For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. It took me 10 days. 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. 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. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Biggest hit "Sister Christian" (1984) took the band to . Kevin Cronin -- lead singer of '80s rock group REO Speedwagon -- heard the words straight from his own son's mouth . Foreigner: Lou Gramm Styx: Dennis DeYoung Journey: Steve Perry REO Speedwagon: Kevin Cronin" I've also got a horrible habit of needing the absolute newest technological wonder, whether it's stable or not. It's one of my favorite moments, because when I play those opening guitar chords, everybody in the place stands, everybody's got their lighters or cell phones up. I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. He realized that the band needed songs. 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". 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. Find out more about their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist as we reveal 10 things you didnt know about Kevin Cronin. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned. Hearing Time for Me to Fly in that show, there may well be people who heard that song for the first time and went, Oh, that's cool. It took a long time, and I wrote that song before I finally got the guts to tell her. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. It was basically Garys responsibility to write the songs, and I think he realized thatyou know what they saythat you have your whole life to write your first album but only a year to write your second albnm. 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. Search instead in. It's a different feeling, because I'm not used to it. So it all kind of came true. I wrote Time For Me To Fly on the guitarmost of my songs I write on the acoustic guitar. 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. He goes, [Spanish accent] This is bullst. 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. Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. I couldnt figure it out, and as a result, I had a really hard time finishing that song. He was there with me.". Midway through the song, the words disappeared from the screen and the singer had to rely on memory to get through the rest. He was 65. 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). 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. I remember thinking to myselfWowCant Fight This Feelingwhat a horrible, f**king song 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. Theres no bigger influence for me. Band members read about that anecdote in PEOPLE and responded by contacting Floyd family attorney, Ben Crump, to say they'd like to give LaTonya a surprise. If you catch Linda at a wedding be sure to check out the dance floor. It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). Gary, Posted by REO Speedwagon onSunday, 13 September 2015, Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. 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. [But] they sent me the first two seasons of the show and I got on the tour bus, got in my bunk and binge-watched. So that was the song that kind of got it going. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. 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. 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). 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. 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. Or maybe it was a little thing to make me feel at home? The opening line may be even more important than the title. There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. What are we doing here? I swear to you, all of a sudden from behind one of our road cases pops the ventriloquists dummy. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. Theres something going on emotionally for me, usually some kind of a feeling that I either dont understand yet, or I understand and havent figured out how to express it yet. I'm self-taught on. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. The first time I was introduced to her, when I saw herit was that love at first sight feeling. Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. Required fields are marked *. In 2007, REO Speedwagon released Find Your Own Way Home, their first new album in eleven years. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. Basically, the only songs I can play on piano are those that I wrote (he laughs). In the REO Speedwagon band, there are two lead singers, and one is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell. 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." Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. 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. But my friend, Sammy Hagar, his brand name is Sammy Hagar. On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with. 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). It was not a high point of my life. Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. 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. The career of Antonio Vivaldi defies music industry logic. Songwriting and music has always been my savior in that way. 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. I didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. Now Central Louisiana fans will have the chance to hear those songs and more live in concert when REO Speedwagon performs at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. For example, In 2011, He worked on Universal Language with producer Will, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Angel VivaldiContinue, Ice Nine Kills is a metal band that hails from from about an hour from where I grew up: Boston, MA. For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. I was talking to someone today about how the opening line of a song is so important to me. "It's like a direct connection with my brother that was our song," LaTonya, 52, told PEOPLE afterward. So the songs come in all different shapes and forms. Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? REO Speedwagon is back on the Billboard charts for songs that are many decades old. But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. Richrath released a solo album, Only the Strong Survive,in 1992. "When the call came in for us to appear in, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising. 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. When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. 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. DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? 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. Linda has been writing professionally since November 2012. 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. So I was quite literally and figuratively rolling with the changes (laughs). REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. 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). "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.' I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, died December 3 at age 48. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. 9/28/2010 1:00 PM PT With '80s hits like " Keep On Loving You " and " Can't Fight This Feeling ," Kevin. When I rejoined, the band had moved from Champaign, Illinois to Los Angeles. Get recommendations for other artists you'll love. When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. Showing Editorial results for reo speedwagon. We started out as friends. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Even our (REO) song Take It On The Run which Gary Richrath wrote, Heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend, who heard it from another youve been messin aroundwhen I heard that line that Gary wrote, I said this song is amazing. I was determined to do everything I could possibly do to get that song finished and help Gary in any way, so we could record that song, because that opening line just killed me. 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). A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. The band is actually mentioned two episodes before you appear. Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We wanted to see the Blue Cat [Lodge; the set is a shuttered bar on Lake Allatoona] and the strip club, Lickety Splitz. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? Cronin: We talked about Music Manthat song has a very special place for me because it kind of got me the gig. So that was special. I named my children after they were born and I looked at them, and I saw their little bodies, and they kind of told me what their names should be to some degree. Weiland died of an accidental overdose of alcohol and drugs, the Hennepin County (Minnesota). When fans of the Netflix show Ozark tuned in to its third season, they were treated to a surprise appearance from Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon during episode three. 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. So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. "It means so much," LaTonya said. But it would be fun to have some success as a co-writer. ", LaTonya added, "My dream has come true to meet REO Speedwagon. We thought it was all going to be right next to each other, like on the show. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. 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. We are pleased to do a new interview with Cronin, about how he wrote his classic REO songs, and his creative songwriting process. This album contains four US top hits and has sold more than 10 million copies! It was number one (on the Hot 100 chart) for I think three weeks, which back in the 80s was quite an accomplishment. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. says the actress. Formed in 1967, the group originally included drummer and backing vocalist Alan Gratzer, guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and lead vocalist Mike Blair, and keyboardist Neal Doughty. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. Its an example of the power of television. The lead singer of REO Speedwagon is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell respectively. The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. His initial period with the band proved brief. The subjects that we were writing about were what was going on in our lives, since we were all in the same boat in a lot of ways. It just so happens that the album came out when I was in junior high school. Then theres gun violence. 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. 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. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? 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. Time for Me to Fly has taken me on an amazing musical journey that started when I wrote it in 1970. 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. These days, though, its a different story. [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. Five years later, it inspired a movie of the same name starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer. 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. According to legend, Cronin thrashed out the lyrics to REO Speedwagons Roll With the Changes on the back of a trash bag. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. 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? How much is REO Speedwagon worth? 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. However, there, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about DJ PaulContinue, Your email address will not be published. She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. Learn how your comment data is processed. He refers to the band as The Wagon, when fans actually call you REO. With Cant Fight This Feeling, I did not know what the name of that song was. In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit 'Time for Me . Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. 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. 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. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. There was this girl in Chicago who Im still in touch with to this daywere still friends. I saw both seasons, all the way through, and I was like, Im ready to go. I feel so sad. It's a time when many young people feel like they are finally becoming adults. The first was a Hey, everybody, how you doing? thing. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. All the energy that came back to me was, You might want to think about doing this.. 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 cause of death has not yet been. ", "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye was inspired by Jackie Gleason's saying, "How Sweet It Is!". 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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Maybe you have and maybe you havent, at least not yet. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. He has written many classic hit songs for REO, including Cant Fight This Feeling, Keep On Loving You, Roll With The Changes, Keep The Fire Burnin, Time For Me To Fly, Dont Let Him Go, That Aint Love, Keep Pushin and In My Dreams.. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Cronin had been inspired to write the album after his son, Paris, fell into drug addiction. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. Search instead in. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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. 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). Free shipping for many products! 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! My wife is an amazing person. 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. Cronin: I would hope that the point [of this story is], when youre writing a song, you have to stick with your gut. When the call came in for us to appear in Ozark,my reaction was, Theyre going to have REO Speedwagon playing on a riverboat in the Lake of the Ozarks? When I have a question, I bring it up at the dinner table. 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. 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. Cronin: Well for me, songwriting has been kind of a solitary journey. Back in the day of the album, that was very important. This is bullst.". He left education after graduating from Chicagos Brother Rice High School, having already become convinced that his future lay in music, not business. Derek Chauvin's Use of Force Was 'In No Way, Shape or Form' Proper, Police Chief Testifies. But it certainly did come together. 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. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. Meanwhile, their 1988 compilation album, The Hits, entered the Top Rock Albums chart at 49. The neck fits my left hand perfectly, and it sounds exactly how I think an electric guitar should sound. The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. And the journey continues. Michael Bryan Murphy took his place, and remained with the band until Cronin stepped back up to the mic in January 1976. 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. Id just started to write a couple little silly songs. So we wrote that into the script. Here it is, 50 years later, and it's still out there appealing to people; bringing up emotions, making people smile. So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. I think it's a combination of both. When you start second guessing yourself, thats when you get lost. As we all know, those memories are Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Chauvin's defense in his trial, which began March 29 with prosecution testimony, is due to start next week. Friday's prayer vigil with its call for justice on George's behalf "was beautiful," LaTonya said. 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. 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. I feel songs are kind of the same way. It just has this huge history to it. 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.". Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. 2023 Getty Images. 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. Andrew Baena was born on July 18, 1992, in Canada. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Anyway, Smooth would chase them down. [1] I remember where I was when I wrote that song. 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. Cronin: Yeah, I think so. Cronins decision to forgo a college education for music paid off by the age of 20, hed been recruited by REO Speedwagon as a replacement to original lead vocalist, Terry Luttrell. Ive sat down with peopleIve written with some great writers in Nashville, and for whatever reason, none of those songs have really panned out. It was a little unsettling; exciting but new. It was really my songs that got me the gig. 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. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. 4 CD Lot! Currently seeking: Band to Join, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and more.Hi my name is Luke Bolen! Yes! I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. Does anyone call you The Wagon? When Mike Blair left the band in the summer of 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced . 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. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Dont second guess it. Its like the stars lining up. Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and occasional pianist for the American rock band REO Speedwagon.
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