Christopher James Harley, born 18 November 1946 in Glasgow, Scotland, was a British singer, songwriter and producer whose career spanned the 1970s and 1980s. After studying graphic design and drawing cartoons for the underground paper The Word, he adopted the stage name Chris Rainbow to avoid confusion with Steve Harley. His breakthrough came in 1974 with the singles "Give Me What I Cry For" and "Solid State Brain", which received heavy rotation from DJs Kenny Everett and Tony Blackburn. In June 1975 he released his debut album Home of the Brave, followed by Looking Over My Shoulder in 1978 and White Trails in 1979; these works highlighted his melodic rock sensibilities and vocal arrangements. Chris Rainbow collaborated with prominent acts such as The Alan Parsons Project, Jon Anderson, and Camel, contributing backing vocals and production credits on numerous albums. He also produced recordings for Runrig and other Scottish artists, establishing the Vital Spark Music Studio on the Isle of Skye. Chris Rainbow passed away on 25 February 2015, leaving a legacy of diverse recordings and respected production work.
