Sonic Sounds, Obvio Records, RRS International, VP Music
Musical artist
Stann Champion (May 16, 1952 – August 16, 2022[1]) was an American-born guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. He played guitar and drums blending reggae, calypso, R&B, and rock music styles. Best known as the leader of the band "Roots, Rock Society" (RRS), Champion provided music therapy at hospitals and nursing homes.[2] He has appeared with Blue Öyster Cult, Quiet Riot, Gil Scott-Heron, Steel Pulse, Third World, Culture, and Burning Spear. He received 12 Chicago Music Awards (CMA), for "Best Calypso", "Best Soul Calypso" and "Best Gospel/Spiritual Band" as well as CMA's "Lifetime Achievement Award," for his contributions to the Chicago music industry and community involvement.
Before graduating from Chicago's Columbia College, Champion worked at a couple of Michigan Avenue advertising agencies during the day and played music at night. He was approached by a songwriter from the island of St. Kitts to record at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. With a band called Gypsi-Fari in 1982, he recorded his first release titled "The Girls" for Obvio Records at Paul Serrano Studios in Chicago. Gypsi-Fari also won the first awards from the Chicago Music Awards in 1982. [4]
After leaving Gypsi-Fari in 1982, Champion returned to the private sector[clarification needed] and was recruited for a band to back Jamaican singer/songwriter Carlene Davis for her North American tour. Her EP release featured two songs written by Champion and was reviewed in the "College Musical Journal" (CMJ). Soon after college stations nationwide were requesting promo copies for programming.
Champion formed his own, the Roots Rock Society (RRS). With RRS, members came and went, but the project remained intact. With RRS, Champion created his "Tropical Roots" sound with the release of "Again", a four-song EP co-produced by David Axelbaum that reached over 250 radio stations worldwide.[5]
