Music Guide
  3. Elton John The Duets Collection. www.discogs.com. Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
  4. Wet Wet Wet The Little Picture. www.disogs.com. Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
  5. The Duke. www.thedukedeptford.com. Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
  6. Difford and Tilbrook - UK Charts. www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
  7. Chris Difford. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
  8. Duerden, Nick (20 February 2008). Chris Difford: It's a bit of a Squeeze. The Independent. Retrieved on 20 September 2013.
  9. Green, Thomas H (10 March 2010). Songs in the Key of London at the Barbican, review. Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 19 September 2013.
  10. Magic Summer Live: An interview with Chris Difford.. www.essentialsurrey.co.uk (8 July 2013). Retrieved on 20 September 2013.

External links

  • Chris Difford official website
  • Audio interview with Chris Difford on the Sodajerker On Songwriting podcast
Squeeze
Chris Difford Glenn Tilbrook
Former members: Paul Gunn Harry Kakoulli Jools Holland Gilson Lavis John Bentley Paul Carrack Don Snow Chris Holland Keith Wilkinson Andy Metcalfe Matt Irving Pete Thomas Kevin Wilkinson Ashley Soan Hilaire Penda Chris Braide
Management and Producers: Miles Copeland III John Cale John Wood Roger Bechirian Elvis Costello Dave Edmunds Nick Lowe Phil McDonald Laurie Latham Eric "ET" Thorngren Steve Forward Tony Berg Peter Smith
Discography
EPs: Packet of Three
Studio Albums: U.K. Squeeze Cool for Cats Argybargy East Side Story Sweets from a Stranger Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti Babylon and On Frank Play Some Fantastic Place Ridiculous Domino
Singles: See here
This page was last modified 16.04.2014 10:02:54

This article uses material from the article Chris Difford from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.