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If you're a fan of the television series In the Heat of the Night, then you are certainly familiar with the show's theme song. Meet Bill Champlin. He is the artist behind the renowned, soulful voice of the hit television series' opening theme song. Over the span of his career, Bill has performed on over 300 albums, working with a vast array of artists from Herbie Hancock and Barry Manilow to Elton John and Eric Clapton; earned Grammys as a co-writer of George Benson's "Turn Your Love Around" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "After the Love Has Gone." Bill also spent 28 years as a member of the legendary jazz-pop-rock band Chicago. And if that isn't enough, Bill is also the father of NBC's The Voice star Will Champlin, who as of the date of this interview has rocketed into the show's Top 6.

Let's get to it...

Before we delve into In the Heat of the Night, I have to ask: What is it like to watch your son Will Champlin on NBC’s The Voice? As of this interview, he’s made it to the top 6.

Bill Champlin: Of course it's been an experience watching Will hang in for a while to, just this week, virtually raising the bar for the whole thing. His vocal on Etta James' "At Last" was as good as it gets and, in 3 little minutes, he came through the pack and is in the driver's seat, at least for now. Very proud of him.

You are the voice of the theme song for the television series In the Heat of the Night. Tell us how you landed the gig.

I was sitting in on a club gig with my wife, Tamara, in Studio City, and a friend, Chris Page, came up to me after the gig, while I was packing up the gear, and asked me if I wanted to come in and audition with the tape, already recorded. I said, "Why not? I love the song." So I went to the studio the next day and they played me a few of the other singers that were on tape and I figured, since they were all really great, I'll just knock this off 'cause one of these guys has the gig already. I sang it in a few passes and went home.

I got a call a few days later after I'd all but forgotten that I'd done it and they asked me to come back in and re-do the last little line and that took longer than the rest of the song did a few days before. Anyway, I gave them, Chris and Dick DeBenedictus, I think that's the spelling, he was the over all musical director, and the rest is history. The show went on the air on one network and switched to another a few years later.

What studio was used to record your vocals?

I don't remember

Were you aware at the time that the song was going to be the show’s opener?

I thought that it would be but, when I did it, I didn't think about much more than the usual, like Time, Intonation, Feel, Dynamics etc. all the musical stuff you always think about.

The tempo or overall feel of the series’ theme music is a bit different from the Ray Charles original. When you first heard the music for the series, what struck you about that particular version of In the Heat of the Night?

It had been awhile since I'd heard Ray's version. I though this one was pretty cool for TV. At the time a lot of TV themes seemed kind of pedestrian to me, good shows-bad music. This was the right changes, although only one verse and no bridge.

Did you ever get a chance to meet or speak with anyone from the series during Heat’s 8 season run?

I was doing the Arsenio Hall Show and Howard Rollins was appearing in addition to the band I was with at the time, Chicago, and I mentioned that I sang the theme and he said, "NO, the singer on the theme was a black guy." Oh well, he got it eventually. He was a really good actor.

Given that you are a multi-Grammy award winning artist, and considering your 28-year tenure as having been a member of the multi-platinum band Chicago, does it seem at all like a twist of fate that your performance on a television series theme song, heard steadily on television over the last 25 years, is perhaps your best known vocal performance while most people don’t even realize that it’s you?

Years ago I was doing background vocals on a Donna Summer album and she said, "Wow, Bill, you're the best known unknown singer in the world!" Then later that week she mispronounced my name at the Grammys. Oh well, maybe I should have thought about more than music but it seemed like the music was why I worked at all so that's always been the focus. Looking at The Voice TV Show it seems like Will has been the unknown "Dark Horse" because he's about the music. Seems like he's finally getting some name recognition because of one stellar vocal. Anyway, I digress. "In The Heat Of The Night" was a very cool thing for me; I'm glad I took a chance, on a short week off the road, and took a shot at the tune.

The Last of Bill Champlin…

- The last song of yours that you heard on the radio:

After The Love Has Gone (Earth, Wind & Fire)

- The last time you broke a string on stage:

I can't remember. I change strings every 2 gigs and only play it 4 or 5 times a night; the rest of the night is either piano or B-3.

- The last time you spoke with Peter Cetera:

About a year ago. I love that guy.

- The last person who said to you “patience is a virtue”:

My Dad

- The last time you spoke with the late George Jones:

I lived next door to George for 4 years but didn't really meet him until I sold the house and moved. Nice guy.

- The last time you watched an episode of In the Heat of the Night:

A few years ago

On your 1994 solo album “Through It All” you released a newer version of “In the Heat of the Night.” When I listen to your television version vs. your long-form version, the television version seems a bit rawer and your vocals are laden with emotion. Do you agree with that? Compare and contrast the two.

Hey, every time I go to the microphone I sing differently, I hope. My version was on the album basically to give people a chance to have something, like a 2nd verse and bridge etc.

I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you this. What made you decide to “look away” (pun intended) from Chicago, a band that will go down in music history as one of the most successful American groups ever?

I was very unhappy with the direction of the band and they knew it. The money was, and is still, great for the band, but I had a hard time with the direction, and they wanted someone else who liked where it was going, so I was gone.

Who do you like among today’s younger musicians?

My favorite artist is Will Champlin. He's a great writer as well as singer and an awesome player, too. Keep an ear open for "Dirty Loops." They've got an album coming out on Verve Records and they're gonna be game changers, I hope.

What’s next on the horizon for Bill Champlin? Any new music? A book perhaps?

Always writing and there are gigs here and there that I do so I'm up and running. I've actually done some gigs and a few more are booked with Danny Seraphine, Chicago's original drummer; his chops are up big time and he understands that music deserves some excitement and Danny brings that regularly.

How can people keep up-to-date with you?

www.billchamplin.net

In the Heat of the Night Fan Club would like to thank Bill Champlin for taking some time from his schedule to talk with us. He is a true class act. In addition to his web site, you can also keep up with Bill by visiting his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/billchamplinmusic

And be sure to catch his son, Will Champlin, of Team Adam on NBC's The Voice. Show airs Mondays 8/7c and Tuesdays 9/8c.

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