Chris Rainbow

Born: 18 November 1946

Years Active: 1971–2015

Died: 22 February 2015

Age: 68

Genre/s: Pop rock, progressive rock

Label/s: EMI, Polydor, Vital Spark Music

Christopher James Harley, known by his stage name Chris Rainbow (18 November 1946 – 22 February 2015), was a Scottish pop rock singer-songwriter and musician, known for his solo work and his significant contributions to The Alan Parsons Project from 1979, as well as his work as a backing and occasional lead vocalist for Camel in the 1980s. Rainbow also composed jingles for Radio One and Capital Radio.

Rainbow's solo songs such as "Give Me What I Cry For" and "Solid State Brain" received positive critical reception upon release, and were played by British radio DJs Kenny Everett and Tony Blackburn in the early 1970s. Due to exposure on TikTok, Rainbow's 1979 song "Be Like a Woman" made its chart debut in February 2026 on the UK Independent Singles Breakers Chart, peaking at No. 15. It also reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 75 on the Canada Hot 100, and amassed over 140 million streams on Spotify.

Through his career, Rainbow contributed to many other projects by various artists both as musician and producer; his long-time collaborator Alan Parsons stated he was a "One Man Beach Boys" in a posthumous tribute.