Chas Jankel

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = Chaz Jankel
Img_capt =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1952|04|16|df=yes
Origin = Stanmore, North London
Died =
Instruments = Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
Genre = Rock/Jazz
Occupation = Vocalist, songwriter
Years_active = 1971 - present
Label = Stiff, Polydor, Demon, Ronnie Harris, A&M
Associated_acts = Byzantium Kilburn and the High-Roads The Blockheads Ian Dury
URL = [http://www.chazjankel.com/ chazjankel.com]

Chaz Jankel, also known as Chas Jankel (born 16 April 1952, Stanmore, North London), was a keyboard and guitarist with Ian Dury and the Blockheads, acting as a co-writer with Dury on the bands best known songs during the British funk/new wave band's commercial peak (the late '70s). Jankel was responsible for much of the funk influences in the Blockheads music, and that love for rhythmic music was a large part of his solo career. He released several solo albums in the early 80s, including "Chasanova", "Questionnaire", "Chazablanca", and "Looking At You". He hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1982 with the triple A-side "Glad to Know You"/"3,000,000 Synths"/"Ai no Corrida."

First hooking up with Dury as part of the pub group Kilburn and the High-Roads in the early part of the 1970s, Jankel was asked by Dury to join his new outfit, and appeared on such Blockheads releases as 1977's "New Boots and Panties!!" and 1979's "Do It Yourself", before leaving the group. But in 1981, Jankel teamed up once more with Dury (sans the Blockheads), for the release "Lord Upminster", which spawned the U.S. Top 40 dance hit "Spasticus Autisticus." But by this time, Jankel had become more interested in pursuing a solo career and he issued several releases for A&M from the early to mid-'80s: 1980's self-titled debut, 1981's "Chasanova" and "Questionnaire" (the latter of which contained the U.S. dance hit "Glad to Know You," a collaboration with Dury), 1983's "Chazablanca", and 1985's "Looking at You". But after the flurry of recording activity, little was heard from Jankel again.

Quincy Jones had a UK chart hit with his version of "Ai no Corrida" which reached #14 in April 1981.

Jankel returned to The Blockheads after his solo career in America, and worked with Dury on his final two albums ("Mr. Love Pants", "Ten More Turnips From The Tip"). Jankel continues to perform and write with the Blockheads today, after Dury's death in 2000.

Jankel has several composer credits for films, including "D.O.A." and "K2", and best known to many people as the performer of the song "Number One" from the soundtrack of the film "Real Genius".

References

* "Guinness Book of British Hit Singles" 7th Edition - 1988
*imdb name|0417709|Chaz Jankel
* [http://theblockheads.com/biog.php?title=Chaz+Jankel Biography]

ee also

*List of number-one dance hits (United States)
*List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart