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. 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. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. 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. The. 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). 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. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. The band is actually mentioned two episodes before you appear. Does anyone call you The Wagon? DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? "AOR poll part 2: Which lead singer's voice do you like best? But for me, I usually write the song first and then I find the title in the song. ". So if the viewer remembers that this is a dental convention, that line is kind of funny. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. 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. Still now, this band is remarked and will be noted for its best performance in rock kinds of music. There was this girl in Chicago who Im still in touch with to this daywere still friends. We wanted to see the Blue Cat [Lodge; the set is a shuttered bar on Lake Allatoona] and the strip club, Lickety Splitz. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. In the original script there was a shot of a banner that has a big REO Speedwagon logo and says "Welcome to the Missouri Dental Association Convention." Kevin Patrick Cronin (born October 6, 1951) is an American singer and songwriter, who is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and pianist for the rock band REO Speedwagon. When Gary (Richrath) heard that song, it signaled to him that I had some ability as a songwriter. So it all kind of came true. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" They also have pleaded not guilty. When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. 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. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? I had the verses already written. I'm self-taught on. Now I kind of see how it feels when your own name is up there. Friday's prayer vigil with its call for justice on George's behalf "was beautiful," LaTonya said. Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. If they made a home-version of the LHC, I'd have 2. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Hi friends, kc here. Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric. Richrath co-wrote some of the band's songs, including "Take It on the Run," which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. I couldnt figure it out, and as a result, I had a really hard time finishing that song. 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). We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. Please subscribe. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. It took a long time, and I wrote that song before I finally got the guts to tell her. So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. In 2007, REO Speedwagon released Find Your Own Way Home, their first new album in eleven years. I feel songs are kind of the same way. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUNAs featured on The Essential REO Speedwagon. "It means so much," LaTonya said. She began at a small local paper covering up and coming bands. So we wrote that into the script. October 6, 1951 Birthplace Evanston , IL Age 71 years old Birth Sign Libra About American guitarist and lead singer for the rock band REO Speedwagon who wrote "Keep on Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling." Before Fame He was first chosen as the second lead singer of REO Speedwagon at age twenty in 1971. 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've been singing since kindergarten. They sent me the script. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. . 1 of 13. Cronin: Well for me, songwriting has been kind of a solitary journey. Well, that got dropped. "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.' Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. During the peak of their success, the band was an almost permanent fixture on the Billboard Hot 100, racking up 13 Top 40 hits, two number 1s, and selling over 40 million records in total. I was kind of a late bloomermusic was my vehicle. I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. 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. When they wrote those songs, they were just trying to write good . 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. He needed the money to buy the group's back catalogue. So when I finished Cant Fight This Feeling, I realized that yeah, Ive gotta make this move. Ive gotta do what Im saying in this songIve got to make this happen. I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. So I wanted to drive. But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. Theyre all home (and becoming) young adults. 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". George Floyd (center) with LaTonya Floyd and her stepson Treyshawn Barker. Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, died December 3 at age 48. Thats my titlethats what this song is about. I remember thinking to myselfWowCant Fight This Feelingwhat a horrible, f**king song title. So I called up and cancelled the songwriting session. 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. But the whole thing about the dentists, that happened in episode one. 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. About The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon The song was remixed for the re-release to have more Pop appeal. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Directed by Arnold Levine, the black-and-white footage was shot at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri at their show on May 13, 1978. Then on the day that Eric and I were supposed to co-write, I literally woke up that morning and I felt like I had the flu. 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. "I had my eyes closed the whole time picturing my brother. YouTube Video link: REO Speedwagon band was one of the top groups in the 20th century. 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. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. Search instead in. Usually for me, the title is the last thing that happens. One day, I was really frustrated because we had an album that was due, and we really needed that song that was going to pick up where Keep On Loving You left off, and we didnt have it. 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.. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. 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. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. The last time they toured together was 2018, but now theyre promising a comeback to the stage with a multi-act major tour. So far, Cronin is keeping mum on who the other acts will be, telling Ultimate Classic Rock, The two other bands will remain nameless for the moment but suffice to say, theyre really both great friends of ours. Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, and LaTonya Floyd, sister of George Floyd, sing "Keep on Loving You" together at The Community of Faith Church in Houston for a prayer vigil . 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I think it's a combination of both. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, August 24, 1980. The songs for that album had a certain cohesive nature to them. Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write. How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names. He goes, [Spanish accent] This is bullst. She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. You know, I went through some fictional years there in the past! Well, then you're going to love this blog post! Or maybe it was a little thing to make me feel at home? Teens Crash Through Overpass In Stolen Car 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. 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. I've also got a horrible habit of needing the absolute newest technological wonder, whether it's stable or not. 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. When Mike Blair left the band in the summer of 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced . Robert Smith doesn't license Cure songs for commercials, but he made an exception in 2004 when he let Hewlett-Packard use "Pictures Of You." 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). Midway through the song, the words disappeared from the screen and the singer had to rely on memory to get through the rest. Search instead in. For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. 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. says the actress. In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit Time for Me to Fly being used during a drug cartel kidnapping sequence, the group also makes a cameo, playing a concert at the casino and entering into a money laundering arrangement with Marty (Jason Bateman). No. 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). ", LaTonya added, "My dream has come true to meet REO Speedwagon. Joined my first band in 2008 (a Metallica cover band) and. I told the writer, You know, thats not what I would normally say. What Ive been saying for I don't know how many years is, Hey Cincinnati, check yourselves out. And then our light guy puts the spots on the audience. 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. Turning 17 is a big deal. Linda has been writing professionally since November 2012. When you write a song, you have no idea the journey that song may or may not take you on. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. LaTonya Floyd, at right, with sister Zsa Zsa Floyd at their brother George's funeral June 9, 2020. "It's like a direct connection with my brother that was our song," LaTonya, 52, told PEOPLE afterward. It was really my songs that got me the gig. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. 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. Cronin: I would hope that the point [of this story is], when youre writing a song, you have to stick with your gut. Its like the stars lining up. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit 'Time for Me . In the REO Speedwagon band, there are two lead singers, and one is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell. Back in the day of the album, that was very important. This is bullst.". Ive sat down with peopleIve written with some great writers in Nashville, and for whatever reason, none of those songs have really panned out. So to me, my experience has been that my strongest songs are the ones where it all kind of happens at once. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. 4 CD Lot! Cronin is known to play Ovations on tour, and even has his own signature guitar from the brand. REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. Roll With The Changes was personally about me moving from Chicago to L.A.I was quite literally rolling with the changes. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. Richrath released a solo album, Only the Strong Survive,in 1992. 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. Id just started to write a couple little silly songs. 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. He realized that the band needed songs. So it was literally time for him to fly. DK: Besides some of your big hits, what are some of your songs that are your favorites? I wrote Time For Me To Fly on the guitarmost of my songs I write on the acoustic guitar. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song . [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. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Classic Rock at the best online prices at eBay! DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. DK: One of my favorite songs is Roll With The ChangesI think that song has inspired a lot of people. Then I thoughtyou know what, so be it, then thats how it has to be, because thats what this songs name is. 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? Now, hes all about healthy eating and working out. When REO Speedwagon were at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, their tours were known to get pretty wild. Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . I kind of operate under the brand name of REO Speedwagon. It's been a pretty amazing journey. I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. 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. 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. Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. 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. Well, it turns out that the casino is on one lake and the Blue Cat on another. So the songs come in all different shapes and forms. Who knows what came first, the chicken or the egg there. "It was just amazing," she said. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. 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. REO Speedwagon has a net worth of $46 million. 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. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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). Trivia Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. I remember that I sat down on the floor of my bedroom, and I was literally almost in tears. It was monumental.". 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. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. DK: Thats a great story about how you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling. Thank you. 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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Sold in excess of 17 million records worldwide. Get recommendations for other artists you'll love. For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. 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. His initial period with the band proved brief. When you were recording Hi Infidelity, did you and the band feel that this was your best album up to that point? As we all know, those memories are Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? So well seethis year should be interesting. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? I think the main reason that I got the gig, was that REO had released one album, and they were working on songs for their second album for Epic Records. 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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. The cause of death has not yet been. I am an avid Mac-user, nerd, musician, freelancer, and gamer. 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. Ask me about my collection of M:TG cards! Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. The band REO Speedwagon, which originated in Champaign, Illinois, in 1967, consists of original member Neal Doughty, 67; Kevin Cronin and Bruce Hall, who joined in the 1970s; and Dave Amato and Brian Hitt, who came aboard in 1989. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. Its kind of a blessing and a curse. Showing Editorial results for kevin cronin of reo speedwagon. 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. We started out as friends. 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. The opening line may be even more important than the title. 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. Free shipping for many products! He was there with me.". Warning: This article contains spoilers forOzarkseason 3. Thats another way of doing it. Cronin, 68, spoke to EW by phone about how his band ended up in the show, what it was like being on set, and also revealed one of the weirdest gigs REO Speedwagon ever played. He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? 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. 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. 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. With Cant Fight This Feeling, I did not know what the name of that song was. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. When my children were born, I didnt name my children when my wife was pregnant. Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? Bay Area. The episode also featured one of the bands most popular tunes, Time for Me to Fly. Its fair to say they hadnt troubled the charts for some years, but the show seemed to remind people of just how good they could be. [1] I saw both seasons, all the way through, and I was like, Im ready to go. He was 65. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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.
