[6] Hi Infidelity spawned four hit singles written by Richrath and Cronin, including the chart-topping "Keep On Loving You" (Cronin),[3] plus "Take It on the Run" (#5) (Richrath), "In Your Letter" (#20) (Richrath), and "Don't Let Him Go" (#24) (Cronin), and remained on the charts for 65 weeks, 32 of which were spent in the top ten, including 15 weeks atop the Billboard 200. Born on October 6, 1951, in Illinois, United States became a big icon in the 80’s. [22], You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish, The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon, You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish, Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon, List of artists who reached number one in the United States, "Now It's Cheat to the Beat, as Reo Speedwagon Finally Arrives with 'Hi Infidelity, "REO Speedwagon Will Dedicate Every Show to Late Guitarist Gary Richrath 'Probably Forever, "REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on Louisville, power ballads and if my wife's a slut", "Styx, REO Speedwagon Team Up For "Rockin'" Tour, Single", "REO Speedwagon Plans 'Hi Infidelty' 30th Anniversary Reissue, Tour", "Live Nation Announces REO Speedwagon And Chicago Summer Tour", "Def Leppard Announce Summer Tour With REO Speedwagon and Tesla", "UK TOUR WITH STATUS QUO & THE LOUNGE KITTENS ANNOUNCED", "Styx, REO Speedwagon, Don Felder Ready for 'United We Rock' U.S. Tour, Starting June 20th", "REO Speedwagon's 'Hi Infidelity' receives 10X Diamond Award", "REO Speedwagon drive back into the charts thanks to Ozark appearance", Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon, The Yule Log DVD, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=REO_Speedwagon&oldid=1001182724, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Alan Gratzer – drums, percussion, backing vocals, Mike Murphy – lead vocals, occasional rhythm guitar, This page was last edited on 18 January 2021, at 16:12. The Story Behind “Ridin’ The Storm Out”… Read More. Richrath had driven 100 miles (160 km) to see the band and become a part of it. Gary Richrath, the REO Speedwagon guitarist who wrote some of the band's biggest hits, has died, according to a post by REO lead singer Kevin Cronin. The concert was held on December 4, 2013 in Bloomington, Illinois. The commercial failure of the band's newer material with its revised lineup demanded a change in marketing strategy. In 1979, the band took a turn back to hard rock with the release of Nine Lives.[3]. Terry Luttrell (born 1947 Champaign, Illinois) is an American rock singer/musician best known as lead vocalist for both REO Speedwagon (1968–1972) and Starcastle (1973–1979). Families impacted by the storm and first responders sat near the stage for this special REO concert. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. During a phone interview, vocalist Kevin Cronin shared a story about busted lampshades in Tulsa and told Gary Richrath, the REO Speedwagon guitarist who wrote some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Take It on the Run” and “In Your Letter,” died Sunday, according to a … They held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dormitory and soon started a rock band. ", The band came storming back two years later with Wheels Are Turnin', an album that included the #1 hit single "Can't Fight This Feeling" plus three more hits: "I Do' Wanna Know" (U.S. #29), "One Lonely Night" (U.S. #19), and "Live Every Moment" (U.S. Back up singers Carla Day and Melanie Jackson were also added. Gary Richrath reunited with REO one final time for a performance of "Ridin' the Storm Out" to end REO's set at the sold-out concert. Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitarist and prolific songwriter who brought fresh original material to the band. They were the last songs recorded with Gary Richrath and Alan Gratzer. The band appeared in an episode in the third season of the American TV series Ozark, which was released on Netflix on March 27, 2020. Cronin's return came after Greg X. Volz turned down the position for lead vocals due to his conversion to Christianity. Hard-working and hard-rocking band from the Illinois heartland who morphed into million-selling power balladeers by the '80s. [11], In November 2009, REO Speedwagon released a Christmas album, Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon. Some of their more well-known songs are the 70's rock staples "Ridin' the Storm Out" and "Roll with the Changes", as well as 80's power-ballads "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". He was first chosen as the second lead singer of REO Speedwagon at age twenty in 1971. On his first night, he met fellow student Alan Gratzer. The band's success hit its peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but are still releasing records such as Find Your Own Way Home in 2007. He then joined REO once again in Los Angeles in May 2000 for the same encore but no serious plans for a reunion ever materialized. Rather than pronouncing REO as a single word as the motor company did ("REE-oh"), they chose to spell the word out, pronouncing each letter individually ("R-E-O"). The lineup on the first album consisted of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin, and Luttrell.[3]. [5] Philbin was replaced with another Champaign, Illinois musician, Centennial High School alumnus, Bruce Hall,[2] to record You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish. They held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dormitory[1][2] and soon started a rock band. Over the course of its career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and has charted 13 Top 40 hits, including the number ones "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". He graduated from Chicago's Brother Rice High School. Crownover played guitar for the group until the summer of 1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. The keyboard player was the leader, but several other band members were unhappy with the situation. As a consequence, Epic began re-releasing recordings from older albums with updated artwork and design. 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.” “If … [15] Gary Richrath died on September 13, 2015, due to complications from surgery. Music video by REO Speedwagon performing Roll with the Changes. Epic agreed to let them produce their first live album, Live: You Get What You Play For, which was eventually certified platinum. Kevin Cronin appeared on the Netflix original series Ozark along with bandmates from REO Speedwagon in S03E03. [3] Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut where it recorded original material for its first album. 1987's Life as We Know It saw a decline in sales,[3] but still managed to provide the band with the top-20 hits "That Ain't Love" (U.S. #16) and "In My Dreams" (U.S. If you head to the movie theater to see "Rock of Ages" this weekend, pay close attention to a street protest scene toward the end of the movie. The band released a self-financed album entitled Find Your Own Way Home in April 2007. Luttrell had played guitar with a local Champaign band, Terry Cook and the Majestics, in the early to mid-1960s. His oldest child is a son named Paris from a previous marriage. Having lost their recording contract with Epic, REO Speedwagon ended up releasing Building the Bridge (1996) on the Priority/Rhythm Safari label. An advertisement in the school newspaper produced their first job, a fraternity party that turned into a food fight. He recorded one album with the band, 1972's R.E.O./T.W.O., but left the band soon after because of missed rehearsals and creative disagreements. REO Speedwagon's mainstream popularity waned in the late 1980s, but the band remains a popular live act. He reached $350,000 before forgetting the lyrics to "Last Dance" by Donna Summer. [3] The album produced only one, and - to date - the band's last Billboard Hot 100 single, "Love Is a Rock," which peaked at #65. In the fall of 1966, Neal Doughty entered the electrical engineering program at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, as a junior. On March 11, 2012, Kevin Cronin appeared on the Canadian reality TV series Star Académie. Richrath was originally from the town of East Peoria which was damaged during the storm. As the lead singer & songwriter of the multi-platinum rock band REO Speedwagon, Kevin Cronin has been the band’s guiding force since joining the group in the mid-1970s. Cronin was a celebrity contestant on Don't Forget the Lyrics! Steve Scorfina (who would go on to found progressive rock/album-oriented rock band Pavlov's Dog) came aboard for over a year, composing with the band and performing live, before being replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970. The members returned to school in the fall of 1967, and had their first rehearsal before classes started. Kevin has stated in various interviews that they "play for free but get paid for the traveling". Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song "Take It … [3] That same year, the band moved to Los Angeles, California. Cronin's return came after Greg X. Volz turned down the position for lead vocalist after becoming a Christian. [6] Original drummer Alan Gratzer left in September 1988 after he decided to retire from music to open a restaurant. Kevin Cronin is an American celebrity who became popular in the late 80’s with the American Rock band “REO Speedwagon.” He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and also a pianist for the band. The title refers to the Westport, Connecticut address, where the band stayed while recording in Leka's studio in Bridgeport and remains an in-concert favorite. on March 27, 2008. He also has a daughter Holly, his youngest kids are twins, Josh and Shane. Cronin joined REO Speedwagon shortly after the group recorded its debut album in 1971. REO Speedwagon is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. On November 22, 2013, they announced a benefit concert with Styx titled "Rock to the Rescue" to raise money for the affected families of the tornadoes in central Illinois. In 2000, REO teamed up with Styx for an appearance at Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis, which was released as a live concert video Arch Allies: Live at Riverport. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. Adorable duet with Holly, Kevin Cronin's daughter at Kaaboo Music Festival in Del Mar, CA (Sept 13 2019) Speedwagon) is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. "I had no intention of writing a book. He has written or co-written many of the band's hit songs such as "Keep on Loving You", "Can't Fight This Feeling", "Keep the Fire Burnin'", "I Do' Wanna Know", "Keep Pushin'", "Roll With the Changes", "Time for Me to Fly", "Here With Me", "In My Dreams", and "Don't Let Him Go". He attended St. Linus Catholic Elementary School. Formed in 1967, … Cronin is from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, area. He was then replaced by Mike Murphy as the lead singer who recorded their third album named Ridin’ the Storm Out and two more albums with the band. They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 truck that was designed by Ransom Eli Olds. REO Speedwagon continued to score further hit albums (1982's Good Trouble, 1984's Wheels Are Turnin') and singles ("Keep the Fire Burnin'," the number one hit power ballad "Can't Fight This Feeling," etc. After the appearance, four of REO's songs reentered the Billboard rock charts. [3] The album was released in 1978 and has received FM radio airplay over the years, thanks to songs like "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly". [3] Depending upon which band member is expressing an opinion, it was either because Philbin was disenchanted with the new corporate-structure REO where Cronin and Richrath got bigger slices of the pie instead of the equal credit they once shared as a "garage band", or he was asked to leave over his lifestyle issues affecting the music quality. [8] The Hits (1988) is a compilation album from REO Speedwagon. Read more about Steve’s journey with REO Speedwagon, Pavlov’s Dog, Michael … After that, Miles Joseph and the back up singers were dropped in favor of former Ted Nugent guitarist Dave Amato (who was brought aboard in May 1989) and keyboardist/songwriter/producer Jesse Harms. REO Speedwagon had several hits on the Billboard Hot 100 throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including two chart-toppers written by Cronin: "Keep on Loving You" (1981) and "Can't Fight This Feeling" (1985). [10] They teamed up with Styx to record a new single entitled "Can't Stop Rockin'", released in March 2009, as well as for a full tour that included special guest .38 Special. [7] On July 13, on the way to a show in Milwaukee, the band made a stop in Philadelphia to play at the US leg of Live Aid, which broke a record for number of viewers. His lead vocals allowed REO to complete Ridin’ the Storm Out.He then recorded two more albums with them, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It.Michael went on to perform with such noteworthy groups as Chuck E. Weiss & The Goddamn Liars, and Billy Vera and the Beaters. The thing is, I am working on the ultimate blog…a book! With their equipment being hauled to dates in a friend's station wagon, REO played bars and clubs all over the Midwest. With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. Speedwagon, was released on Epic Records in 1971. Doughty began to follow Gratzer's band, eventually sitting in on a song or two. [3] Although it was not as successful as its predecessor, the album performed moderately well commercially, featuring the hit singles "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (U.S. #7), "Sweet Time" (U.S. #26) and the Album Rock chart hit "The Key. The band's follow-up album, Good Trouble, was released in June 1982. The group's best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), contained four US Top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies. Steve is a Legendary Musician playing with some of the biggest names in music. Cronin returned to the fold in 1976. Though it did not chart as an album, it produced two singles I Needed to Fall (Cronin) and Find Your Own Way Home (Cronin) which appeared on Billboard's Adult Contemporary radio chart. "Take It on the Run" is the fifth track on the REO Speedwagon album Hi Infidelity. Cronin's wife is named Lisa. On his Farfisa organ, he learned "Light My Fire" by The Doors. On his first night, he met fellow student Alan Gratzer. In September 1998, Gary Richrath briefly joined REO onstage at the County Fair in Los Angeles to play on the band's encore song, "157 Riverside Avenue". REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. Shortly after his departure, Richrath assembled former members of the Midwestern band Vancouver to form a namesake band, Richrath. [16] In 2016 the band went on tour with Def Leppard and Tesla.[17]. In the fall of 1966, Neal Doughty entered the electrical engineering program at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, as a junior. In early 2014, it was announced that REO Speedwagon and Chicago would be teaming up for 15 dates throughout 2014. Lear had already been invited to join REO in September 1988 as Gratzer's successor and Joseph was brought in as a temporary stand-in for Richrath. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Ernie Ball Acoustic & Electric Guitar Strings, "REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on Louisville, power ballads and if my wife's a slut", "Thanks To The Netflix Show 'Ozark,' REO Speedwagon Is Back On The Charts In A Major Way", You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish, The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon, Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon, The Yule Log DVD, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Cronin&oldid=1001158951, BLP articles lacking sources from April 2010, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 January 2021, at 13:53. [3] It contains the new tracks "I Don't Want to Lose You" and "Here With Me." REO Speedwagon had several hits on the Billboard Hot 100 throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including two chart-toppers written by Cronin: "Keep on Loving You" (1981) and "Can't Fight This Feeling" (1985). The first lineup consisted of Doughty on keyboards, Gratzer on drums and vocals, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals, Mike Blair on bass and vocals. Posting on the band's social media accounts, he says, "I know it has been far too long since I posted here.I miss you all. REO Speedwagon toured the US in 1985, including a sold-out concert in Madison, Wisconsin in May. Since 1995, the label has released over a dozen compilation albums featuring greatest hits, including 1999's The Ballads which featured two new songs Just for You (Cronin and Jim Peterik) and Till The River's Run Dry (Cronin). [2]. As Patricia The band performed with Pitbull the song "Messin' Around" live on the ABC TV show Greatest Hits in 2016; that version of the song was also released as a single on iTunes. [21] REO and Chicago once again teamed up for tour dates during the summer of 2018. He currently lives in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S. They made a list of songs to learn over the summer break, and Doughty landed a summer job to buy his first keyboard. He was replaced by Kevin Cronin. The album was REO's first to make the Top 40, peaking at #29. [3] Cronin recorded one album with the band, 1972's R.E.O./T.W.O. The band signed to Epic Records in 1971. Their most famous album, Hi Infidelity, sold over 10 million copies. "Take It on the Run" was the follow-up single behind the group's number one hit, "Keep on Loving You". [12] On December 2, the band released an online video game, Find Your Own Way Home, produced by digital design agency Curious Sense. It was Cronin’s melodic sensibility that transformed REO into one of America’s biggest bands in the 1980s. [3] Doughty had seen the name written across the blackboard when he walked into his History of Transportation class on the first day they had decided to look for a name. The band's debut album, R.E.O. REO Speedwagon lead singer/rhythm guitarist Kevin Cronin and drummer Bryan Hitt, background, during their Saturday night performance at the Effingham Performance Center. Happy Thanksgiving from the REO Family REO Speedwagon singer and guitarist Kevin Cronin is the latest artist to put pen to paper and write a memoir.. This lineup did only one show, on January 7, 1989, in Viña del Mar, Chile, where it won the award for best group at the city's annual International Song Festival. In 2017, Hear No Evil Recordings released an excellent REO Speedwagon box set entitled ‘The Early Years’. Read Full Biography. REO Speedwagon continues to tour regularly, performing mostly their classic hits. 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 The episode was entitled "Kevin Cronin Was Here," and they performed "Time for Me to Fly." It also reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart. Hi Infidelity sold over 10 million copies. Gratzer had been a drummer since high school, and was playing in a local group on the weekends, while Doughty had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano. [20] In 2017 the Hi Infidelity album received the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over 10 million copies. Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold. By the late 1980s, the band's popularity was starting to decline. The game was the first "downloadable casual game" produced with a rock band and was cited by numerous publications including The New York Times as an innovative marketing product for a music act. REO Speedwagon will perform Saturday, July 27 at the River Spirit Casino Resort. They continued to perform cover songs in campus bars, fraternity parties, and university events. but left the band during the recording sessions for 1973's Ridin' the Storm Out because of internal conflicts. In 1977, bassist Gregg Philbin left the band. Luttrell left the band in early 1972, eventually becoming the vocalist for Starcastle. Murphy stayed on for two more albums, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, before Cronin returned to the fold in January 1976 and recorded R.E.O., which was released that same year.[3]. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. "Here with Me" cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. [18] The band toured the UK arena circuit with Status Quo in December 2016. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. The title track did make R&R's AC Top 30 chart. Kevin Patrick Cronin (born October 6, 1951) is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and occasional pianist for the American rock band, REO Speedwagon. 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." After touring for several years, the Richrath band released Only the Strong Survive in 1992 on the GNP Crescendo label. When that label went bankrupt, the album was released on Castle Records, which also experienced financial troubles. Kevin Cronin came back again in the year 1976 and replaced Murphy as the lead singer of the band. [13] In Summer 2010, the band — then touring with Pat Benatar — announced that it would release a 30th anniversary deluxe edition reissue of Hi Infidelity.[14]. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. REO once again teamed with Styx in 2003 for the Classic Rock's Main Event tour which also included another band from their common rock era, Journey. REO Speedwagon Even after more than 40 years of success, Kevin Cronin, lead singer of arena rock specialists REO Speedwagon, never takes the band’s status for granted. The Midwestern United States was the original REO Speedwagon fan stronghold and is pivotal in this period of the band's history. He was born in north suburban Evanston, Illinois and grew up (and learned guitar) in southwest suburban Oak Lawn. REO Speedwagon Biography by Greg Prato + Follow Artist. He is quoted as saying "I'm going to be a part of that band whether they like it or not", and then went about making it happen. In early 1989, Gary Richrath was fired after tensions between him and Kevin Cronin boiled over. The popularity of the show led to a resurgence onto the billboard charts for REO Speedwagon in April, 2020, and placement onto digital charts not in existence at the time of the initial hit songs. The REO portion of the show was released again under three separate titles: Live - Plus (2001), Live Plus 3 (2001) and Extended Versions (2001) (which was certified gold by the RIAA on April 26, 2006). When Mike Blair left the band in the summer of 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced Blair, Marty Shepard played trumpet and Joe McCabe played sax until McCabe moved to Southern Illinois University. Gratzer had been a drummer since high school, and was playing in a local group on the weekends, while Doughty had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano. #34).[3]. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. And it was his songs that gave them their two US number one hits: the quintessential power … Well, … The album went on to sell over two million copies in the US, ultimately achieving double platinum status. (C) 1978 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainmenthttp://vevo.ly/wu653O They performed "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Roll With the Changes," which featured members of the Beach Boys, the band members' families, and Paul Shaffer on stage for backing vocals. [19] The band toured the US with Styx and Don Felder on the "United We Rock" tour, debuting June 20, 2017, at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater. Although the rest of the band's lineup remained stable, REO Speedwagon switched lead vocalists three times for their first three albums. The 1990 release The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, with Bryan Hitt (formerly of Wang Chung) on drums, was a commercial disappointment. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. [9] Cronin had been playing in The Strolling Dudes, a jazz ensemble that included jazz trumpet player Rick Braun (who had co-written the abovementioned "Here With Me" with Cronin), Miles Joseph on lead guitar and Graham Lear on drums. In 1977, REO convinced Epic Records that their strength was in their live performances. REO Speedwagon ultimately self-financed this effort, which failed to chart. Richrath stayed on stage to help with the encore of "With a Little Help From My Friends" along with REO, Styx, Richard Marx, and others. REO Speedwagon headlined on the M&I Classic Rock Stage at the Milwaukee Summerfest on June 30, 2011. The song was written by lead guitarist Gary Richrath. The rock band, REO Speedwagon gained immense popularity in the early 1980s. On November 21, 1980, Epic released Hi Infidelity,[3] which represented a change in sound, going from hard rock to more pop-oriented material. REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin is one. #19). Richard Marx joined REO on stage for a joint performance of two of his hit songs. [3] The most popular track on this record was "157 Riverside Avenue". Richrath (the band) continued to perform for several years before disbanding in the late 1990s. He appears on an infomercial advertising TimeLife's Ultimate Rock Ballads,[1] which feature tracks by REO Speedwagon, mostly from the 1980s, when the band enjoyed their greatest success. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Michael Murphy is the former keyboard player and lead singer for REO Speedwagon from 1973-76. On the last day of the university's spring semester, guitarist Joe Matt called the band's leader and told him that he, drummer Gratzer, and bassist Mike Blair had decided to leave the band to start a new one with Doughty. Kevin Patrick Cronin (born October 6, 1951) is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and occasional pianist for the American rock band, REO Speedwagon. [4] Ridin' the Storm Out was completed with Michael Bryan Murphy on lead vocal, and featured Neal Doughty's "wailing storm siren" entrance on the title track. written by REO Speedwagon January 22, 2016. 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