Chris Freeman (Australian musician)

Chris Freeman
Birth name Christopher James Freeman
Born c. 1950
Died 1992 (aged 41–42)
Genres Classical, flamenco
Occupation(s) Musician, teacher
Instruments Guitar (six-string, 12-string, bass), organ, piano, synthesiser, Fairlight CMI
Years active 1974–1992
Labels T. S. F., Chris Freeman / EMI
Associated acts John Shaw

Christopher James "Chris" Freeman (c. 1950–1992) was an Australian multi-instrumentalist and teacher who specialised in six-string and 12-string guitar for classical and flamenco music. At the age of 17 he severed the fingertip of his left hand middle finger in a car accident. It was replaced by a silver cap, which gave him the nickname "Silver Finger". He released three solo albums, Thesilger (1976), Shifting Sands... Night & Day (1978) and Best of Chris Freeman (1991). He also issued four albums with keyboardist John Shaw, Chris Freeman and John Shaw (1981), Synthesized Orchestration (1983), Synthesized Orchestration Vol. 2 (1984) and The Best of Chris Freeman and John Shaw (1990). Freeman died in 1992 after an asthma attack, aged 41 or 42. Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane described him as a "[g]ifted multi-instrumentalist" who "garnered considerable praise for his work, but he never embraced the notion of mainstream acceptance".

Biography

Christopher James Freeman (born c. 1950) was taught ukulele by his father when aged seven and learned guitar from the age of eight.[1][2][3] He began working on multi-tracking from the age of 16. In 1967, when aged 17, his left hand's middle fingertip was severed in a car accident, he had it replaced with a silver one crafted in a playing position.[1][3] Nicknamed "Silver Finger",[4] he learned to work around the injury using his left hand "only to press down on the strings".[3] At the age of 21 he travelled to Spain and was taught by flamenco guitar virtuoso, Manitas de Plata.[1][3]

In 1976 he self-financed his debut album, Thesilger, (named for the replacement finger) on T. S. F. Records.[1] Mike Daly of The Age felt that Freeman "experimented with quaint effects involving digital harmoniser and distorted vocals – with mixed results".[5] Two years later Freeman followed with Shifting Sands... Night & Day.[1] When performing solo, he used a backing tape with orchestral tracks previously recorded on a Fairlight CMI.[1]

In May 1981 Freeman combined with keyboardist and orchestral arranger, John Shaw, to issue an album, Chris Freeman and John Shaw, independently on Chris Freeman Records and distributed by EMI Records.[5][6] Aside from his own work he also covered Gymnopedie by Satie and Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Tárrega.[6][7] Daly described this album as "a very different proposition" compared to Freeman's debut: here the "melodies are dominated by [his] lyrical adaptation of the rich flamenco style".[5] The Sydney Morning Herald's Susan Molloy found it was "of precious quality and outstanding beauty" displaying a variety of styles "from classical to flamenco to rock and roll, from disco to calypso-reggae and soft country rock".[8]

As well as recording and performing Freeman also taught flamenco and classical guitar techniques.[5] In early 1982 he toured with the Peter Stuyvesant International Music Festival.[3] He issued two further albums with Shaw, Synthesized Orchestration (1983) and Synthesized Orchestration Vol. 2 (1984).[1] In 1990 Freeman and Shaw compiled their collaborations on CD, The Best of Chris Freeman and John Shaw.[7] The following year he released a solo compilation album, Best of Chris Freeman.[1] In 1992 Chris Freeman died after an asthma attack, aged 41 or 42.[1][3] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described him as a "[g]ifted multi-instrumentalist" who "garnered considerable praise for his work, but he never embraced the notion of mainstream acceptance".[1]

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 McFarlane, 'Chris Freeman' entry at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 August 2004). Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "'Disco Flamenco' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bolton, Matthew (1 April 1982). "Show Scene". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Chris Freeman the original.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) (National Library of Australia). 12 July 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Daly, Mike (28 May 1981). "News Notes: Flamenco a la Freeman". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  6. 1 2 Freeman, Chris; Shaw, John (1981), Chris Freeman & John Shaw, Chris Freeman. National Library of Australia, retrieved 27 June 2013, Performer: Chris Freeman, solo guitarist; John Shaw, synthesized orchestral backing.
  7. 1 2 Freeman, Chris; Shaw, John (1990), The Best of Chris Freeman and John Shaw, [s.n], retrieved 28 June 2013, Performer: Chris Freeman, guitar; John Shaw, synthesizer. Notes: All compositions by Chris Freeman, except for 'Gymnopedie' by Satie and Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Tárrega. Compact disc.
  8. ↑ Molloy, Susan (7 June 1982). "Pop: Chris Freeman and John Shaw". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
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