LAMAMIMET

Christopher Reed North was born on January 26, 1951, in San Francisco and raised in San Pedro, California, where he began playing in junior‑high and high‑school bands. In 1968 he formed the psychedelic group Blue Toad Flax and later co‑founded the progressive rock band Ambrosia in 1970 alongside David Pack, Joe Puerta and Burleigh Drummond.

North became Ambrosia’s primary keyboardist, contributing signature Hammond organ parts to hits such as “Holdin’ on to Yesterday,” “Biggest Part of Me,” and “You’re the Only Woman (You & I).” After a brief departure during the recording of Life Beyond L.A., he rejoined the group in 1978 and continued touring with them for decades, averaging about sixty dates a year until 2024.

Outside Ambrosia, North performed on recordings for artists like Chuck Girard and participated in tribute projects, including a John Lennon single and a Doors homage. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2024, survived an automobile accident later that year, and ultimately died in a Los Angeles hospice on March 30, 2026, at the age of 75.