Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. In early 1972, shortly after the release of the band'sself-titled debut album, Luttrell left REO Speedwagon following a disagreement with Richrath. R.M.Owens & Co. A 1919 REO Motor Car Company Advertisement. Its a disagreement, but it isnt antagonistic. List of REO Speedwagon members | Heavy Metal Wiki | Fandom Throughout their career, REO Speedwagon has sold over 40 million records and charted 13 Top 40 hits, including Cant Fight This Feeling and Keep on Loving You. The cause of death was not given. Traveling 4,176 miles (6,720km) from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Vancouver, British Columbia, in a 1912 REO special touring car, mechanic/driver Fonce V. (Jack) Haney and journalist Thomas W. Wilby made the first trip by automobile across Canada (including one short jaunt into northeastern Washington State when the Canadian roads were virtually impassable). To me, were still the same five guys who were schlepping around bars in the early 70s. REO has been recording since 1971, but the success that sent Cronin and his band members into such a culture shock came a decade later, when Hi-Infidelity stayed on top of the pop charts for nearly six months, making REO one of the hottest groups of 1981. If we were going to make it, a live album might be the way to do it. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? For You Can Tune a Piano in 1978, Cronin said, We had a bunch of songs: Roll with the Changes, Time for Me To Fly, Blazing Your Own Trail Again, Sing To Me, and we were cocky about it. They perform about 100 dates a year. The band also briefly added saxophonist Joe McCabe and trumpeter Marty Shepard to its lineup in 1968. The band began when college freshman and keyboard player Neal Doughty met drummer Alan Gratzer on his first day at the University of Illinois in the fall of 1966. Lansing is home to the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum. Cronin: I think so. Hes looking over the hills.. However, Cronin admitted, after two months the self-production they were permitted to do didnt sound right. Success changed a lot of things for this group, said Kevin Cronin in a phone interview last week from Tulsa, Okla. Cronin is REOs lead vocalist, chief songwriter, song arranger and co-producer. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. Who died from REO Speedwagon? In fact, he concluded, its that creative tension that makes REO Speedwagon work., AND ABOUT THAT NAME The original REO Speedwagon vehicles & other classic REO cars and trucks, By Bruce Meyer Rushville Republican (Indiana) Nov 16, 1977. Could use a Which Ones Pink? On the very first night, he met who would be his lifetime friend and bandmate, Alan Gratzer, and the two held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dorm. Kevin Cronin - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays REO SPEEDWAGON, "WHEELS ARE TURNIN" | eBay Ransom E. Olds was an entrepreneur who founded multiple companies in the automobile industry. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. 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? It gave me an outlet for expressing myself when I was very young and didnt know any other way to do it. 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). The name "REO Speedwagon" refers to Ransom Eli Olds, the founder of Oldsmobile. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. However, Epic has mined their catalog for a variety of successful compilations, as well as new and classic live albums. Needless to say, the energetic Cronin was speedier than normal during our 90-minute talk. I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). As of late, its received quite a bit of FM airplay, and the latest LP, a live two-record set, entered the Rock World record chart at 160 with a bullet, and Cashboxs at 186 with a bullet. After reorganizing, only the successful steel-joist business remained; the company started producing recycled steel and eventually renamed itself Nucor. 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. He was an early adopter of the Moog synthesizer, which can be heard on the opening swoop of "Ridin' the Storm Out". amzn_assoc_asins = "B007V4QM78,B000066405,B00H7J8A68,B00138J9F0,B0069FCW9C,B000050IM9,B00004ZB26,B00701QUWO"; Adapted from the Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky) January 20, 1985. 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. Ended: Apr 27, 2023. Wed always been known as a strong live band. After gigging for a while, with Matt, Blair, and Grazter doing vocals, lead singer Terry Luttrell joined in 1968. Cant wait to see them again its been 30 years going to freedom hall in old Johnson city end of Feb stay healthy gods speed. REO Motor Car Company - Wikipedia Doughty and Gratzer were constants, but the bass and guitar slots changed frequently. It did land a recording contract with Epic Records back in 1971, but six years and seven albums later, its still waiting for seemingly overdue popularity, on the east and west coasts. Temporary guitarist Bill Fiorio later found fame under the name Duke Tumatoe. [3], REO added a truck-manufacturing division and a Canadian plant in St Catharines, Ontario, in 1910. Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946 in Evansville, Indiana) is an American keyboardist, best known as a founding member of the rock band REO Speedwagon and the only member to have played on every album. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Saturday Evening Post is a nonprofit organization funded primarily by our members. 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. As the lead singer & songwriterof the multi-platinum rock band REO Speedwagon, Kevin Cronin has been the bands guiding force since joining the group in the mid-1970s. It was the first album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals. Most Studebaker US6 trucks were built by Studebaker. 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. 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. For REO Speedwagon, 1983 and 1984 were years to recoup from the huge success of its 1980 platinum album. Kevin Patrick Cronin Jr. (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. REO Speedwagon members Bruce Hall, Kevin Cronin and Dave Amato perform in 2018. [7] Mike Murphy took over and recorded Ridin' the Storm Out, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, but was replaced by a returning Cronin in 1976. 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. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. What is the most expensive bass guitar in the world? Now that you know, have fun looking around! They did have a lot of members leave, but they stayed together during their prime years, for which I have to give them credit. This week a month and a half later its moved up to 54 with a bullet and 61 with a bullet respectively in those same trade publications. So that was the song that kind of got it going. In addition to its coachwork by Murray designed by their Amos Northup, the Royale also provided buyers with a 125hp (93kW) straight-eight with a nine-bearing crankshaft, one-shot lubrication, and thermostatically-controlled radiator shutters. He also owned the The REO Motor Truck Company, which made a model in 1915 called the Speedwagon, a forerunner to the pickup truck. >> Click to read more << Besides, is Kevin Cronin still with REO Speedwagon? REO Speedwagon Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic Today, Doughty, Cronin, and Hall remain with the band; guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt have been in since 1989. The sound of the band keeps a rock steady tone that you cannot deny. Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). Copyright 2023 Saturday Evening Post Society. . Subscribe now. There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. 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. The rest of the band went with it as their first advertisement went out in their school newspaper at a frat party, which later turned into a food fight. Meanwhile, after selling Reo's vehicle manufacturing operation to Bohn in 1954, management began liquidating the remainder of the company. Note: This article may feature affiliate links, and purchases made may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. These singles were on the charts for over a year, selling over 10 million copies. Live: You Get What You Play For dropped in 1977, eventually selling a million copies and making the live version of Ridin the Storm Out a Hot 100 charter that is still played regularly on rock radio. The REO Motor Car Company was a company based in Lansing, Michigan, which produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. We know weve got to prove ourselves, says lead singer Kevin Cronin, and I cant wait to get that next album out. The record deal provided the band with some stability with one exception: the lead singer role. Take, for example, the biography of REO Speedwagon. Alan Gratzer - Musician - Music database - Radio Swiss Pop We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. Theres so much to do.. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. I wanted to put any extra time that I hadobviously the band tours and thats very important to all of us. ""It's R-dot-E-dot-O-dot Speed-wagon REO Speedwagon!" But now, even these more discriminating listeners are beginning to take notice of REO Speedwagon. I couldnt figure it out, and as a result, I had a really hard time finishing that song. . Roll with the Changes. REO Speedwagon - Wikipedia I saw them in 1997 at the Universal Amphitheater with Survivor and Blondie. After he joined, their popularity began to explode throughout the Midwest. Designed by Battle Creek, Michigan, newspaper editor J.H. Brown, the automobile included a drop-down sleeping extension, a built-in gas cooking range, and a refrigerator. REO Speedwagon's Neal Doughty Announces Retirement From Touring 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. Over the past nine years, ever since coming out of the Midwest college bar circuit, REO have been one of the hardest-working bands anywhere, winning droves of hard-core fans by playing upwards of 300 shows a year and managing to find time between tours to record seven albums. Mike Murphy took over and recordedRidin' the Storm Out,Lost in a DreamandThis Time We Mean It, but was replaced by a returning Cronin in 1976. Vinyl Album, REO Speedwagon/"Life As We Know It", Original 1987 - eBay Theyre a partying kind of rock n roll audience. 1980s Hi Infidelity gave the band four Top 40 hits, including the #5 Take It on the Run and the #1 Keep On Loving You. That chart-topper sold a million copies and helped lay the blueprint for the power ballads of that decade; it also didnt hurt that it was paired with one of the first 20 videos to be played on a new cable channel called MTV. Horatio Alger never would have made it in rock n roll. Soon after, the band membership began to rotate quite a bit. head trip escape into THEIR world right about now. He formed the band in the fall of 1966, with original drummer Alan Gratzer (who left REO in 1988). We couldnt believe it., NOW SEE THIS: Hall & Oates: Looking back at the best-selling musical duo in history, PS: If you liked this article, please share it! Where Are They Now: REO Speedwagon - American Profile When you were recording Hi Infidelity, did you and the band feel that this was your best album up to that point? 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. Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Gary Richrath, the REO Speedwagon guitarist who wrote some of the bands biggest hits, including Take It on the Run and In Your Letter, died Sunday, according to a post by REO lead singer Kevin Cronin. Their album Hi Infidelity received the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over 10 million copies. The band itself has never left the road, hitting the tour circuit with ongoing regularity. I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. When you start second guessing yourself, thats when you get lost. Cronin: We talked about Music Manthat song has a very special place for me because it kind of got me the gig. Richrath had wanted to join the band and knew that he could take them to a new level with his artistry and songwriting. The group compiled a list of songs that summer while Doughty worked a summer job to buy his first keyboard, a Farfisa organ. (Brandon Nagy / Shutterstock), Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. The REO versions of the truck had some changes, such as different door handles and a more powerful engine. Also in 1989,Bryan Hittreplaced Lear on drums,whileJesse Harmsjoined as a second keyboardist, performing on the band's 1990 albumThe Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. 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. It just has this huge history to it. Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. 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. 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. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? Speedwagon, in 1971. 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.. Ransom E. Olds was an entrepreneur who founded multiple companies in the automobile industry. Luttrell departed in 1972 and was replaced for one album by Kevin Cronin. Finally in 2020, the band appeared in an episode in the third season of Ozark, which was released on March 27, 2020. It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). The band from Illinois has managed to, yes, roll with the changes for more than five decades. The cause of death has not yet been determined.. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? The vocalist was replaced byKevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second albumR.E.O./T.W.O. Now that you know, have fun looking around! But Ive written some of our biggest hits on the piano. He formed the band in the fall of 1966, with original drummer Alan Gratzer (who left REO in 1988). Kevin Cronin wrote this note the bands official Facebook page. Whats up with the band REO Speedwagon these days? REO Speedwagon hometown, lineup, biography | Last.fm Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Although the members of REO Speedwagon long considered themselves a high-energy rock band, they will be remembered forevermore as masters of the power ballad. The Syracuse Herald, June8, 1919, REO advertisement in 1953 (back cover of the October 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics), 1929 REO advertisement sold at Yanase dealerships in Japan, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers, "Reo Motor Car Company Plant (Designation Withdrawn)", "Gallery of vintage magazine advertisements", "Rolling Cottage Latest Luxury in Automobiles", "What's In A Name: Diamond Rio Discovers That Its New Moniker Is A Real Gem", "My Life and Hard Times: The Car We Had To Push", REO (and Diamond T) Trucks (Hank's Truck Pictures), A REO Speed Delivery (State Library, Victoria, Australia images), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=REO_Motor_Car_Company&oldid=1132628423, Vehicle manufacturing division merged with, A REO is mentioned in a humorous 1933 short story. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. Sure enough, its proven itself right so many times for me, that I have to really believe its a truth that I can count on. 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. A lot can go on between the band members after working together for so long, so they have to make some difficult decisions before coming and going. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "clickamericana-20"; 2023 American Profile, All Rights Reserved. Because of all the traveling wed done, and the work wed been doing over the years, we all just arrived at this place where we really needed each other as brothers for mutual support.

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