What inspired you to write this song? Can Kevin Cronin still sing? amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. They continued to work at the music, performing stage shows, touring, and recording. I wanted to put any extra time that I hadobviously the band tours and thats very important to all of us. The band's most famous album, Hi Infidelity, which was released in 1980, has sold 10 million copies and became the best-selling rock album of 1981.The album contained four Top 40 hits: "Keep On Loving You" and "Don't Let Him Go" (written by Cronin), plus "Take It On The Run" and . So well seethis year should be interesting. Dont second guess it. DK: I think Keep Pushin' is one of the great songs from REOs early years, and maybe if it was released later in the mid-80s when the band was so hot, it could have been another big hit. There are some good cover band concerts next year for The Doors, Billy Joel, The Eagles, Pet Shop Boys and maybe some other favorites. I used to think we had to play fast, loud and hard all the time. So when I finished Cant Fight This Feeling, I realized that yeah, Ive gotta make this move. Ive gotta do what Im saying in this songIve got to make this happen. We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. DK: A few years later, you followed up with another big ballad, Cant Fight This Feeling. Is this song perhaps the most popular song youve written? Gratzer left REO Speedwagon in 1988, leaving Doughty as the sole original member. It ended up being our first gold record. Then on the day that Eric and I were supposed to co-write, I literally woke up that morning and I felt like I had the flu. Band member and lead singer Kevin Cronin stressed about the announcer getting the name right. It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). DK: Thats a great story about how you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling. Thank you. Who is famous for playing a 12-string guitar. REO Speedwagon discography - Wikipedia You know, our audiences are interesting. The original members of this band are as follows. Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. [1] [5] During 1925, however, Scott, like many of his contemporaries/competitors, began an ambitious expansion program designed to make the company more competitive with other automobile manufacturers by offering cars in different price ranges. 50 Years Later, REO Speedwagon Keeps On Rollin' Classic Rock 105.1 relates that the Speedwagon was designed as a series of light, quick delivery vehicles a sort of precursor to today's pickups. In fact, many bands from the 80s had some pretty strange names like Styx, Guns N Roses, Tears for Fears, Mtley Cre, Aerosmith, etc. But then once I got done with the craftsmanship part of it, I thought HeyI think I could hear this song on the radiopeople might want to listen to it. Its funny, when youre just starting out as a songwriterwhen youre trying to figure things out and see what your path is and where youre headingas I reminisce and think about it, it seems I have these sweet memories of that time. Richrath was from Peoria, IL and was an amazing songwriter who wrote fresh material for the band, even driving 100 miles to see and become a part of the band. Its a disagreement, but it isnt antagonistic. They perform about 100 dates a year. Bruce Hall joined REO Speedwagon after the You Get What You Play For tour. But unlike the latter three, REO has been unable to garner support out of that regionalized base. I didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. We circled our wagons and started making some changes We changed everything except the record company. So that was special. He formed the band in the fall of 1967, with original drummer Alan Gratzer. On this he learned to play Light My Fire by The Doors. Find REO Speedwagon Loveland tickets, appearing at Budweiser Events Center in Colorado on Nov 17, 2023 at 7:30 pm. Richrath was 65. Songwriting and music has always been my savior in that way. This week a month and a half later its moved up to 54 with a bullet and 61 with a bullet respectively in those same trade publications. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. REO Speedwagon (originally styled as R.E.O. amzn_assoc_asins = "B007V4QM78,B000066405,B00H7J8A68,B00138J9F0,B0069FCW9C,B000050IM9,B00004ZB26,B00701QUWO"; Adapted from the Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky) January 20, 1985. REO Speedwagon - Wikipedia document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It could be that you are wondering whether you are in the right place. Very glad theyre still touring, new albums or not. REO Speedwagon (originally styled as R.E.O. Thats another way of doing it. Featured image: Bruce Hall, Kevin Cronin, and Dave Amato perform in 2018. REO Speedwagon Artistfacts - Songfacts Were in tune with ourselves and I trust our taste. REO Speedwagon Loveland Tickets - Budweiser Events Center - Nov 17, 2023 The Hi Infidelity album was the one that broke things loose. You can upload: image. REO Speedwagon performing live in 2010 (top) and 2016 (bottom). Ransom E. Olds was an entrepreneur who founded multiple companies in the automobile industry. Basically what we said was, Im not going to let you have these songs on a record unless we produce them ourselves. amzn_assoc_title = "REO Speedwagon"; They perform about 100 dates a year. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Saturday Evening Post is a nonprofit organization funded primarily by our members. The resulting Nuclear Corporation of America, Inc., diversified and purchased other companies to become a conglomerate, spreading into an array of fields including prefabricated housing and steel joist manufacturing in addition to nuclear services. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. Required fields are marked *. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? Designed by Battle Creek, Michigan, newspaper editor J.H. Brown, the automobile included a drop-down sleeping extension, a built-in gas cooking range, and a refrigerator. But endurance in the face of uncertainty has long been a trademark of REO Speedwagon. Were happy with the sound, because we got what we wanted rather than what some producer wanted. Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). Kevin Cronin - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Learn how your comment data is processed. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "clickamericana-20"; Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946) is an American keyboardist, best known as a founding member of the rock band REO Speedwagon and the only member to have played on every album. REO Speedwagon Multiple Choice Quiz | REO Speedwagon | 10 Questions Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. The band from Illinois has managed to, yes, roll with the changes for more than five decades. "During dress rehearsal, they introduced us as Reo Speedwagon," said Cronin, as reported by Rolling Stone. [4], In 1915, Olds relinquished the title of general manager to his protg Richard H. Scott, and eight years later he ended his tenure as the company's presidency as well, retaining the position of chairman of the board. [7] The final REO model of 1936 was a Flying Cloud. DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. Neal Doughty Kevin Cronin Bruce Hall Dave Amato Bryan Hitt Many people think the current lead singer of REO Speedwagon is dead! In 1923, the company sold an early recreational vehicle, called the "Motor Pullman Car". He helped REO Speedwagon release five Platinum-selling hit albums, including Wheels Are Turnin'. Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946 in Evansville, Indiana) is an American keyboardist, best known as a founding member of the rock band REO Speedwagon and the only member to have played on every album. I saw them in 1997 at the Universal Amphitheater with Survivor and Blondie. Each studio album landed with a resounding thud on the national scene. The bandwe were all kind of going through some chaos in our personal lives. The band formed in the autumn of 1967 by Neal Doughty and Alan Gratzer. REO Speedwagon is the epitome of a hard-working band that keeps showing up for the fans. Formed in 1967, the group originally included drummer and backing vocalist Alan Gratzer, guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and lead vocalist Mike Blair, and keyboardist Neal Doughty. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. But what about you? Its the first weve done all by ourselves. ClickAmericana.com is made with and by Synchronista LLC 2011-2022. We usually play as the opening act or as special guests, but this time were headlining.. REO Speedwagon hometown, lineup, biography | Last.fm Thats my titlethats what this song is about. And sure enough, it ended up working out. ALSO SEE: Peter Frampton tells how he finally found success with Frampton Comes Alive! (1976). Temporary guitarist Bill Fiorio later found fame under the name Duke Tumatoe. Cronin went on to explain how he felt the band three years ago to give a solo career a try. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. The 8-cylinder model was sold through 1933 with minor updates. Most of these businesses failed and the company was bankrupt again by 1966. But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. Right away, they formed a rock band. Kevin Cronin - Wikipedia [9] White then merged REO with Diamond T Trucks in 1967 to form Diamond Reo Trucks. After the Good Trouble tour, we needed a break, Cronin said. (Brandon Nagy / Shutterstock), Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. That's not true, it's REO Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath who has died. He was taking a class, History of Transportation, and found "R.E.O. One album I know I "bought" from the Columbia House Record and Tape Club was REO Speedwagon's 1978 classic,You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish.There are . It was great. I was an unknown, unproven commodity as far as performingGary never really saw me play anywherehe just came up to my apartment and we got out a couple acoustic guitars, and I played some of my songs. So the answers to those other questions are separate topics, but here I wanted to explain just where REO Speedwagon got their name. Cronin: Yeah, I think so. Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, withTerry Luttrelltaking his place on lead vocals. 1 hits Keep on Loving You and Cant Fight This Feeling., Celebrity Q&A, Featured Article, Where Are They Now, https://americanprofile.com/articles/where-are-they-now-reo-speedwagon-video/, https://americanprofile.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reo-speedwagon-150x150.jpg. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Cronin: Well, I will tell youI was thinking about this todaythis year (2016) will be the year that I get back to knucklin down. What do you think of their name? This site uses cookies but never sells your personal information. On the very first night, he met who would be his lifetime friend and bandmate, Alan Gratzer, and the two held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dorm. Speedwagon) is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. As of late, its received quite a bit of FM airplay, and the latest LP, a live two-record set, entered the Rock World record chart at 160 with a bullet, and Cashboxs at 186 with a bullet. It peaked at number 171 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1981, [1] and reached platinum status in 1989. Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the release of the band's explosive Hi Infidelity which contained the . [3] Blair left a few months after Matt, with Gregg Philbin taking his place. DK: Keep On Loving You from Hi Infidelity is a great song. The latter I had tickets for June 2020 but had to have my $$ credited back due to the situation. That same year, Philbin left and the band added bassist Bruce Hall, who remains at the spot today. The original members of REO Speedwagon are: Kevin Cronin on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and occasionally piano Neal Doughty on keyboard Alan Gratzer on drums, percussion, and backing vocals Gregg Philbin on bass and backing vocals How did REO Speedwagon get its name? guitarist Gary Richrath If you liked this article, please share it! If I can inspire any young songwriter with anything that Im saying today, thats probably the most important thing that Ive learned over the years. Shortly afterwards, four of their songs reentered the Billboard rock charts. The truck was, of course, the REO Speed Wagon, though the band closed Speedwagon to one word. Founding member of REO Speedwagon dies | FOX 2 It is estimated that REO produced around 20,000 of these trucks and, unlike the original Studebaker trucks which were also used by the United States, the REO versions were only for export to the Soviet Union. Luckily, I had the sense to stick with my gut and sure enough, Cant Fight This Feeling ends up being the most popular song Ive ever written. [7] Mike Murphy took over and recorded Ridin' the Storm Out, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, but was replaced by a returning Cronin in 1976. lead singer of reo speedwagon - vente-pneu-merignac.fr There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. The album spawned four hit singles that were written by Cronin and Richwrath, including Keep On Loving you (Cronin), Take It on the Run(Richrath), In Your Letter (Richrath) and Dont Let Him Go (Cronin). REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. He was first chosen as the second lead singer of REO Speedwagon at age twenty in 1971. I couldnt figure it out, and as a result, I had a really hard time finishing that song. Then I thoughtyou know what, so be it, then thats how it has to be, because thats what this songs name is. R.E.O. Richrath is REOs lead guitarist and along with Cronin the principal creative force behind its music. Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. Founded in 1967 and fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin, REO Speedwagon's unrelenting drive, as well as non-stop touring and recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. REO Speedwagons popularity began to decline in 1987 when the album Life as We Know It didnt sell nearly as many as the others. Whats your opinion of this band? REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. Now I see them any time they come near me just due to to the fact.they earned my ticket purchase. They were the guest band for a Saturday Night Live/SCTV knockoff called Fridays back in 1981. For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. Speedwagon" written across the blackboard when he walked into the classroom. Over the past nine years, ever since coming out of the Midwest college bar circuit, REO have been one of the hardest-working bands anywhere, winning droves of hard-core fans by playing upwards of 300 shows a year and managing to find time between tours to record seven albums. He called John Boylan, a producer he liked, and asked whether, in that case, hed start over. He said, Im going to be a part of that band whether they like or not before making it happen. Olds had 52% of the stock and the titles of president and general manager. Alan Gratzer - Musician - Music database - Radio Swiss Pop I feel as if it is our first album.. The path to success is not often linear, and a band that knows that better than many is the multi-platinum band REO Speedwagon. The 8-35 & 8-52 are considered full CCCA classics. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. 2023 American Profile, All Rights Reserved. But for me, I usually write the song first and then I find the title in the song. R.E.O. Mike Murphy took over and recordedRidin' the Storm Out,Lost in a DreamandThis Time We Mean It, but was replaced by a returning Cronin in 1976. The current lineup of REO Speedwagon consists of Cronin, original member Neal Doughty (keyboards), Bruce Hall (bass), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums). The record company people told me to stick with the band, he said, then laughed. It also contains affiliate links in which we earn a fee from qualifying sales. Gary Richrath, REO Speedwagon Guitarist, Dead at 65 - Yahoo After we did it, Gary and I sat in Johns office and called up radio stations and asked them to play it and see if they got a phone response. REO has been recording since 1971, but the success that sent Cronin and his band members into such a culture shock came a decade later, when Hi . The rest of the band went with it as their first advertisement went out in their school newspaper at a frat party, which later turned into a food fight. Theyre a partying kind of rock n roll audience. Brad Adams, San Diego, California, The band REO Speedwagon, which originated in Champaign, Illinois, in 1967, consists of original member Neal Doughty, 67; Kevin Cronin and Bruce Hall, who joined in the 1970s; and Dave Amato and Brian Hitt, who came aboard in 1989. We are pleased to do a new interview with Cronin, about how he wrote his classic REO songs, and his creative songwriting process. The vocalist was replaced byKevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second albumR.E.O./T.W.O. It was the name of a 1915 model of truck that bore the initials of its designer, the legendary automaker Ransom E. Olds, founder of Olds Motor Vehicle Company. The songs for that album had a certain cohesive nature to them. As time went on, and my buddy broke up with her, we still remained friends. In 1897 Olds founded Oldsmobile. Every other album weve made wed start recording at 10 at night and drag home at 7 the next morning, completely dry. [3], In April 1927, Reo introduced the Wolverine brand of cars as a companion model to the Flying Cloud. The album went double-platinum and produced two signature songs, Roll with the Changes and Time for Me to Fly. Though their subsequent Nine Lives record had a harder edge, the band chose after that recordto broaden their approach to incorporate more pop layers into their rock sound. Cant wait to see them again its been 30 years going to freedom hall in old Johnson city end of Feb stay healthy gods speed. "There are actually quite a few people who can say they were members of REO," according to Gratzer. Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. It was basically Garys responsibility to write the songs, and I think he realized thatyou know what they saythat you have your whole life to write your first album but only a year to write your second albnm. It gave me an outlet for expressing myself when I was very young and didnt know any other way to do it. Its funnyeven though it was 35 years ago, it still feels like it was just yesterday to me, because I remember writing it so vividly. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. At about $35, theyre affordable too. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. He realized that the band needed songs. For tax reasons a group of shareholders successfully challenged the liquidation in a proxy fight in September 1955, and forced REO to take over a tiny nuclear services company called Nuclear Consultants, Inc. in a reverse takeover. We started out as friends. So when the Hi Infidelity album came out and Keep On Loving You went to number one, then suddenly people started looking back and realized, Wait a minute, that was REOs 11th album, maybe I should check out their earlier albums because there might be some good songs on it after all (laughs). REO Speedwagon's 1977 Concert & Tour History | Concert Archives Theyre great in concert too. The band made an appearance in one episode of the Netflix series Ozark; the one guest-spot put four of the bands songs back on the Billboard rock chart in 2020. Usually for me, the title is the last thing that happens. Tools Ridin' the Storm Out is the third studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1973. Doughty retired from touring with REO in January 2023, though remains an official member. They also gained a strong supporter in the St. Louis, MO-based radio station, KSHE, one of the United States most influential rock stations. In 1897 Olds founded Oldsmobile. He was an early adopter of the Moog synthesizer, which can be heard on the opening swoop of "Ridin' the Storm Out". Richrath also left early the next year, with Miles Joseph filling in for a show beforeDave Amatotook over in May. But who are the original members of REO Speedwagon? He was 65. It had a 115-inch (2,900mm) wheelbase. Take, for example, the biography of REO Speedwagon. But I remember when I just struggling to figure it out and the journey that a song takes is so remarkable and thinking back as a young songwriter, I remember that Keep Pushin' was the first song that I actually wrote that I thought Yeah, I could hear this on the radio. If it came on the radio, I dont think I would turn the channel (laughs). The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. Needless to say, the energetic Cronin was speedier than normal during our 90-minute talk. A convertible Victoria was listed at $3,195 but only one is known to have been built. The band itself has never left the road, hitting the tour circuit with ongoing regularity. So the earlier songs were given a second chance as a result of the Hi Infidelity album. The company's name was spelled alternately in all capitals REO or with only an initial capital as Reo, and the company's own literature was inconsistent in this regard, with early advertising using all capitals, and later advertising using the "Reo" capitalization. But then looking back on it, and now seeing the impact that Cant Fight This Feeling has had on my life, the life of everyone in the REO Speedwagon family, the lives of people whom Ive never met all over the worldpeople have played that song at their weddings. Traveling 4,176 miles (6,720km) from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Vancouver, British Columbia, in a 1912 REO special touring car, mechanic/driver Fonce V. (Jack) Haney and journalist Thomas W. Wilby made the first trip by automobile across Canada (including one short jaunt into northeastern Washington State when the Canadian roads were virtually impassable). [12][13] Also in 1989, Bryan Hitt replaced Lear on drums,[14] while Jesse Harms joined as a second keyboardist, performing on the band's 1990 album The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. The latter two songs charted as Billboard singles, with "One Lonely Night" cracking the top 20. Speedwagon through 2009's Not So Silent Night . So I wanted to drive. Blair left a few months after Matt, with Gregg Philbin taking his place. All Rights Reserved. Free shipping for many products! The model 8-35 was priced from $2,745 for the sedan to $3,000 for the convertible coupe. Subscribe now. Its like a college diploma, Cronin said. It just so happens that the album came out when I was in junior high school. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. Through it, we work off each other, work things out, and improve because of it. [15] Since the end of Harms's brief tenure with the group, REO Speedwagon has retained a consistent lineup of Neal Doughty, Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, and Bryan Hitt[16] until 2023 when Doughty was replaced by former Iron Butterfly and Whitesnake member Derek Hilland.[17]. Beginning of REO Speedwagon. My biggest inspiration in music is the Beatles, and Lennon & McCartney in my mind are the great songwriting duo in the history of the world, and I owe everything that I know about being in a band, writing a songI owe it all to the Beatles. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. Your email address will not be published. REO Speedwagons most recent updates are performing with Pitbull in the song Messin Around live on the ABC TV show Greatest Hits in 2016. But with [Music Man] I thought, Hmmmthis song had structure to it, it has a nice feel to it, there were some nice rhymes in it. The subjects that we were writing about were what was going on in our lives, since we were all in the same boat in a lot of ways. [6] The vocalist was replaced by Kevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second album R.E.O./T.W.O. So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. This happens in any artistic endeavor. His most notable playing includes the Hammond organ solo on "Roll with the Changes" and the honky-tonk piano work on "157 Riverside Avenue". Success in Rock music requires many long hours, hard work. Gregg Philbin would become the bassist, and in 1970, the band added a legitimate guitar hero in Gary Richrath. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety. What Happened During the Video Game Crash of 1983? It was actually Doughty who first followed Gratzers band, listening to them play songs. I think so. Beverly Rae Kimes, editor of the Standard Catalog of American Cars, terms the Royale "the most fabulous Reo of all". Richrath had wanted to join the band and knew that he could take them to a new level with his artistry and songwriting. Crownover only lasted two years when Bill Fiorio replaced him before also leaving in late 1969, taking the name Duke Tumatoe and forming the All Star Frogs. It wasnt long before Gratzer, bassist Mike Blair, and guitarist Joe Matt decided to quit the old band and join Doughty in a new one. Were going in, says Cronin, in a totally different way. Cronin: Well for me, songwriting has been kind of a solitary journey. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. The response has been ridiculous, Cronin said with a smile. REO Speed Wagon was a 1915 truck that was designed by Ransom Eli Olds, but the company pronounced it as REE-oh like one word whereas the band pronounced each letter individually. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. The words referred to a 1915 vehicle produced by the founder of the Oldsmobile automotive company, Ransom E. Olds. [17] Members [ edit] Current [ edit] Former [ edit] Timeline [ edit] Rarely has a musician uttered a truer statement and for REO fans and those who would like to be REO fans, its going to mean some held breath and crossed fingers over the next few months. And when I had that realization, I went down to my piano room and I wrote the B section and the chorus in about 15 minutes.
Apartments For Rent Helena, Mt,
Lomita Breaking News Today,
Articles W
