Chris "Hotlips" Lawson
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​World class trumpet artist, vocalist and dynamic entertainer, Chris “Hotlips” Lawson stays constantly on the go, performing on cruise ships all over the world, soloing with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra, (CSPO) doing clinician and guest-soloist work – or getting’ down and dirty in a jazz club.
 
In addition to playing lead trumpet with nearly 100 different cruise ship show-bands, Chris performs his own “headliner” show regularly on land and sea.
 
Inspired personally by Doc Severinsen when he was a boy, Lawson’s professional career began touring/soloing all over Europe with the 33rd U.S. Army Band out of Heidelberg, Germany. He has been performing and soloing with the CSPO and freelancing ever since from his home in Colorado Springs.  
 
Chris has enjoyed the privilege of performing and soloing with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including:     
Bob Hope, Tony Bennett, Doc Severinsen, Arturo Sandoval, The Temptations, The 4 Tops, The Colorado (Denver) Symphony, The Glenn Miller Orchestra and many, many more.  Please see a more complete list below.
 
An accomplished improviser, Chris has been very fortunate to perform with many jazz bands and jazz festivals over the years.  Again, please check below for a list of “jazzers” he has performed & soloed with.
 
Highlights of Chris’ career include soloing twice with Arturo Sandoval and the CSPO, plus performing with Arturo’s band at the Aspen Jazz Festival. 
 
Lawson has been a featured soloist with the Sun River Music Festival Orchestra in Oregon, served as principal trumpet with Central City Opera and has performed and soloed numerous times with the CSPO.  Freelance work has included many musicals, numerous big bands (usually lead), jazz combos, many different rock, funk & Latin dance bands in clubs & private functions, numerous military funerals, lots of church work and solo/clinician work in schools & universities, as well as keeping his calendar full with short cruise ship contracts.  
 
Chris is especially well known for his high-note mastery of the trumpet but is as comfortable playing for a religious service as he is screamin’ with a Big Band.

 
 

Artists & Entertainers Chris Lawson Has Performed With:
Bob Hope
Tony Bennett
Doc Severinsen
Arturo Sandoval
Mel Torme
Natalie Cole
Frankie Valli
Ray Charles
Lou Rawls
BB King
John Denver
Wayne Newton
Linda Ronstadt
Sarah Vaughan
John Tesh 
Roy Clark
Martha & The Vandella’s
Mary Wilson
Rita Moreno
Maureen McGovern
Judy Collins
Nell Carter
Manhattan Transfer
The Temptations
The 4 Tops
The Four Freshmen
The Platters
The OJ’s
The Smothers Brothers
Yes
War
Heatwave
 
Symphony Orchestras:
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra
The Colorado Springs Chamber Orchestra
The Colorado (Denver) Symphony
The Boulder Symphony Orchestra
The Sun River Music Festival Orchestra
The Central City Opera Orchestra
The Cuchara Music Festival Orchestra
 
Jazz artists & Bands:
James Morrison
Bobby Shew
Bill Watrous
Carl Fontana
Clark Terry
Slide Hampton
Chuck Findlay
Frank Mantooth
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Woody Herman Orchestra
The Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey Bands
Arturo Sandoval’s Big Band
The Neophonic Jazz Orchestra (Joel Kay’s)
The Colorado Springs Contemporary Jazz Big Band 
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