Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. Some of the greatest songs ever have been written by songwriting partnerships. Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. In the REO Speedwagon band, there are two lead singers, and one is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell. So he knew that they needed some help in the songwriting department. It was one of those albums which was definitely top-heavy with songs that people, to this daythey come to our concerts and we play at least five or six songs from Hi Infidelity every night. They are Do you love animals? Cronin: I would hope that the point [of this story is], when youre writing a song, you have to stick with your gut. Foreigner: Lou Gramm Styx: Dennis DeYoung Journey: Steve Perry REO Speedwagon: Kevin Cronin" 2023 Getty Images. Michael Bryan Murphy took his place, and remained with the band until Cronin stepped back up to the mic in January 1976. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn. Then as many of my songs do, I write them and then I kind of learn about myself when Im finished with them. REO Speedwagon has a net worth of $46 million. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. Cronin managed to reach $350,000 before being eliminated after forgetting the lyrics to Donna Summers Last Dance.. Yes! 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. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Hi friends, kc here. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? REO Speedwagon is back on the Billboard charts for songs that are many decades old. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. So it all kind of came true. The first time I was introduced to her, when I saw herit was that love at first sight feeling. So the earlier songs were given a second chance as a result of the Hi Infidelity album. When you start second guessing yourself, thats when you get lost. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. YouTube Video link: REO Speedwagon band was one of the top groups in the 20th century. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. What are we doing here? I swear to you, all of a sudden from behind one of our road cases pops the ventriloquists dummy. 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. 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. DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? Songwriting and music has always been my savior in that way. We are pleased to do a new interview with Cronin, about how he wrote his classic REO songs, and his creative songwriting process. Speedwagon ), or simply REO, is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. 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. DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. It gave me an outlet for expressing myself when I was very young and didnt know any other way to do it. This is bullst.". Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold. The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). The first was a Hey, everybody, how you doing? thing. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Friday's prayer vigil with its call for justice on George's behalf "was beautiful," LaTonya said. It was really my songs that got me the gig. Do you love music? He refers to the band as The Wagon, when fans actually call you REO. The bandwe were all kind of going through some chaos in our personal lives. Theyre all home (and becoming) young adults. I literally woke up in the middle of the night and I had these three, simple piano chords going through my head. 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 the songs come in all different shapes and forms. 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. We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. Can't Fight This Feeling How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). ", "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye was inspired by Jackie Gleason's saying, "How Sweet It Is!". I used to listen to the Beatles Rubber Soul albumI know that album inside and out. As time went on, and my buddy broke up with her, we still remained friends. In addition, his songs Roll With The Changes and Keep The Fire Burning have had an enduring impact, becoming rock anthems which convey positive and uplifting lyric themes. 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. As forbes.com reports, the end result was that thousands of viewers flocked out to buy or stream the bands back catalog, leading to a major resurgence on a number of Billboard charts. DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. According to legend, Cronin thrashed out the lyrics to REO Speedwagons Roll With the Changes on the back of a trash bag. ", LaTonya added, "My dream has come true to meet REO Speedwagon. Then theres gun violence. 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. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. There was this girl in Chicago who Im still in touch with to this daywere still friends. Tell me about being on set to film your scene. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. Weiland died of an accidental overdose of alcohol and drugs, the Hennepin County (Minnesota). Busted After Ariana Found Sexual Texts to Raquel. 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. ". Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the groups hit song Take It on the Run, died Sunday, according to a publicist for the band. DK: Thats a great story about how you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling. Thank you. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. To hear people say things like this is amazing, said Bruce Hall, bass guitarist and lead and harmony vocalist for REO Speedwagon. He needed the money to buy the group's back catalogue. I sat there on the floor of my bedroom, and I thought, Alright, what is this song all about? Why cant I name this songwhy cant I write the chorus for this song? I remember where I was when I wrote that song. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. I learned most of what I know about being in a rock band from Gary Richrath, REO Speedwagons lead singer, Kevin Cronin, wrote on the bands website and Facebook page. 1 of 13. 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. He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. 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. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? 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. I'm self-taught on. Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? We were all psyched up. Well, then you're going to love this blog post! I think it's a combination of both. 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. 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. I had the verses already written. Learn how your comment data is processed. I was in a tough position. The band is actually mentioned two episodes before you appear. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. Well, that got dropped. 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. I didnt really picture myself as a Los Angeles person, Im a Midwest boy. Then of course, you refine it from there. I wanted to put any extra time that I hadobviously the band tours and thats very important to all of us. Guess what he looks like now! In 2007, REO Speedwagon released Find Your Own Way Home, their first new album in eleven years. I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. Im trained on the guitarI took guitar lessons for years when I was a kid. This album contains four US top hits and has sold more than 10 million copies! It shows how my manager calls me and asks if Im willing to launder money through our merchandise company for an extra hundred thousand dollars. 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. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all. John Waite was the lead singer for the Babys and Bad English but most likely you know him from his smash single "Missing You." Most recently, he dropped his tenth studio album "Rough & Tumble". Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. It was number one (on the Hot 100 chart) for I think three weeks, which back in the 80s was quite an accomplishment. I kind of operate under the brand name of REO Speedwagon. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. He was 65. Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 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. Currently seeking: Band to Join, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and more.Hi my name is Luke Bolen! We recorded it in Nashville, and the song of mine that [probably] got me the gig was called Music Man. It was never a huge hit, but its still in the REO setlist and it was basically my fantasy of how my life would turn out. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, REO Speedwagon scored numerous hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including two chart-topping singles written by Cronin: "Keep on Loving You" (1981) and "Can't Fight This Feeling" (1982). No. Speaking to Guitar World about his favorite piece of kit, he said: People tell me its too valuable to take on tour, but I love playing that guitar so much that I dont care. Its like the stars lining up. So well seethis year should be interesting. But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. LaTonya Floyd, at right, with sister Zsa Zsa Floyd at their brother George's funeral June 9, 2020. Cronin: That song, coincidentally, was number one 35 years ago from right now. So I wanted to drive. The album contained four Top 40 hits: Keep On Loving You and Dont Let Him Go (written by Cronin), plus Take It On The Run and In Your Letter (written by lead guitarist Gary Richrath, who left REO in 1989 and sadly passed away in 2015). Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. I felt like I had a fever and my stomach hurt. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. 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. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. The songs for that album had a certain cohesive nature to them. About The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write. I saw both seasons, all the way through, and I was like, Im ready to go. Then I thoughtyou know what, so be it, then thats how it has to be, because thats what this songs name is. Richrath co-wrote some of the bands songs, including Take It on the Run, which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. The last time they toured together was 2018, but now theyre promising a comeback to the stage with a multi-act major tour. So far, Cronin is keeping mum on who the other acts will be, telling Ultimate Classic Rock, The two other bands will remain nameless for the moment but suffice to say, theyre really both great friends of ours. What was it that inspired you to write it? The song kind of came first. Richrath released a solo album, Only the Strong Survive,in 1992. In 2008, Cronin took a break from the recording studio to appear as a celebrity contestant on Dont Forget the Lyrics! The premise of the show revolved around contestants competing for a prize pot of $1million by selecting songs to sing along to alongside a karaoke-style video screen. Since rejoining the band, Cronin has penned the bulk of their most successful songs, including Keep the Fire Burnin', I Do Wanna Know, Keep on Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling, In My Dreams, and Dont Let Him Go. Kevin Patrick Cronin (born October 6, 1951) is an American singer and songwriter, who is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and pianist for the rock band REO Speedwagon. 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. We wanted to see the Blue Cat [Lodge; the set is a shuttered bar on Lake Allatoona] and the strip club, Lickety Splitz. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Recording-history.org is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program. 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. My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. "It means so much," LaTonya said. Cronin: Well for me, songwriting has been kind of a solitary journey. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. In fact, the group's best-selling album is Hi Infidelity. It's a different feeling, because I'm not used to it. For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. 2023 Getty Images. 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REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and occasional pianist for the American rock band REO Speedwagon. He was 65. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. It took a long time, and I wrote that song before I finally got the guts to tell her. REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin turns to his kids for advice when deciding on new projects including the band's recent cameo on Netflix's "Ozark.". Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song . If you catch Linda at a wedding be sure to check out the dance floor. But if theres one guitar he never leaves home without, its his trusty 52 Fender Telecaster. DK: So what were you thinking about, when you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling? [I think] co-writing is a lot of funit definitely makes the process of songwriting more enjoyable because youre not sitting there by yourself. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. I sat down and started playing those chordsthat was what the song came from. But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. After the stage performance, we sang, 'I Can't Fight This Feeling' and a couple of his other songs. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? 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 when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. Tickets start at . 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." "If I want to see if . Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'. Required fields are marked *. Warning: This article contains spoilers forOzarkseason 3. The bands most famous album, Hi Infidelity, which was released in 1980, has sold 10 million copies and became the best-selling rock album of 1981. Now, hes hoping to repeat the success of that classic track, albeit on the printed page. Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. "It was so inspirational.". 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. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Still now, this band is remarked and will be noted for its best performance in rock kinds of music. So it was literally time for him to fly. Classic Rock at the best online prices at eBay! He left education after graduating from Chicagos Brother Rice High School, having already become convinced that his future lay in music, not business. All the songs I write, they spring from an initial burst of creativity that kind of gets the ball rolling. I never really took any piano lessonsI just messed around with it and figured it out for myself. The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned. It's a time when many young people feel like they are finally becoming adults. My wife is an amazing person. Yet Im thinking this song is so important to me and I think its got the potential to be a real special song in the world, but this title is going to kill it. So to me, my experience has been that my strongest songs are the ones where it all kind of happens at once. So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. 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). Who knows what came first, the chicken or the egg there. October 6, 1951 Birthplace Evanston , IL Age 71 years old Birth Sign Libra About American guitarist and lead singer for the rock band REO Speedwagon who wrote "Keep on Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling." Before Fame He was first chosen as the second lead singer of REO Speedwagon at age twenty in 1971. Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. Honestly, when I finished that song, I was really youngI was 18 or 19 when I wrote that song. and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. So I called up and cancelled the songwriting session. Meanwhile, their 1988 compilation album, The Hits, entered the Top Rock Albums chart at 49. I try to stick with the inspiration, and keep as much of that initial burst of creativity in the song as I possibly can. It took me 10 days. 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. It was not a high point of my life. I feel so sad. Maybe you have and maybe you havent, at least not yet. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. Its kind of a blessing and a curse. I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. I've been singing since kindergarten. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? Derek Chauvin's Use of Force Was 'In No Way, Shape or Form' Proper, Police Chief Testifies.
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