Champaign

The septet, who named themselves after their hometown of Champaign, Illinois, included Pauli Carman and Rena Jones (later Day) on vocals; Michael Day and Dana Walden on keyboards; Leon Reeder on guitar; Michael Reed on bass; and Rocky Maffit on percussion/drums. The title track from their 1981 debut album, “How ‘Bout Us,” was a hit single, reaching No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart, No. 4 on the US Billboard R&B chart, and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Reed had left the group by the release of their second album, Modern Heart, which appeared in 1983 and contained the No. 2 R&B hit “Try Again” (No. 23 on the Hot 100).[

Another follow-up, 1984’s Woman in Flames, included the Top 10 R&B song “Off and On Love”. Other songs include “Party People” and “Walkin'”. Carman released his first solo album, Dial My Number in 1986. The title track was an R&B hit, peaking at No. 26. His second album, It’s Time was released the following year. It featured the single “In the Heat of the Night”, which peaked at No. 72 on the R&B charts.

Rena Jones and Michael Day eventually married.

In 1990, Champaign reconvened to record, and the Champaign IV album was released the following year. In addition to Carman, the album featured contributions/production from Michael Lane (MicoWave), Rena and Michael Day, Dana Walden, and Rocky Maffit. Although the album was not widely successful, it did herald a brief return to the US R&B chart, with the single, “Trials of the Heart”.

Former band member Michael Day died of cancer on June 7, 2001.

By 2008, Pauli Carman, the original lead singer, continued to represent the group. The Carma album, released in 2008.  In 2010, Get Back 2 Love was released. In 2013, the CD album Love Kind was released and In 2014, the album Eyes of the Spirit was released.

Continue To Rest In Peace Michael Day.