Nicky Chinn

Nicky Chinn was one half of the most commercially productive songwriter team of Britain’s glitter-rock era, partnering with Mike Chapman to pen a series of incessantly catchy hit singles. Born in London Chinn began his career in songwriting in 1970, and within a month of beginning to write songs he wrote the title track for the film There’s a Girl in My Soup, as well as the other main song featured on the movie’s soundtrack. That same year he met Mike Chapman and, after finding they had similar songwriting aspirations, the two teamed up. Chinn and Chapman would begin working closely with Mickie Most and would not only go on to write many hits for the artists on Mickie’s label, but sign their own artists to the label as well. In 1971, they would go on to pen Sweet’s first two major hits. Over the next few years the pair enjoyed their greatest success with Sweet with a string of hits including “Ballroom Blitz,” which shot to #5 on the U.S. charts, and “Little Willy” which went to #3 on the U.S. charts. From there, Chinn and Chapman began to branch out and work with other artists, moving into production as well as writing. They wrote a series of smashes for Suzi Quatro and Smokie. In 1978 the duo saw additional success with the #1 hit “Kiss You All Over” by Exile. Chinn and Chapman would continue to write hit after hit through the early 80s including Toni Basil’s 1982 chart-topper “Mickey.”