I try to stick with the inspiration, and keep as much of that initial burst of creativity in the song as I possibly can. "When Gregg left the band in 1977, he took with him the prog-leaning extended instrumental section aspect of the REO sound," Cronin wrote. These words do not come close to expressing the depth of emotions I am feeling at this time.. The first was a Hey, everybody, how you doing? thing. I'm self-taught on. 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. 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. "When the call came in for us to appear in, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising. 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. Is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? In 2007, REO Speedwagon released Find Your Own Way Home, their first new album in eleven years. 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. 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. 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. On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Recording-history.org is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program. It gave me an outlet for expressing myself when I was very young and didnt know any other way to do it. But at the end of the episode, Marty gets dragged out of our concert and you don't know what happens to him until the next episode, where he's in Mexico. 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. 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. 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. He was like, 'Oh my God, you're a true fan!' How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. At that time, my [twin] sons were 19 and my daughter was 22. Cronin: That song, coincidentally, was number one 35 years ago from right now. I told the writer, You know, thats not what I would normally say. What Ive been saying for I don't know how many years is, Hey Cincinnati, check yourselves out. And then our light guy puts the spots on the audience. But the whole thing about the dentists, that happened in episode one. All Rights Reserved. [1] Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. The episode also featured one of the bands most popular tunes, Time for Me to Fly. Its fair to say they hadnt troubled the charts for some years, but the show seemed to remind people of just how good they could be. About The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon Thats another way of doing it. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. He might still occasionally enjoy the odd glass of wine at dinner, but he makes sure to drink it by the glass rather than the bottle. So I wanted to drive. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. As we all know, those memories are Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? 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. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. 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. 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. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? I was talking to someone today about how the opening line of a song is so important to me. They are Do you love animals? and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. She began at a small local paper covering up and coming bands. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO Speedwagon CD Lot! DK: Besides some of your big hits, what are some of your songs that are your favorites? I think it's a combination of both. 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. I saw both seasons, all the way through, and I was like, Im ready to go. We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. 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. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. ", "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye was inspired by Jackie Gleason's saying, "How Sweet It Is!". Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. "It was just amazing," she said. "Pretty In Pink" by Psychedelic Furs was released in 1981. I remember thinking to myselfWowCant Fight This Feelingwhat a horrible, f**king song title. But it certainly did come together. Paul Natkin/WireImage. Or maybe it was a little thing to make me feel at home? "The lead singer of REO Speedwagon, Kevin - he's a rock-n-roll Hall of Famer - he said, 'How about that LaTonya, your first live performance, and you've got a platinum record already.' ". 2023 Getty Images. 1980 - Present43 years. It's a different feeling, because I'm not used to it. 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. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. I had the verses already written. (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. The opening line may be even more important than the title. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. Showing Editorial results for reo speedwagon. I just couldnt get the courage up, to make that leap of vulnerability, to share with her that I had feelings for her that were more than friendship. When I rejoined, the band had moved from Champaign, Illinois to Los Angeles. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. You know, I went through some fictional years there in the past! 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? Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. These are ten things you didnt, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Andrew BaenaContinue, Angel Vivaldi is a New Jersey-based progressive metal guitarist, composer, producer, environmentalist, and philanthropist. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. If they made a home-version of the LHC, I'd have 2. 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." Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, September 10, 1982. Cronin had been inspired to write the album after his son, Paris, fell into drug addiction. Cronin: Well for me, songwriting has been kind of a solitary journey. 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. [I think] co-writing is a lot of funit definitely makes the process of songwriting more enjoyable because youre not sitting there by yourself. She doesn't hold back. Theyre one of my favorite bands of all time, and I thought it was, Read More The Top 10 Ice Nine Kills Songs From The Silver ScreamContinue, Have you heard of American rap artist 2KBABY? 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. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. This is bullst.". Derek Chauvin's Use of Force Was 'In No Way, Shape or Form' Proper, Police Chief Testifies. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. YouTube Video link: REO Speedwagon band was one of the top groups in the 20th century. Collect, curate and comment on your files. In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit 'Time for Me . Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Afterwards, she spent time with Cronin, his daughter and his manager. So to me, my experience has been that my strongest songs are the ones where it all kind of happens at once. At that point, Cronin decided to dole out some tough love and stop enabling his son. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. So that was special. Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric. 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. Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. Thanks to their appearance, REO songs "Keep On Loving You," "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Time for Me to Fly," and "Take It On the Run" have all re-entered Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart. It was monumental.". Click to buy the track or album via iTunes: http://smarturl.it/REOEssiTunes?IQid=RUNGoogle Play: http://smarturl.it/REORunPlay?IQid=RUNAmazon: http://smarturl.it/REOEssAmz?IQid=RUNMore from REO SpeedwagonKeep On Loving You: https://youtu.be/wJzNZ1c5C9cCan't Fight This Feeling: https://youtu.be/zpOULjyy-n8Here With Me: https://youtu.be/m8yKgLKJFjQMore great classic rock videos here: http://smarturl.it/ClassicRocks?IQid=RUNFollow REO SpeedwagonWebsite: http://www.speedwagon.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/REOSpeedwagonOfficialTwitter: https://twitter.com/kcreospeedwagonInstagram: https://instagram.com/reospeedwagonofficial/Subscribe to REO Speedwagon on YouTube: http://smarturl.it/REOsub?IQid=RUN---------Lyrics:Heard it from a friend whoHeard it from a friend whoHeard it from another you been messin' aroundThey say you got a boy friendYou're out late every weekendThey're talkin' about you and it's bringin' me downBut I know the neighborhoodAnd talk is cheap when the story is goodAnd the tales grow taller on down the lineBut I'm telling you, babeThat I don't think it's true, babeAnd even if it is keep this in mindYou take it on the run babyIf that's the way you want it babyThen I don't want you aroundI don't believe itNot for a minuteYou're under the gun so you take it on the run For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. When REO Speedwagon were at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, their tours were known to get pretty wild. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. Cronin: Well, I will tell youI was thinking about this todaythis year (2016) will be the year that I get back to knucklin down. This album contains four US top hits and has sold more than 10 million copies! When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! When MTV launched in 1981, they played the video, as REO Speedwagon were huge at the time, with a string of hits from their, Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band). Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. Additionally, I've been playing music for the better part of 14 years. I could have very easily followed that fear that I had about that title and thought Oh Man, I better not call it this, because of some commercial concern. Cronin: I think so. 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. So we wrote that into the script. There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. After all, hes been a mainstay in the world of rap music since the late 1980s. 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. 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 just really felt like it was a two-person job [this past year] more than ever. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. 4 CD Lot! Here is the Q&A interview with Kevin Cronin: DK: When did you join REO Speedwagon, andhow did you developa key role as the bands singer & songwriter? Well, then you're going to love this blog post! Linda has been writing professionally since November 2012. The band is actually mentioned two episodes before you appear. Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. "We laughed, we joked it was like we knew each other forever. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Meanwhile, their 1988 compilation album, The Hits, entered the Top Rock Albums chart at 49. 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). I was in a tough position. All of his kids have left home, but when his daughter started working remotely and his sons colleges closed, all three moved back into the family home. 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. The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. DK: Keep On Loving You from Hi Infidelity is a great song. When my children were born, I didnt name my children when my wife was pregnant. I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. I had just stopped at a truck stop in New MexicoI had a brown paper bag that was sitting on the seat next to me, when the thoughts of the lyrics started coming to me. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. 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. No. But my friend, Sammy Hagar, his brand name is Sammy Hagar. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song . "I had my eyes closed the whole time picturing my brother. As my father always used to say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and in songwriting thats ityour opening line. "It was so inspirational.". It was number one (on the Hot 100 chart) for I think three weeks, which back in the 80s was quite an accomplishment. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . 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. Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn. Kevin Cronin -- lead singer of '80s rock group REO Speedwagon -- heard the words straight from his own son's mouth . The. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. Search instead in. REO Speedwagon has a net worth of $46 million. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. So that was the song that kind of got it going. George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'. Find out more about their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist as we reveal 10 things you didnt know about Kevin Cronin. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. REO Speedwagon, Boz Scaggs Latest To Sue Sony Music Over Digital Downloads, I feel so sad. Please subscribe. I didnt really picture myself as a Los Angeles person, Im a Midwest boy. 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. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. So he knew that they needed some help in the songwriting department. Maybe you have and maybe you havent, at least not yet. Its like the stars lining up. I can always pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano. "Gregg . I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. So it all kind of came true. After releasing one album (1972s R.E.O./T.W.O,), he left the band during the recording of 1973s Ridin the Storm Out over creative differences. 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. Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. In the REO Speedwagon band, there are two lead singers, and one is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell. Honestly, when I finished that song, I was really youngI was 18 or 19 when I wrote that song. Thats my titlethats what this song is about. Required fields are marked *. He goes, [Spanish accent] This is bullst. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. With '80s hits like "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling," Kevin Cronin became famous as the lead singer of REO Speedwagon. I thought that if I co-wrote it with someone, I had a feeling it would lose something that was really necessary for the song to happen. In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit Time for Me to Fly being used during a drug cartel kidnapping sequence, the group also makes a cameo, playing a concert at the casino and entering into a money laundering arrangement with Marty (Jason Bateman). The bandwe were all kind of going through some chaos in our personal lives. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Although Philbin left the band just before they reached the heights of their commercial success, lead singer Kevin Cronin wrote that no one should forget his contribution to REO Speedwagon's sound. A dentist tells Wendy he wants REO to plays a dental convention on the Missouri Belle riverboat casino. DK: A couple years later REO released Hi Infidelity, which became your biggest album. 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. Its an example of the power of television. I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. They were told they could either bail him out or Paris would spend the next 4 days in jail. Free shipping for many products! Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. He was there with me.". Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names. So the songs come in all different shapes and forms. As time went on, and my buddy broke up with her, we still remained friends. Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. But for me, I usually write the song first and then I find the title in the song. On Friday, as the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for George Floyd's murder continued in Minneapolis, REO lead singer Kevin Cronin joined LaTonya and others for a vigil honoring George, 46, at The Community of Faith Church in Houston, where Cronin and LaTonya stood on stage and sang the song together. Tickets start at . My wife is an amazing person. Chauvin's defense in his trial, which began March 29 with prosecution testimony, is due to start next week. 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. 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. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. It took a long time, and I wrote that song before I finally got the guts to tell her. The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned. And there were some radio stations in the Midwest that were playing those songs. 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 But I think it served its purpose because people at the record company heard it, REO Speedwagon fans heard itif they didnt hear it on the radio they heard us playing it live. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Currently seeking: Band to Join, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and more.Hi my name is Luke Bolen! We did a tour of Mexico. When Mike Blair left the band in the summer of 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced . Teens Crash Through Overpass In Stolen Car 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. 9/28/2010 1:00 PM PT With '80s hits like " Keep On Loving You " and " Can't Fight This Feeling ," Kevin. Foreigner: Lou Gramm Styx: Dennis DeYoung Journey: Steve Perry REO Speedwagon: Kevin Cronin" Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. My biggest successes are songs that I write myself. 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. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. The songs for that album had a certain cohesive nature to them. 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).