The Sons of Champlin, an American rock band from Marin County, California, was formed in 1965. The group was fronted by vocalist-keyboardist-guitarist Bill Champlin and featured guitarist Terry Haggerty, bassist John Prosser, drummer Jim Myers, saxophonist Tim Cain, and later, trumpet player Jim Beem. After playing local dances and parties, they were signed to Trident Records in 1966. Their first single, "Sing Me a Rainbow"/"Fat City", was released in March 1967. During their early career, The Sons of Champlin became known for their soulful sound built around a horn section and the Hammond B3 organ. After releasing an underground hit double album Loosen Up Naturally with Capitol Records in April 1969, they embarked on extensive tours that included notable performances at venues such as Bill Graham's Fillmore Auditorium and Chet Helms' Avalon Ballroom. Their unique jazz-infused rock sound garnered them a dedicated following despite internal tensions. The band continued to release albums including The Sons in 1969, which featured softer tracks alongside their psychedelic rock repertoire. In the late 1970s, Bill Champlin left the group and later joined Chicago from 1981 to 2009. The Sons of Champlin reconvened in 1997 and released additional albums such as Hip Li'l Dreams (2005), continuing their musical journey that has cemented them among the enduring bands from the San Francisco music scene.
