Christopher North (Ambrosia)
# Christopher North (Ambrosia)

Christopher Reed North (born January 26, 1951) is an American musician. He is the founding keyboardist of the American progressive rock band Ambrosia.

## Career

North was born in San Francisco. He grew up in San Pedro, California, playing in various bands through junior high and high school. Some of the early bands he played with were The Proones, The Livin End, and Thee Exceptions. In 1968 he formed the psychedelic rock band Blue Toad Flax with Tom Trefethen playing organ and singing lead vocals.

In 1970 he formed the progressive rock band Ambrosia with David Pack, Joe Puerta and Burleigh Drummond. He is known for his very intense live performances.

North and the other members of Ambrosia contributed to the album Tales of Mystery and Imagination by The Alan Parsons Project.

He played organ and piano on the hit songs "Galilee" and "Rock 'N' Roll Preacher" from the debut album by Chuck Girard and also on Girard's 1980 album The Stand. North played organ on the John Lennon tribute single "Johnny's Gone Away" written and produced by Tom Trefethen with Alan Parsons as executive producer.

In 2014 North played on the song "The Soft Parade" from Light My Fire: A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors.

North is listed on the All Time Hammond Pops list three times for his solos on Ambrosia hits “Holdin' on to Yesterday”, “Biggest Part of Me” and “You're the Only Woman (You & I)”. He was also listed from 1976-1981 as one of the top multi-keyboardists by Keyboard Magazine at which time they discontinued the list.

## Discography

| Date | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Certifications |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| as part of Ambrosia ||||||
| 1975 | Ambrosia | 20th Century Fox | 22 | US | |
| 1976 | Somewhere I've Never Travelled | 20th Century Fox | 79 | US | |
| 1978 | Life Beyond L.A. | Warner Bros. | 19 | US | |
| 1980 | One Eighty | Warner Bros. | 25 | US | RIAA: Gold |
| 1982 | Road Island | Warner Bros. | 115 | US | |
| 1997 | Anthology | Warner Bros. | | US | |
| 2002 | Essentials | Warner Bros. | | US | |
| 2003 | How Much I Feel and Other Hits | Rhino Flashback | | US | |

### Live Albums with Ambrosia

| Year | Album details | Chart peak positions |
| - | - | - |
| Year | Album details | U.S. |
| 2002 | Live at The Galaxy Released: May 2002 Labels: Coach House Formats: CD, LP, digital download | — |
| 2007 | Standing Room Only Released: 2007 Labels: CMG, Sony/BMG Formats: CD | |

### Compilation Albums with Ambrosia

| Year | Album details | Chart peak positions |
| - | - | - |
| Year | Album details | U.S. |
| 1997 | Anthology Released: May 1997 Labels: Warner Bros. Formats: CD, LP, digital download | — |
| 2002 | The Essentials Released: June 2002 Labels: Rhino/Warner Bros. Formats: CD, cassette, digital | — |
| 2003 | How Much I Feel and Other Hits Released: April 2003 Labels: Collectables Formats: CD, LP, digital download | — |

### Singles with Ambrosia

| Year | Title | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Year | Title | US | US AC | AU | CAN | Certifications | Album |
| 1975 | "Holdin' on to Yesterday" | 17 | 46 | — | 37 | | Ambrosia |
| 1975 | "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" | 63 | — | — | — | | Ambrosia |
| 1976 | "Magical Mystery Tour" | 39 | — | — | — | | All This and World War II |
| 1976 | "Can't Let a Woman" | 102 | — | — | — | | Somewhere I've Never Travelled |
| 1976 | "Runnin' Away" | — | — | — | — | | Somewhere I've Never Travelled |
| 1978 | "How Much I Feel" | 3 | 11 | 30 | 2 | RIAA: Gold | Life Beyond L.A. |
| 1978 | "Life Beyond L.A." | — | — | — | — | | Life Beyond L.A. |
| 1978 | "If Heaven Could Find Me" | 107 | — | — | — | | Life Beyond L.A. |
| 1980 | "Biggest Part of Me" | 3 | 3 | — | 18 | RIAA: Gold | One Eighty |
| 1980 | "You're the Only Woman (You & I)" | 13 | 5 | — | 15 | RIAA: Gold | One Eighty |
| 1980 | "No Big Deal" | 105 | — | — | — | | One Eighty |
| 1981 | "Outside" | 102 | — | — | — | | Inside Moves soundtrack |
| 1982 | "Feelin' Alive Again" | — | — | — | — | | Road Island |
| 1982 | "How Can You Love Me" | 86 | — | — | — | | Road Island |
| 1982 | "For Openers (Welcome Home)" | — | — | — | — | | Road Island |
| 1997 | "I Just Can't Let Go" | — | 26 | — | — | | Anthology |
| 2004 | "Biggest Part of Me" (Remix) | — | 31 | — | — | | Non-album single |
