lead singer of reo speedwagon lead singer of reo speedwagon

I was talking to someone today about how the opening line of a song is so important to me. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. When LaTonya Floyd last spoke to her brother, George Floyd, days before he died last May with a police officer's knee pinned to his neck, the two sang REO Speedwagon's hit "Keep on Loving You" over the phone to each other, she told PEOPLE. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. You know, I went through some fictional years there in the past! Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song . But Ive written some of our biggest hits on the piano. Well, it turns out that the casino is on one lake and the Blue Cat on another. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. Another one like that is Keep Pushin, which I wrote a little after Music Man. That was another one where I felt likeit was soulfulI wrote it right from the heart. We pull up to the last gig of the tour and there on the marquee, in English, it says, REO Speedwagon plus ventriloquist act. We go into the venue, and not only were we sharing the bill, but we were sharing the dressing room with the ventriloquist act. We're all sitting there going, God, this is bullst. REO Speedwagon skyrocketed to fame in 1980 with their chart topping . 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. Im trained on the guitarI took guitar lessons for years when I was a kid. DK: Besides some of your big hits, what are some of your songs that are your favorites? Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. According to legend, Cronin thrashed out the lyrics to REO Speedwagons Roll With the Changes on the back of a trash bag. He was there with me.". Michael Bryan Murphy took his place, and remained with the band until Cronin stepped back up to the mic in January 1976. Before we start the interview, here is some information about REO Speedwagons hit discography, and about the other members of the band, both past and present. I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I feel so sad. DK: Keep On Loving You from Hi Infidelity is a great song. Well, that got dropped. Cronin is known to play Ovations on tour, and even has his own signature guitar from the brand. Warning: This article contains spoilers forOzarkseason 3. I didn't know what to make of it. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. Cronin: I actually wrote that song as I was traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles, when I rejoined the band; I left the band for a couple years. Cronin: Yeah, I think so. Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. He realized that the band needed songs. S.F. "We laughed, we joked it was like we knew each other forever. When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. Richrath co-wrote some of the band's songs, including "Take It on the Run," which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kodak Black Ordered Into Rehab By Florida Judge, Kodak Black Arrest Warrant Issued in Florida Over Failed Drug Test, Brad Paisley Drops Song Featuring Ukrainian Pres. 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. We did a tour of Mexico. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. So if the viewer remembers that this is a dental convention, that line is kind of funny. Or maybe it was a little thing to make me feel at home? When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? George Floyd (center) with LaTonya Floyd and her stepson Treyshawn Barker. Now, hes hoping to repeat the success of that classic track, albeit on the printed page. However, there, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about DJ PaulContinue, Your email address will not be published. So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. I know there are many writers who come up with the title and then write the song around the title. So that was the song that kind of got it going. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. At that time, my [twin] sons were 19 and my daughter was 22. George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. I was in a tough position. 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. Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. After all, hes been a mainstay in the world of rap music since the late 1980s. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It was number one (on the Hot 100 chart) for I think three weeks, which back in the 80s was quite an accomplishment. When REO Speedwagon were at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, their tours were known to get pretty wild. I didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Cronin also presented LaTonya with the plaque commemorating the Billboard chart-topping single's 1981 platinum status for sales of more than 1 million copies. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? The lead singer of REO Speedwagon is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell respectively. The neck fits my left hand perfectly, and it sounds exactly how I think an electric guitar should sound. I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. Formed in 1967, the group originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? When I rejoined, the band had moved from Champaign, Illinois to Los Angeles. REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. Chauvin, 44, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George seen on bystander video as Chauvin pressed his knee to George's neck for nearly nine minutes while George lay handcuffed on the ground during his arrest for allegedly spending a counterfeit $20 bill. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. It's a different feeling, because I'm not used to it. It gave me an outlet for expressing myself when I was very young and didnt know any other way to do it. Tell me about being on set to film your scene. He discovered his love for music at an early age, and spent most of his time outside of school honing his guitar skills. Having accidentally begun writing his autobiography during REO Speedwagons 2016 tour with Status Quo, the enforced hiatus from touring bought about by the pandemic has made him get serious about it. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. His initial period with the band proved brief. I've been singing since kindergarten. And there were some radio stations in the Midwest that were playing those songs. Cronin, 68, spoke to EW by phone about how his band ended up in the show, what it was like being on set, and also revealed one of the weirdest gigs REO Speedwagon ever played. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. 2023 Getty Images. Hi Infidelity blew the doors off the joint and people went back and discovered (early albums like)You Can Tune a Piano, But You Cant Tuna Fish and discovered R.E.O/T.W.O, and all the songs on those albums. Its an example of the power of television. They also have pleaded not guilty. Is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. Whether you're young or old, everyone loves a good song about memories and good times. So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. "Gregg . Robert Smith doesn't license Cure songs for commercials, but he made an exception in 2004 when he let Hewlett-Packard use "Pictures Of You." 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. So it all kind of came true. So thats going to be a lot of fun. Considering the band has toured with everyone from Def Leppard to Status Quo and Chicago, it promises to be unmissable. My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. One day, I was really frustrated because we had an album that was due, and we really needed that song that was going to pick up where Keep On Loving You left off, and we didnt have it. Foreigner: Lou Gramm Styx: Dennis DeYoung Journey: Steve Perry REO Speedwagon: Kevin Cronin" Teens Crash Through Overpass In Stolen Car 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. Cant Fight This Feeling is definitely the song that when most people think of me as a songwriter, thats the first one that comes to their head. REO Speedwagon has a net worth of $46 million. He guards that guitar with his life., The COVID lockdowns havent exactly been pleasant, but through adversity, comes opportunity, and in Cronins case, hes relished the chance to reconnect with his family. The May 25 incident, watched worldwide as that video went viral, sparked mass protests across the country and around the globe over police brutality and racial injustice. Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? It must have been 1989 after [late guitarist/songwriter] Gary Richrath and I parted ways and the band was at kind of a low point. Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write. Richrath released a solo album, Only the Strong Survive,in 1992. Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. 10 Things You Didnt Know about Andrew Baena, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Angel Vivaldi, The Top 10 Ice Nine Kills Songs From The Silver Scream, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Steve Jordan. Now, hes all about healthy eating and working out. Richrath last played with the band in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois, to raise money for tornado victims. Cronin: Ive written songs on both, honestly. We are pleased to do a new interview with Cronin, about how he wrote his classic REO songs, and his creative songwriting process. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. Five years later, it inspired a movie of the same name starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer. Afterwards, she spent time with Cronin, his daughter and his manager. The song was remixed for the re-release to have more Pop appeal. You have an entire episode of Ozark named after you (Kevin Cronin Was Here) and you and the band perform Time for Me to Fly in it. Who knows what came first, the chicken or the egg there. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. After trying to help him via interventions and stints in rehab, the family hit rock bottom when they received a phone call to say Paris had been arrested for possession. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/cantfightthisfeeling.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeponlovingyou.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/takeitontherun.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/rollwiththechanges.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/timeformetofly.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/dontlethimgo.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keepthefireburnin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inmydreams.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/onelonelynight.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inyourletter.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeppushin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/backontheroadagain.html, Rock Music: 49 Different Types and Their Characteristics, Loverboy Greatest Hits: The 17 Best Songs of All Time, 42 Songs About the Experience of Being 17, 48+ Songs About Good Times and Memories to Look Back On. As we all know, those memories are Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? 4 CD Lot! Additionally, I've been playing music for the better part of 14 years. Michael Murphy (actor) (born 1938), American actor Mike Murphy (musician) (1946-2006), American drummer for the Bee Gees and Chicago Michael Bryan Murphy, lead singer of REO Speedwagon; Michael John Murphy, American folk musician; Mike L. Murphy (born 1975), American film maker and animator; Michael Murphy (singer) (born 1986), New Zealand Idol runner up Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. My biggest successes are songs that I write myself. I try to stick with the inspiration, and keep as much of that initial burst of creativity in the song as I possibly can. 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. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. REO Speedwagon has released a number of successful albums, including 1980s Hi Infidelity,which sold 10 million copies in the United States. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. But this year I think I need to start tapping into the creative side of my being, because otherwise it starts exploding (laughs) in other ways. Because I had a couple lines, they gave me the script, and it didn't dawn on me at first, but then I noticed the name of the episode was Kevin Cronin Was Here. I thought that was just a working title. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, Paul McCartney was in too much 'emotional pain' to keep the Beatles going after John Lennon left. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. "When the call came in for us to appear in, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising. 'Heartland' Actor Robert Cormier Dead at 33 Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? 12 best REO Speedwagon songs 1. It was not a high point of my life. In the original script there was a shot of a banner that has a big REO Speedwagon logo and says "Welcome to the Missouri Dental Association Convention." Up until then, the songwriting was credited to the whole bandthat they all wrote the songs togetherbut I think the truth was that it was mostly Gary who would spark (the songs creation) and then the band would get together and jam and finish it. "It was so inspirational.". 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. Cronin: I would hope that the point [of this story is], when youre writing a song, you have to stick with your gut. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. During the peak of their success, the band was an almost permanent fixture on the Billboard Hot 100, racking up 13 Top 40 hits, two number 1s, and selling over 40 million records in total. I never really took any piano lessonsI just messed around with it and figured it out for myself. LaTonya Floyd, at right, with sister Zsa Zsa Floyd at their brother George's funeral June 9, 2020. Cronin: We talked about Music Manthat song has a very special place for me because it kind of got me the gig. 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). Search instead in. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO Speedwagon CD Lot! It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). The memoir (which is tentatively titled Roll With the Changes: My Life Within and Without REO Speedwagon) is now in its final stages -according to Cronin, it should be finished in time for a 2022 release. I think the main reason that I got the gig, was that REO had released one album, and they were working on songs for their second album for Epic Records. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Roll With The Changes was personally about me moving from Chicago to L.A.I was quite literally rolling with the changes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Recording-history.org is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program. "I had my eyes closed the whole time picturing my brother. Joined my first band in 2008 (a Metallica cover band) and. They perform about 100 dates a year. Ozark, a dark, violent drama about family both the crime and blood variety is not the kind of show where youd expect to hear the light classic rock stylings of REO Speedwagon. Ask me about my collection of M:TG cards! She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. REOSpeedwagonPlans HiInfidelty30thAnniversary Reissue, Tour. Search instead in. It was kind of shocking in a way. But the whole thing about the dentists, that happened in episode one. Can't Fight This Feeling And the journey continues. Then when our family sat down to watch Season 3 and I saw they actually kept that name for the episode, it was a kick. I gotta tell ya, I see the name REO Speedwagon all the time, but I don't often see my own name there. In the episodes opening sequence, Time for Me to Fly is used, then its on the car radio and Laura Linneys character Wendy is singing along. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with. Notably, both Cant Fight This Feeling and Keep On Loving You reached number one on Billboards Hot 100 singles chart, and became two of the most popular rock ballads of the 1980s. Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, died December 3 at age 48. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Do you love music? 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. So my dental line kinda bombed. And my immediate reaction was, Wait a minute, all the other characters are fictional, except for us. I'm strictly nonfiction at this point in my life. Kevin Cronin -- lead singer of '80s rock group REO Speedwagon -- heard the words straight from his own son's mouth . REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. How did it come about? The cause of death has not yet been. But the records that came before it, the songs that our fans already knew about, like Keep Pushin and Roll With The Changes and Time For Me To Fly which hadnt really been hits, but our fans knew about them. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. So it was literally time for him to fly. When you talk about (the line) I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me, the opening line from Norwegian Wood, which is arguably the greatest opening line in the history of songwriting. This song, even though it wasnt finished yet, meant so much to me and it was such a big part of who I am, that I just knew that I wanted to finish this song myself. Id just started to write a couple little silly songs. The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. But, spoiler alert: REO plays a major role in one Season 3 episode, which also happens to be named after the band's lead singer, Kevin Cronin. The bandwe were all kind of going through some chaos in our personal lives. When they wrote those songs, they were just trying to write good . It's a time when many young people feel like they are finally becoming adults. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn.