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. Richrath is REOs lead guitarist and along with Cronin the principal creative force behind its music. As my father always used to say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and in songwriting thats ityour opening line. 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. before leaving during sessions for the 1973 follow-up. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. They started jamming and formed a group almost immediately. lead singer of reo speedwagon. par | Avr 28, 2023 | bobcat t650 fuse box diagram | copperhead grille happy hour | Avr 28, 2023 | bobcat t650 fuse box diagram | copperhead grille happy hour More than 50 years after that college jam session, the band continues to tour, per their official website. Thanks for visiting and for supporting a small business! 157 Riverside Avenue sounds better than ever, doesnt it? before leaving during sessions for the 1973 follow-up. Beyond a convincing demonstration of endurance, REOs history has been one of repeated disappointments because they were never able to capture even a hint of their exciting live show in their records. 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? For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. I didnt really picture myself as a Los Angeles person, Im a Midwest boy. [3], Perhaps the most famous REO episode was the 1912 Trans-Canada journey. REO Speedwagon is the epitome of a hard-working band that keeps showing up for the fans. Theres so much to do.. 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. Starting bid: US $6.99 [ 0 bids] Shipping: $6.45 Economy . Where Are They Now: REO Speedwagon - American Profile 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). , Your email address will not be published. We know weve got to prove ourselves, says lead singer Kevin Cronin, and I cant wait to get that next album out. The vocalist was replaced byKevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second albumR.E.O./T.W.O. [1] Ridin' the Storm Out - Wikipedia So it all kind of came true. Its a disagreement, but it isnt antagonistic. I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. But who are the original members of REO Speedwagon? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO SPEEDWAGON, "WHEELS ARE TURNIN" at the best online prices at eBay! Roll with the Changes (Uploaded to YouTube by REO Speedwagon). ALSO SEE: Rock out with these 30 old Star Hits music magazines from the 80s. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. . Shortly thereafter, the rising tides of hip-hop and alternative rock marked a shift in musical taste, and a number of long-time bands faced commercial difficulties. I just havent had a great deal of success with it (laughs). DK: I think Keep Pushin' is one of the great songs from REOs early years, and maybe if it was released later in the mid-80s when the band was so hot, it could have been another big hit. I appreciate the well-researched background story on REO Speedwagon here, and the links. Olds then changed the name to his initials. This song, even though it wasnt finished yet, meant so much to me and it was such a big part of who I am, that I just knew that I wanted to finish this song myself. In 1897 Olds founded Oldsmobile. But they get as crazy over the slow, romantic ballads as they do over the rock n roll songs. Earworm #24: REO Speedwagon Roll With the Changes So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. The band's lineup remained stable thereafter for more than ten years until Gratzer decided to retire in 1988, withGraham Learbrought in as his replacement. The following semester of 1967, they had their rehearsals before classes started, naming the band REO Speedwagon. Before we start the interview, here is some information about REO Speedwagons hit discography, and about the other members of the band, both past and present. Speedwagon was released in October of 1971 and credited all five members (Doughty, Gratzer, Richrath, Philbin, and Luttrell) as the writers of all eight songs.While single "Sophisticated Lady" just missed the Hot 100, the album's second track, "157 Riverside Avenue," has remained the most popular song from . Formed in 1967, the group originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, keyboardistNeal Doughtyand drummer Alan Gratzer. [3], In April 1927, Reo introduced the Wolverine brand of cars as a companion model to the Flying Cloud. REO Speedwagon performing live in 2010 (top) and 2016 (bottom). Free shipping for many products! The album went double-platinum and produced two signature songs, Roll with the Changes and Time for Me to Fly. Though their subsequent Nine Lives record had a harder edge, the band chose after that recordto broaden their approach to incorporate more pop layers into their rock sound. The album spawned four hit singles that were written by Cronin and Richwrath, including Keep On Loving you (Cronin), Take It on the Run(Richrath), In Your Letter (Richrath) and Dont Let Him Go (Cronin). REO Speedwagonis an Americanhard rockband fromChampaign, Illinois. Gratzer already had a band, and Doughty began to sit in with them. Paul Leka, record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, CT where it recorded original material for the first album, which included Richrath, Gratzer, Dought, Philbin and Luttrell. Although truck orders during World War II enabled it to revive somewhat, the company remained unstable in the postwar era, resulting in a bankruptcy reorganization. He also owned the The REO Motor Truck Company, which made a model in 1915 called the Speedwagon, a forerunner to the pickup truck. [1] Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, with Terry Luttrell taking his place on lead vocals. ALSO SEE: Peter Frampton tells how he finally found success with Frampton Comes Alive! (1976). Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. Who died from REO Speedwagon? Boylan said yes. REO Motor Car Company - Wikipedia 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. Most of these businesses failed and the company was bankrupt again by 1966. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Royale rode upon factory wheelbases of 131 inches (3,300mm) (Model 8-31) and 135 inches (3,400mm) (Model 8-35); a 1932 custom version rode upon a 152-inch (3,900mm) wheelbase (Model 8-52). Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. It was a change in direction that would lead to the defining successes of their career. He was 65. Its like the stars lining up. Their album Hi Infidelity received the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over 10 million copies. Unfortunately, Richrath passed away in 2015, sad news that was broken in an announcement by Cronin. REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. He helped REO Speedwagon release five Platinum-selling hit albums, including Wheels Are Turnin'. By Bruce Meyer - Rushville Republican (Indiana) Nov 16, 1977 . That same year, Philbin left and the band added bassist Bruce Hall, who remains at the spot today. Doughty retired from touring with REO in January 2023, though remains an official member. REO Speedwagons popularity began to decline in 1987 when the album Life as We Know It didnt sell nearly as many as the others. The band would continue to juxtapose rock numbers and power ballads to great success, much like contemporaries Styx and Journey. Songs for which he is the sole composer include "Sky Blues" from 1974, "One Lonely Night" from 1984 and "Variety Tonight" from 1987. The first time I was introduced to her, when I saw herit was that love at first sight feeling. Before they met, Gratzer was a drummer in high school and played in a local group on the weekends while Doughty was studying the Beatles songs closely using his parents piano. 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. I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. Lansing is home to the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum. Bob Crownover took over as the band's guitarist, but was replaced after a brief tenure byBill Fiorioand later Steve Scorfina. The 8-cylinder model was sold through 1933 with minor updates. But unlike the latter three, REO has been unable to garner support out of that regionalized base. I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. Band member and lead singer Kevin Cronin stressed about the announcer getting the name right. Who are the members of REO Speedwagon today? - Short-Fact He formed the band in the fall of 1966, with original drummer Alan Gratzer (who left REO in 1988). Although it still managed to make the top-20 hits with the songs That Aint Love and In My Dreams. When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. Kevin Cronin REO Speedwagon Interview - Songwriter Universe For definitive proof, consider REO Speedwagon. He was first chosen as the second lead singer of REO Speedwagon at age twenty in 1971. The record company people told me to stick with the band, he said, then laughed. He was an early adopter of the Moog synthesizer, which can be heard on the opening swoop of "Ridin' the Storm Out". 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. 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. DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? Keep On Loving You (Uploaded to YouTube by REO Speedwagon). [1] REO Speedwagon released their debut album, R.E.O. 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. In 1980 their album Hi Fidelity sold more than 10 million copies, about a quarter of all of the band's album sales. We still get mad at each other sometimes, but we work it out. Find REO Speedwagon Loveland tickets, appearing at Budweiser Events Center in Colorado on Nov 17, 2023 at 7:30 pm. 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. Back in the day of the album, that was very important. [3], From 1915 to 1925, under Scott's direction, REO remained profitable. REO Speedwagon (originally styled as R.E.O. One might say that as long they keep on rollin, fans will keep on loving them. Thats another way of doing it. 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. I remember that I sat down on the floor of my bedroom, and I was literally almost in tears. For tax reasons a group of shareholders successfully challenged the liquidation in a proxy fight in September 1955, and forced REO to take over a tiny nuclear services company called Nuclear Consultants, Inc. in a reverse takeover. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. (Brandon Nagy / Shutterstock), Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Your ego gets pumped up a lot at first, but were used to it now. 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 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. With the tour titled Storming the U.S., tickets for the opening night show in Milwaukee sold out in two days. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. [5] During 1925, however, Scott, like many of his contemporaries/competitors, began an ambitious expansion program designed to make the company more competitive with other automobile manufacturers by offering cars in different price ranges. 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. https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kevin_Cronin_interview_excerpt2.mp3. REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. 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. It seemed like we had been working 24 hours a day since Hi-Infidelity had come out, and even after its success, all I could think of was writing new songs. Producers will come in and want to make you commercial, or punk, or this or that, but it just isnt us. Hi Fidelity alone produced four Top-10 hits for the group, with two hitting Number One: "Keep on Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling." [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. Too many good songs in the past have come out sounding like bad records.'. Im trained on the guitarI took guitar lessons for years when I was a kid. Dont see anything coming up in 2022 yet, but am loving their new Crash of the Crown album from just earlier this year. Speedwagon (they would later drop the periods). By 1907, REO had gross sales of $4.5 million, and the company was one of the four wealthiest automobile manufacturers in the U.S. After 1908, however, despite the introduction of improved cars designed by Olds, REO's share of the automobile market decreased due in part to competition from emerging companies like Ford and General Motors. Olds Motor Works soon adopted the popular name of its vehicles, Oldsmobile (which, along with Buick and Cadillac, became a founding division of General Motors Corporation). Fifty years after their first album, they remain a touring draw that can find new audiences in unexpected ways. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. Copyright 2023 About the 80s. What was REO Speedwagon's first #1 single? Since the end of Harms's brief tenure with the group, REO Speedwagon has retained a consistent lineup of Neal Doughty, Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, and Bryan Hitt [16] until 2023 when Doughty was replaced by former Iron Butterfly and Whitesnake member Derek Hilland. Basically, the only songs I can play on piano are those that I wrote (he laughs). Who are the original members of REO Speedwagon? - Guitar Reviewed REO's two most memorable cars were its Reo Flying Cloud introduced in 1927[6] and the Reo Royale 8 of 1931. So that was special. The aptly titled The Hits has sold four million copies. We were just doing our best to stay normal as everything for the band was changing.. Beverly Rae Kimes, editor of the Standard Catalog of American Cars, terms the Royale "the most fabulous Reo of all". Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the release of the band's explosive Hi Infidelity which contained the . It was great. For others, however, the wait can last for years. They performed Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With the Changes which featured a few members from the Beach Boys, their families and Paul Shaffer for backing vocals. Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946) 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. Beginning in 1933, the Royale also featured as an option REO's semi-automatic transmission, the Self-Shifter. [1] Currently, he is using synths made by Korg and Yamaha and tours with a Hammond B3 organ routed through Leslie speaker cabinets. 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. [I think] co-writing is a lot of funit definitely makes the process of songwriting more enjoyable because youre not sitting there by yourself. With Cant Fight This Feeling, I did not know what the name of that song was. REO Speedwagons most recent updates are performing with Pitbull in the song Messin Around live on the ABC TV show Greatest Hits in 2016. The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. In the Television series "Murdoch Mysteries", This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 19:43. By late 1970, REO Speedwagon had finalised its first recording lineup with the addition of guitaristGary Richrathin place of Scorfina. REO Speedwagon's 1977 Concert & Tour History | Concert Archives Who are the original members of REO Speedwagon? The REO versions of the truck had some changes, such as different door handles and a more powerful engine. 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. The famous Barnum & Bailey Circus exhibited sideshow performers, Tiny Tim and Tom Thumb, driving a scaled-down version of the 1906 Reo Model-A Light Touring Car known as the "Baby Reo". Fast forward to November 21, 1980, Epic Records released Hi Infidelity, which represented a change in sound that went from hard rock to pop-oriented music. I just needed a mental break. We fired our producer halfway through, and Gary (Richrath) and I took over.. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. However, with six albums under their belt, the band still believed they werent hitting their full potential with the audience. To me, were still the same five guys who were schlepping around bars in the early 70s. Bruce Hall joined REO Speedwagon after the You Get What You Play For tour. Remember Maybelline Kissing Potion & other flavored lip gloss from the 70s & 80s? Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. Kevin Cronin wrote this note the bands official Facebook page. Volvo later took over White and thus currently owns the rights to the REO brand name. Originally the company was to be called "R. E. Olds Motor Car Company", but the owner of Olds' previous company, then called Olds Motor Works, objected and threatened legal action on the grounds of likely confusion of names by consumers. But when Good Trouble came out a year later, the reception was considerably cooler. I had the verses already written. 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 Of REO Speedwagon Talks About His Classic Hits And His Today, Doughty, Cronin, and Hall remain with the band; guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt have been in since 1989. [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. DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. Philbin left the following year, withBruce Halltaking his place. 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. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. Richrath was 65. List of REO Speedwagon members - Wikiwand amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Your email address will not be published. After we did it, Gary and I sat in Johns office and called up radio stations and asked them to play it and see if they got a phone response. 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. My favorite songs were Keep on Loving You and Messin Around. Music is a funny kind of business. However, Epic has mined their catalog for a variety of successful compilations, as well as new and classic live albums. On this he learned to play Light My Fire by The Doors. It was the name of a 1915 model of truck that bore the initials of its designer, the legendary automaker Ransom E. Olds, founder of Olds Motor Vehicle Company. Convinced that their real drawing power came from the shows themselves, they persuaded Epic to deploy a strategy that had worked for KISS: making a live album to convey how REO really sounded when you saw them. [2] The pronunciation, however, was as a single word. Despite a slow start, by the mid-eighties, the bands hit singles Keep On Loving You and Cant Fight This Feeling had topped the charts, and they were known across the globe. Were a high-energy band, Cronin emphasized, but our studio recordings didnt show this, and people want consistency. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? From early struggles and line-up changes to major successes and seemingly endless touring, the group from Champaign, Illinois has been riding out the storm of rock for over five decades. The Flying Cloud was the first car to use Lockheed's new hydraulic internal expanding brake system and featured styling by Fabio Segardi. So I called up and cancelled the songwriting session. The response has been ridiculous, Cronin said with a smile. Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946) 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. Cronin: I think so. Usually for me, the title is the last thing that happens. 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 Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic Dont second guess it. But we know just because we say we can do it doesnt mean a thing, until we do it.. Thats my titlethats what this song is about. He was taking a class, History of Transportation, and found "R.E.O. The Hi Infidelity album was the one that broke things loose. It is estimated that REO produced around 20,000 of these trucks and, unlike the original Studebaker trucks which were also used by the United States, the REO versions were only for export to the Soviet Union. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. 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. and New York audiences are more picky, he continued. There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. 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).