Biography
Chris Chameleon is being hailed as a phenomenon on the South African Music front and more increasingly abroad. His exceptional four-octave voice work and dynamic stage personality has won him rave reviews and a total of seventeen impressive awards over the past four years, including a SAMA (South African Music Award) and a Medal of Honor from the SA Academy of Science and Arts.
Background in brief
In 1997, Chris Chameleon became the bassist and front man of one of South Africa’s proudest musical exports, Boo!. In 7 years Boo! acquired an enormous following worldwide by performing 800 gigs in 17 countries, including 14 states in the USA. The band also received a South African Music Award in 2002 for ‘Best Pop Album.’
After Boo! disbanded in 2004, Chris Chameleon embarked on a solo career and has since become one of South Africa's most successful artists, both on home ground and in the Benelux Countries.
Chris Chameleon has released six solo albums and one live album between 2005 and 2009. Five of these albums were nominated for the prestigious South African Music Awards (SAMA) in the years relevant to the release dates. “7de Hemel” won the SAMA for Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album in 2007. In both 2008 and 2009, Chameleon was also nominated for the SAMA in the impressive Best Male Artist category.
Chameleon has also released 3 live DVD's up to date. These DVD's perfectly capture why he is renowned for his incredible versatility in his creative endeavors by moving with remarkable ease between Folk, Contemporary, Rock and Classical, English and Afrikaans.
In August 2007, Chris Chameleon signed a record deal with the premier independent label in the Netherlands, Excelsior Recordings. The album Ek vir Jou is being distributed by Excelsior Recordings in the Benelux countries (The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.)
Chameleon has completed various successful tours in the Benelux Countries over the last three years in prestigious theaters as a solo artist as well as in rock venues with a band. He has been invited to perform at the 46664 Mandela Day Concert in New York on 18 July 2009.
On average, he performs up to 180 gigs per year to sold out audiences in South Africa, Namibia, Belgium, England, and The Netherlands. In 2009, he released a new album “Kyk Hoe Lyk Ons Nou” and is hosting a 4-part documentary being broadcast on South African national TV of the same title. Later this year, Chameleon will record a new English solo album and will embark on several more European tours as well as a tour to the USA.
Chris Chameleon has captured the intrigue of fans worldwide and is set to be a pioneering force for South African music in the world ... watch this space!
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Chris Chameleon’s popularity and world-class talent has also been evident from various awards that he has won over the past four years. These awards are:
• KANNA Award for Best Male Artist at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival in 2009
• Huisgenoot Tempo Award for Most Popular Afrikaans Album for “Ek Vir Jou.” 2008.
• Vonk Award for Best Solo DVD for “Klassieke Chameleon” 2008.
• SAMA Award for Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album – “7de Hemel.” 2007
• Medal of Honor: Awarded to Chris by the SA Academy of Science and Art for his contribution to Afrikaans Music. 2007
• FAK Award for Exceptional Cultural Achievement. 2007
• VONK Award for Best Male Solo Artist. 2007
• VONK Award for Best Songwriter for STERREDANK. 2007
• KANNA Award for Best Music Theatre Production at KKNK. 2007
• People’s Choice Award for KLASSIEKE CHAMELEON at Aardklop 2007
• Huisgenoot Tempo Award for Favourite Contemporary Artist. 2006
• Vonk Award for Best Male Artist. 2006
• Vonk Award for Best Male Album: “Ek Herhaal Jou.” 2006
• MK89 Award for Best Solo Video “Die Onverkrygbare.” 2006
• MK89 Award for Sexiest Video “Die Onverkrygbare.” 2006
• AMT Award for Best Male Album: “7de Hemel.” 2006
• AMT Award for Best Male video: “Groet.” 2006
Further SAMA nominations included:
* Best Male Artist – Chris Chameleon 2009
* Album of the Year for “Klassieke Chameleon” 2009
* Best Afrikaans DVD for “Klassieke Chameleon” 2009
* Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album for “Klassieke Chameleon” 2009
* MTN Record of the Year for “Sterredank” 2009
* Best Male Artist – Chris Chameleon 2008
* Best Global Chart DVD for “Flight of an Extraordinary Alien” 2008
* Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album for “Ek Vir Jou” 2008
* Song of the Year for “Droomland.” 2007
* Best Alternative Album for “Shine” 2007
* Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album for “Ek Herhaal Jou”
Instrumentation
Chris Chameleon (solo):
Chris Chameleon - guitar and vocals
Discography
Title: CD - Kyk Hoe Lyk Ons Nou
Release date: 04 April 2009
Released by: Rhythm Records (SA)
Singles with airplay: Ek Kan nie Wag Nie, Eiland, Muur, Apie, Altyd Tuis
Title: CD - Made Available
Release date: 01 October 2008
Released by: Chameleon Productions (self-release)
Videos with airplay: All of Me
Title: CD - Klassieke Chameleon
Release date: 17 April 2008
Released by: Rhythm Records
Videos with airplay: OOAA, Die Onse Vader, Days Like This
Title: DVD - Klassieke Chameleon
Release date: 22 March 2008
Released by: Rhythm Records
Videos with airplay: OOAA, Die Onse Vader, Days Like This
Title: DVD - Flight of an Extraordinary Alien
Release date: 17 November 2007
Released by: Rhythm Records
Videos with airplay: Machine, Pop Val Stukkend
Title: Ek Vir Jou
Sales Status: GOLD
Release date: 16 July 2007
Released by: Rhythm Records (RSA) and Excelsior Recordings (NL, BE, LUX)
Singles with airplay: Klein Klein Jakkalsies, Eerste Ogopslag, Epiloog
Title: Shine
Release date: 6 June 2006
Released by: Rhythm Records
Singles with airplay: Blue, Shine, Anywhere, Machine, Nothing, Mind Made Up
Title: 7de Hemel
Sales status: DOUBLE PLATINUM
Release date: 6 June 2006
Released by: Rhythm Records
Singles with airplay: Droomland, Reis, Sterredank, Groet, Vlerke
Title: Volkleur (DVD)
Sales status: GOLD
Release date: October 2005
Released by: Rhythm Records
Videos with TV airply: My Pop Val Stukkend, As Jy Slaap, Die Onverkrygbare
Title: Ek Herhaal Jou
Sales status: PLATINUM
Release date: June 2005
Released by: Rhythm Records
Singles with airplay: Ek Herhaal Jou, Jy't My Gekierang, Die Onverkrygbare, Korreltjie Sand
Title: Boo! Compilation
Release date: December 2003
Released by: Stage Magazine
Title: TNTLC
Release date: 28 March 2006
Released by: Boo! (independently)
Singles: Come, Can't, Noel, Room
Title: Shooting Star
Release date: 24 January 2002
Released by: Boo! (independently)
Singles: Boo!ble
**Winner of "Best Pop Album" at South African Music Awards 2002
Title: Naughties
Release date: June 2000
Released by: Boo! (independently)
Singles: Champion, Avrocado Pair
Title: 3Boo!dists
Release date: 9 November 1999
Released by: Boo! (independently)
Singles: Stagefright
Title: Pynapl
Release date: 4 December 1998
Released by: Boo! (independently)
Singles: OOAA, Lucki
Title: Banana Flava (live cassette)
Release date: April 1998
Released by: Boo! (independently)
Title: Duv Mafia
Release date: 1995
Released by: Chris Chameleon (independently)
Title: Blue Chameleon
Release date: 1994
Released by: Blue
Links
| http://www.chrischameleon.com |
| Chris Chameleon Homepage |
| MySpace |
| Rhythm Records Online |