Charles Jeremy Jankel (born 16 April 1952, Stanmore, England) professionally known as Chaz Jankel, is a musician best known as the keyboard player and guitarist with Ian Dury and The Blockheads. He was co-writer with Dury of the band's best-known songs during its commercial peak in the late 1970s.

Biography

Jankel was responsible for much of the funk influence in the Blockheads' music; his fondness for it is also evident in his solo career.

First hooking up with Dury as part of the pub group Kilburn and the High-Roads in the early part of the 1970s, Jankel was asked by Dury to join his new outfit, and appeared on such Dury releases as 1977's New Boots and Panties!! and Blockheads releases such as 1979's Do It Yourself, before leaving the group. But in 1981, Jankel teamed up once more with Dury (sans the Blockheads), for the release Lord Upminster, which spawned the U.S. Top 40 dance hit "Spasticus Autisticus." But by this time, Jankel had become more interested in pursuing a solo career and he issued several releases for A&M such as 1980s self-titled debut, 1981's Chasanova and Questionnaire (the latter of which contained the U.S. dance hit "Glad to Know You," a collaboration with Dury, plus the MTV video hit of the title track).

Quincy Jones had a UK chart hit with his version of Ai No Corrida which reached #14 in April 1981.

Jankel hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1982 with the triple A-side "Glad To Know You"/"3,000,000 Synths"/"Ai No Corrida". In 1984, "Number One" went to #1 in the clubs in France. 1983's Chazablanca and 1985's Looking at You are other releases for A&M. Jankel returned to the Blockheads after his solo career in America, and worked with Dury on his final two albums (Mr. Love Pants, Ten More Turnips From The Tip). Jankel continues to perform and write with the Blockheads today, after Dury's death in 2000.

Jankel has several composer credits for films, including D.O.A. (1988), which was co-directed by his sister Annabel Jankel; and K2. He contributed the song "Number One" to the soundtrack of the 1985 film Real Genius. Jankel composed much of the music for the Ian Dury biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, in which he was also portrayed by Tom Hughes. Jankel received a Bafta nomination for the film's music.

My Occupation – The Music Of Chaz Jankel is a compilation of Jankel’s biggest works: "Ai No Corrida", "Glad to Know You" and "You're My Occupation". "Get Myself Together" is a lost B-side.

Jankel's sister Annabel was the co-creator of the iconic Max Headroom character, and is a commercial director.