So I wanted to drive. 'Heartland' Actor Robert Cormier Dead at 33 Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? Meanwhile, their 1988 compilation album, The Hits, entered the Top Rock Albums chart at 49. If you catch Linda at a wedding be sure to check out the dance floor. DK: One of my favorite songs is Roll With The ChangesI think that song has inspired a lot of people. Kevin Cronin -- lead singer of '80s rock group REO Speedwagon -- heard the words straight from his own son's mouth . As a result, hes spent more time with them in the past 18 months than he ever has, and says the bond theyve formed will remain forever.. Cronin: Ive written songs on both, honestly. Kevin Cronin Of REO Speedwagon Talks About His Classic Hits And His Songwriting written by REO Speedwagon January 22, 2016 As the lead singer & songwriter of the multi-platinum rock band REO Speedwagon, Kevin Cronin has been the band's guiding force since joining the group in the mid-1970s. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. Tell me about being on set to film your scene. I wanted to put any extra time that I hadobviously the band tours and thats very important to all of us. 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. 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. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. 12 best REO Speedwagon songs 1. Derek Chauvin's Use of Force Was 'In No Way, Shape or Form' Proper, Police Chief Testifies. 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. Ask me about my collection of M:TG cards! I never really took any piano lessonsI just messed around with it and figured it out for myself. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. Since starting his career at the age of 19 as the house drummer on Saturday Night Live, hes graduated into, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Steve JordanContinue, If youre a fan of rap music, you might be quite familiar with the name DJ Paul. 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. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. 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. Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? I can always pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. So that was special. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. How do you think Ozark meant for the song to be seen? Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. (1972), but it was rough sledding, and while they were making their third album, Ridin' the Storm Out (1973), he left over conflict with guitarist Gary Richrath and other creative tensions . I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Songwriting and music has always been my savior in that way. Time for Me to Fly has taken me on an amazing musical journey that started when I wrote it in 1970. 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. [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. 4 CD Lot! Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. I was in a tough position. Stevie Wonder wrote the Rufus funk classic "Tell Me Something Good. It must have been 1989 after [late guitarist/songwriter] Gary Richrath and I parted ways and the band was at kind of a low point. I think it's a combination of both. In fact, the group's best-selling album is Hi Infidelity. 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. These words do not come close to expressing the depth of emotions I am feeling at this time.. I felt like I had a fever and my stomach hurt. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Can't Fight This Feeling The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. She began at a small local paper covering up and coming bands. 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. Ive sat down with peopleIve written with some great writers in Nashville, and for whatever reason, none of those songs have really panned out. 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 Whether you're young or old, everyone loves a good song about memories and good times. 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. Biggest hit "Sister Christian" (1984) took the band to . 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). Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? 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. REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. The neck fits my left hand perfectly, and it sounds exactly how I think an electric guitar should sound. 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'm self-taught on. As we all know, those memories are Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? "I had my eyes closed the whole time picturing my brother. Showing Editorial results for reo speedwagon. "AOR poll part 2: Which lead singer's voice do you like best? 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. 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. So I called up and cancelled the songwriting session. I was kind of a late bloomermusic was my vehicle. He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. 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. They are Do you love animals? Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. Among other things, the memoir promises to lift the lid on Cronins troubled relationship with bandmate Gary Richrath, who died from complications following surgery in 2016. Cronin: I would hope that the point [of this story is], when youre writing a song, you have to stick with your gut. 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. Chauvin's defense in his trial, which began March 29 with prosecution testimony, is due to start next week. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. What was it that inspired you to write it? Is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? The first time I was introduced to her, when I saw herit was that love at first sight feeling. It was a little unsettling; exciting but new. Cronin managed to reach $350,000 before being eliminated after forgetting the lyrics to Donna Summers Last Dance.. REO Speedwagon is back on the Billboard charts for songs that are many decades old. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Honestly, when I finished that song, I was really youngI was 18 or 19 when I wrote that song. When you write a song, you have no idea the journey that song may or may not take you on. 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. I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. 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. Cronin: That song, coincidentally, was number one 35 years ago from right now. Andrew Baena was born on July 18, 1992, in Canada. Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. 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? He was like, 'Oh my God, you're a true fan!' Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. REO Speedwagon has a net worth of $46 million. The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. 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. After the stage performance, we sang, 'I Can't Fight This Feeling' and a couple of his other songs. 9/28/2010 1:00 PM PT With '80s hits like " Keep On Loving You " and " Can't Fight This Feeling ," Kevin. The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. 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. Friday's prayer vigil with its call for justice on George's behalf "was beautiful," LaTonya said. I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). 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. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. The career of Antonio Vivaldi defies music industry logic. ", LaTonya added, "My dream has come true to meet REO Speedwagon. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. So to me, my experience has been that my strongest songs are the ones where it all kind of happens at once. That said, there is little doubt that you will be hearing a great deal more about, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about 2KBABYContinue, Few drummers have managed to achieve the reputation that Steve Jordon enjoys in the industry. Now, hes all about healthy eating and working out. 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. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. Cronin was born on October 6, 1951, in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. ", "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye was inspired by Jackie Gleason's saying, "How Sweet It Is!". He was there with me.". And sure enough, it ended up working out. 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. I've also got a horrible habit of needing the absolute newest technological wonder, whether it's stable or not. 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. REO Speedwagon skyrocketed to fame in 1980 with their chart topping . We started out as friends. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO Speedwagon CD Lot! Classic Rock at the best online prices at eBay! They also have pleaded not guilty. And there were some radio stations in the Midwest that were playing those songs. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. ". It was really my songs that got me the gig. So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. 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 was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. 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. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. 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. "It was just amazing," she said. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. 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. George Floyd (center) with LaTonya Floyd and her stepson Treyshawn Barker. The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. 2023 Getty Images. For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. Back in the day of the album, that was very important. [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. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. Please subscribe. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. 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 Search instead in. Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. 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? 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 is known to play Ovations on tour, and even has his own signature guitar from the brand. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "Gregg . Id just started to write a couple little silly songs. 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. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. But then once I got done with the craftsmanship part of it, I thought HeyI think I could hear this song on the radiopeople might want to listen to it. Its funny, when youre just starting out as a songwriterwhen youre trying to figure things out and see what your path is and where youre headingas I reminisce and think about it, it seems I have these sweet memories of that time. Richrath last played with the band in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois, to raise money for tornado victims. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. He refers to the band as The Wagon, when fans actually call you REO. 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. They might not be bothering the charts quite as much these days, but they still know how to pull in the crowds at their live sets. So it all kind of came true. DK: Thats a great story about how you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling. Thank you. George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'. 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. 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. 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. About The Lead Singer Of 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. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. My wife is an amazing person. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! We were all psyched up. Thats my titlethats what this song is about. You have entered an incorrect email address! I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. The. It took a long time, and I wrote that song before I finally got the guts to tell her. The band is actually mentioned two episodes before you appear. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. I've been singing since kindergarten. Then theres gun violence.