Chris Rainbow

Chris Rainbow was a Scottish pop-rock singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who became an influential presence in 1970s British and Scottish radio, prized as much for his engineering and production sensibilities as for his singing. His solo material combined lush, layered harmonies with polished studio pop-rock craftsmanship, songs like «Solid State Brain» and «Give Me What I Cry For» became favorites among British radio DJs, admired for their meticulous production and sunny, Beach Boys-indebted vocal stacking.

His song «Dear Brian» was a heartfelt tribute to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, reflecting Rainbow's deep affinity for the vocal-harmony pop tradition that Wilson pioneered — an influence audible throughout his catalogue. That connection extended into his work as a guest vocalist across multiple records by the Alan Parsons Project, where his voice became a recurring and recognizable presence within the group's progressive, concept-driven pop-rock sound.

Rainbow's career exemplifies the craftsman side of Scottish pop-rock: less a chart-driven pop star than a musician's musician, respected for vocal arrangement and studio precision. He remained active in music until his death in 2015, leaving a body of work that continues to be valued by harmony-pop enthusiasts and collaborators alike.