Ken Tamplin

Ken Tamplin (born December 11, 1963) is an American Christian rock performer and vocal coach. Tamplin is known for his vocal range (four octaves) and has composed music for television and movies.
Ken Tamplin is a pioneer musician. He started playing guitar at age eight and later adapted his study of music to other instruments including his voice. At 12 another significant event changed Tamlpin's life forever. In the process of building a rocket, it accidentally discharged into his stomach ripping open his spleen. Infection set in and the doctors didn't have much hope that he would live through the night. His mother called prayer chains across the country to pray for her son and in two days the infection and wound were virtually undetectable. He is a living miracle. The power of that experience focused Tamplin on a loyalty to Christian beliefs that has encouraged and blessed his life ever since.
In 1984, Tamplin joined Joshua, his first major rock band and assisted in the recording of Surrender, the groups second studio outing. "Joshua wasn't necessarily a Christian band," Tamplin told us poolside at the Ultrasound 2000 show. "There were Christians in the band but we played our type of music, which transcended well to both rock and Christian rock markets. It's kind of interesting in that Joshua played at the first Dynamo Festival in Europe years ago and here I am at the first Ultrasound Festival."
In 1988, Tamplin left Joshua to form his own band, Shout, with Idle Cure's guitarist Chuck King - but before cutting his ties he contributed to three tracks on Joshua's third record Intense Defense (1988). Both Shout records, It Won't Be Long (1988) and In Your Face (1989) were landmark albums in the arena of Christian rock. The lyrics were positive and inspirational though not over the top or 'preachy' and the guitar-fueled musicianship was ranked among the best by both critics and fans. It was Shout's similarity to Foreigner and Whitesnake that led to Tamplin being heralded as the next David Coverdale and with his four-octave range, he proved he was up for the challenge.
"I got compared to Sammy (Hagar) my cousin too. I never really tried to sound like him or anyone else for that matter," says Tamplin. "If anything I'm influenced by such great singers as Paul Rodgers and Lou Gramm - but my biggest influences are Aretha Franklin, Wilson Picket and Otis Redding. They really started the whole soul thing. And that's what I love."
By the early '90's Tamplin was recording as a solo act. This allowed him the freedom of mixing a number of different influences and styles under his monarch while still retaining a loyal fan-base. Axe To Grind (1990), Soul Survivor (1991), Tamplin (1993), In The Witness Box (1995) and We The People (1995) all faired well, especially in Europe and Japan.
In the dawn of the new century, Tamplin found himself busier than ever working in films (The Waterboy and Major League III) and TV (Baywatch, X Files and First Wave).
In 2001 Tamplin produced the album Make Me Your Voice, featuring gospel singer Andrae Crouch, to help raise funds for Christian groups working in Sudan.
Ken Tamplin's magnetic energy, dedication and enthusiasm are what inspired and coverted the many people lucky enough to have heard him play. His songs are a reflection of one man's journey through life and the effect the world has on him. It is his gift through music that lifts the soul, challenges the mind and moves one closer to an understanding of the Divine.