Since the early 1980s Chris Eaton has been building a profile as one of Britain's classic songwriters. His unique brand of 'white soul' song writing has made him a favourite of the world's pop aristocracy. SIR CLIFF RICHARD has led the pack, recording more than a dozen of Chris' songs since 1981, and taking 'Saviour's Day' to No. 1 in the UK singles chart over Christmas 1990. 'Saviour's Day' has now become a Christmas 'standard' and has been recorded by a growing number of artists.
In 2003 Chris has various songs on Cliff's Christmas 'Greatest Hits' which went to # 9 in the UK charts, including Cliff's # 5 Christmas single "Santa's List". Continuing this 20-year association, Chris co-wrote 4 songs for the Sir Cliff Nashville album, "Something's Goin' On", released in 2004.
Chris has also enjoyed a special working relationship with AMY GRANT - since she first recorded his song 'Little Town', he has played and/or had his songs performed, on most of her major recordings. Including 'Hats' on the Multi Platinum album 'Heart In Motion' and two songs on her No 2 pop album 'Home For Christmas'. 'Breath Of Heaven' from this album was voted US CCM song of the year in 1994 in Billboard. Amy recorded 'Christmas Lullaby' and 'A Christmas To Remember' for her 2000 release 'A Christmas Album'. In 2003 Amy's album 'Simple Things' included a song she co-wrote with Chris 'Out In The Open'. Chris has also toured with Amy as her keyboard player.
"Breath Of Heaven" was included on JESSICA SIMPSON'S 2004 platinum-selling Christmas album, "Rejoyce". The song has also been recorded by US country superstar VINCE GILL as title track of his 1998 album, which reached No. 5 in the US Country chart. Other notable mainstream artists to cover Chris' songs include JANET JACKSON with "Hold Back The Tears"; SHEENA EASTON with "All I Ask" and "Dance Away The Blues"; PATTI AUSTIN - "Stars In Our Eyes" on MCA/GRP ; DONNA SUMMER - "Breath Of Heaven"; MICHAEL BALL - "All For Nothing"; ROCH VOISINE - "Dance With A Stranger"; and, COLIN BLUNSTONE - "Everlasting Love" and "What Is Love". EMI / Electrola artist CLAUDIA JUNG covered "Saviour's Day" in a duet with CLIFF RICHARD on her Christmas album. Also in 1997 Grover Washington Jnr. recorded "Breath Of Heaven" as title track for his Christmas album (Columbia Records). Warner US act, Boney James has recorded an instrumental version of "Breath Of Heaven". Sony Spain artist, Monica Naranjo has recorded a Spanish language version of "Live For You" on her 2002 album.
Chris has had an incredible run of No.1 radio hits in the US in the huge Contemporary Christian music market over the past 18 years. In recent years artists such as JACI VELASQUEZ ('Flower In The Rain'), WAYNE WATSON ('Be In Her Eyes'), his own EMI/Sparrow single 'Everlasting Love', SUSAN ASHTON ('Body and Soul') and, 4 HIM ('Lay It All On The Line'). In October 1998 Jaci Velasquez' recording of Chris' song 'God So Loved The World' went to No. 1 across every Christian radio format. Jaci performed this song to open the 1998 DOVE AWARDS, which were televised nationally in the U.S. The song was nominated in the Best Song and Best Record categories of the 1999 Dove Awards in the U.S. Jaci's 2001 Christmas album includes 'The Angel Song'.
Chris had five songs on the debut smash hit RACHAEL LAMPA album 'Live For You' on Word records. The title track and first single off this album (written by Chris Eaton and Chris Rodriguez) shot straight to No.1 in Billboard's contemporary Christian singles chart. Rachael has recorded 'No Greater Love' (co-written with Margaret Becker) for her 2002 album 'Kaleidoscope'. 'No Greater love' is the first single from that album ' No. 1 at CCM radio, also released to US pop radio. Chris had songs recorded by other major US CCM acts as POINT OF GRACE ('When Love Came Down'), MARGARET BECKER ('Friend For Life', 'What Kind Of Love'), SHEILA WALSH ('That's What Faith Is For') and AVALON ('Hide My Soul'). Chris also co-wrote two songs, 'River Of Life'(performed by REBECCA ST JAMES) and, 'Heaven And Earth' (performed by NICHOLE NORDEMAN) for the 'HEAVEN & EARTH' project on Sparrow Records.
In October 2002, Chris won an unprecedented (for a single non-US writer) 3 BMI US airplay awards for "Live For You", co-written with Chris Rodriguez and recorded by Rachael Lamp; 'Adore' recorded by Jaci Velasquez; and, 'Lift Me Up' recorded by Rachel Lampa.
In 2002, Chris joined forces with his two long-standing business associates, Valerie Jannsen and Stuart Ongley in a co-publishing venture, based in Nashville. The first fruits of this include a # 1 US CCM single; 2 tracks on the million-selling WOW compilation; a BMI award and, 4 co-writes on the aforementioned Cliff Richard album, "Something's Goin' On". Chris is also expanding his interests into the US pop and country markets ' he is working with some of the most successful US songwriters.
If Chris has a weakness, it would have to be The Wolves 'the once mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers' now attempting to fight their way back up to the UK's Premier League. Outside of his music, The Wolves are Chris' great love. Click here to find out more about the Wolves
