Bill Chinnock

First discovered by the legendary producer John Hammond, Sr. (who once dubbed him "the real essence of American music"), roots rock guitarist, keyboardist, and singer/songwriter Bill Chinnock was one of the early founders of the Asbury Park, NJ, music scene. His earliest bands had some impressive members, including Danny Federici, Garry Tallent, Vini Lopez, and David Sancious, among others; when Chinnock moved to Maine, his former bandmates became the foundation for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Chinnock issued his debut, Blues, in 1975, followed in 1976 by Alive at the Loft. Badlands appeared two years later; after 1980's Dime Store Heroes, he remained silent until the release of 1985's Rock & Roll Cowboys. After again dropping out of sight, Chinnock resurfaced in 1992 with Out on the Borderline; issued on his own label, East Point Records, it included keyboardist Chalmer Davis of Little Richard's band, as well as Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack, who also co-wrote the song "Take This Heart of Mine." Chinnock received an Emmy Award in 1987 for musical direction and composition for his song "Somewhere in the Night." He received an Emmy nomination the following year as well, and in the early '90s, he recorded a duet with New York-based soul singer Roberta Flack that was used as a theme song for the soap opera Guiding Light. Chinnock passed away March 7, 2007, in Yarmouth, ME, at the age of 59.