Stann Champion

Stann Champion (May 16, 1952 – August 16, 2022 ) 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. 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.

Early life and education
Champion was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, and moved to Chicago, Illinois at an early age, where he was enrolled in public K-12 schools and the Chicago Art Institute Junior School. He attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE), and Columbia College Chicago where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design in 1974.

Career
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.

After leaving Gypsi-Fari in 1982, Champion returned to the private sector 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.

Stann Champion Radio Show

 * WNUR Chicago's Sound Experiment 89.3 FM
 * Stann Champion Show - Mondays +7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (Central)

Discography

 * Gypsi-Fari - Hail Jah '45 (1981 Sonic Sounds)
 * Stann Champion Roots Rock Society 'Cassette (1987 RRS International)
 * Bass Mint Sessions 'Cassette (1991 RRS International)
 * Again 'Compact Disk (1994 RRS International)
 * Riddim to Riddim 'Compact Disk (2007 RRS International)
 * La Familia 'Compact Disk (2010 RRS International)
 * Cost of Living 'Compact Disk (2013 RRS International)
 * TimeBless 'Compact Disk (2015 RRS International)
 * Paradise Love 'Compact Disk (2016 VP Records)
 * See Me 'Compact Disk (2016 VP Records)

Awards and nominations

 * 1980 "Playing for Peace Award" Kingston Jamaica
 * 1982 "Best Band", Gypsi-Fari Chicago Music Awards (CMA)
 * 1984 "Best New Band", Safari CMA
 * 1985 "Best Band", Safari CMA
 * 1989 "Most Versatile Band", Roots Rock Society (RRS)
 * 1990 RRS Received Certificate of "Special Recognition" from Lucent Technologies
 * 1993 RRS nominated "Best Roots and Reggae", Illinois Entertainer
 * 1994 "Best Gospel/Spiritual Entertainer", RRS CMA
 * 1995 "Best Gospel Entertainer", RRS CMA
 * 1996 "Best Band", RRS CMA
 * 1997 "Most Versatile Band", RRS CMA
 * 2002 "Producers Award" for Stann Champion CMA
 * 2002 "Best Reggae Album/CD" for "Riddim to Riddim" CMA
 * 2007 RRS awarded "Best Entertainer" by CMA
 * 2008 RRS awarded "Best Entertainer" by CMA
 * 2015 Awarded Certificate of Appreciation for Community Leadership by Chatham Avalon Park Community Council
 * 2016 Awarded "Gresham 6 Award" for community service by 6th District
 * 2016 Awarded "Lifetime Achievement Award"
 * 2019 Elixir Strings Performing Artist Program