Chris Gaines

Chris Gaines was born in August of 1967 to an Olympic swim team coach and a champion swimmer. In 1972 Chris moved to Los Angeles at the age of five, a moved that crystallized the youngster's desire to hit the stage rather than the beach. In the early 80's Chris left Morningside High School to form the band "Crush" with Tommy Levitz and Marc Obed. Their study of the Garth Brooks songbook generated the prom anthem "My Love Tells Me So." Then in 1986, The band called "Crush" Starring Tommy Levitz, Chris Gaines, and Marc Obed- debuts its first self-titled album. The albums second single "My Love Tells Me So" is a smash hit. In late '86 Tommy Levitz dies in a plane crash. The bands future dies with him. Over the next two years, Chris battles the decision to let his music die with "Crush" or begin a solo career. In 1989, The two years of quiet that followed Levitz's death speaks of hard decisions to be made. In the meantime, Gaines finished both his GED and solo debut "Straight Jacket." Although it never goes to #1 on the pop charts, it spends an amazing 82 weeks in the Top 40. Straight Jacket is still Chris' biggest selling album to date. Then in 1990, Gaines' issues with his disappointed father were left unresolved when Gene Gaines died of cancer in the fall. And 1991 rolled around, Chris wins 4 Grammy's, including Record Of The Year for Straight Jacket. In the fall of '91 Gaines' second album, Fornucopia debuts. Fornucopia is a dark and sad album. It debuts at Number One, amiss the controversy of the first single, a remake of the Ramesy Seller Classic, "It Don't Matter To The Sun." The critics are silenced with the single "Main Street" and Fornucopia spends a combined 18 weeks atop Billboards Top 200 chart. In the winter of 1992, Gaines is in a car wreck. Almost dead, he's in the hospital for the next six weeks. With the news of the crash, three of Chris' albums are now in the Top 20. Fornucopia lands #1. Straight Jacket goes to #3, and the six-year-old Crush album climbs to #13. Over the next two years, Gaines undergoes extensive plastic surgery on his face, shoulder, and hands. In 1994, In the winter, Gaines releases his third solo album Apostle. This is the only album where we do not see Chris' face. He doesn't tour and he doesn't do appearances. Without artist promotion, Apostle still manages to spend a combined 8 weeks atop the Billboard 200. Then in 1997, In the winter, we finally see Chris Gaines again in pictures, on television, and on tour. Marked as a "New Prince," he comes out with Triangle, a distinct change in music, more towards R&B. Triangle debuts at #1 and spends five consecutive weeks on the top of Billboards 200. Then in October of 1999, The first ever Chris Gaines Greatest Hits package, complete with two new tracks, including the new single "Lost in You" is released to buy time for the long awaited album entitled The Lamb.

Family:

Father: Gene Gaines - former swim coach for Long Beach State University and former coach of both the U.S. and Australian Olympic swim teams.

Mother: Carolyn Johnns-Gaines - former swimmer for the Australian Olympic team and Commonwealth Games medalist.