I was talking to someone today about how the opening line of a song is so important to me. Five years later, it inspired a movie of the same name starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer. 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. (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 . (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. 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. He refers to the band as The Wagon, when fans actually call you REO. Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? After all, hes been a mainstay in the world of rap music since the late 1980s. Guess what he looks like now! 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. "It's like a direct connection with my brother that was our song," LaTonya, 52, told PEOPLE afterward. On Friday, as the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for George Floyd's murder continued in Minneapolis, REO lead singer Kevin Cronin joined LaTonya and others for a vigil honoring George, 46, at The Community of Faith Church in Houston, where Cronin and LaTonya stood on stage and sang the song together. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. In our episode, my line is, Hey, are there any dentists in the crowd tonight?" DK: Besides some of your big hits, what are some of your songs that are your favorites? REO Speedwagon is back on the Billboard charts for songs that are many decades old. I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. ". Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? It was kind of shocking in a way. Cronin managed to reach $350,000 before being eliminated after forgetting the lyrics to Donna Summers Last Dance.. 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. 10 Things You Didnt Know about Andrew Baena, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Angel Vivaldi, The Top 10 Ice Nine Kills Songs From The Silver Scream, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Steve Jordan. Teens Crash Through Overpass In Stolen Car 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. 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. Free shipping for many products! Formed in 1967, the group originally included drummer and backing vocalist Alan Gratzer, guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and lead vocalist Mike Blair, and keyboardist Neal Doughty. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn. It was monumental.". [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. 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. Cronin: I first joined the band in 1972. 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. Ive sat down with peopleIve written with some great writers in Nashville, and for whatever reason, none of those songs have really panned out. The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned. . REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, August 24, 1980. Or maybe it was a little thing to make me feel at home? The cause of death has not yet been. 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. Midway through the song, the words disappeared from the screen and the singer had to rely on memory to get through the rest. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. 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. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. I was kind of a late bloomermusic was my vehicle. When you start second guessing yourself, thats when you get lost. The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. These are ten things you didnt, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Andrew BaenaContinue, Angel Vivaldi is a New Jersey-based progressive metal guitarist, composer, producer, environmentalist, and philanthropist. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 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. A dentist tells Wendy he wants REO to plays a dental convention on the Missouri Belle riverboat casino. Back in the day of the album, that was very important. So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. How did it come about? About The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. DK: So what were you thinking about, when you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling? Cronin: Well, I will tell youI was thinking about this todaythis year (2016) will be the year that I get back to knucklin down. Cronin: I would hope that the point [of this story is], when youre writing a song, you have to stick with your gut. I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. Cronin: Yeah, I think so. Then as many of my songs do, I write them and then I kind of learn about myself when Im finished with them. Your email address will not be published. I gotta tell ya, I see the name REO Speedwagon all the time, but I don't often see my own name there. He might still occasionally enjoy the odd glass of wine at dinner, but he makes sure to drink it by the glass rather than the bottle. When LaTonya Floyd last spoke to her brother, George Floyd, days before he died last May with a police officer's knee pinned to his neck, the two sang REO Speedwagon's hit "Keep on Loving You" over the phone to each other, she told PEOPLE. Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and occasional pianist for the American rock band REO Speedwagon. 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. Its an example of the power of television. 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 . 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. 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. Cronin was born on October 6, 1951, in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. 'Heartland' Actor Robert Cormier Dead at 33 Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/cantfightthisfeeling.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeponlovingyou.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/takeitontherun.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/rollwiththechanges.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/timeformetofly.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/dontlethimgo.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keepthefireburnin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inmydreams.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/onelonelynight.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inyourletter.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeppushin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/backontheroadagain.html, Rock Music: 49 Different Types and Their Characteristics, Loverboy Greatest Hits: The 17 Best Songs of All Time, 42 Songs About the Experience of Being 17, 48+ Songs About Good Times and Memories to Look Back On. 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. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. The first line of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is "It was the 3rd of September," which is the day lead singer Dennis Edwards' father died. When my children were born, I didnt name my children when my wife was pregnant. 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. No. But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. 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). "It was just amazing," she said. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. 2023 Getty Images. 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. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. Showing Editorial results for kevin cronin of reo speedwagon. These days, though, its a different story. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. After releasing one album (1972s R.E.O./T.W.O,), he left the band during the recording of 1973s Ridin the Storm Out over creative differences. 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. But Ive written some of our biggest hits on the piano. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names. So I called up and cancelled the songwriting session. The first was a Hey, everybody, how you doing? thing. Richrath last played with the band in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois, to raise money for tornado victims. ", LaTonya added, "My dream has come true to meet REO Speedwagon. "It means so much," LaTonya said. I'm self-taught on. She began at a small local paper covering up and coming bands. Scott Weiland, lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, died December 3 at age 48. REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. "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.' This album contains four US top hits and has sold more than 10 million copies! Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? I wrote Time For Me To Fly on the guitarmost of my songs I write on the acoustic guitar. REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin turns to his kids for advice when deciding on new projects including the band's recent cameo on Netflix's "Ozark.". 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). Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. For example, In 2011, He worked on Universal Language with producer Will, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Angel VivaldiContinue, Ice Nine Kills is a metal band that hails from from about an hour from where I grew up: Boston, MA. Biggest hit "Sister Christian" (1984) took the band to . So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. 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. 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. There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. 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. What was it that inspired you to write it? And my immediate reaction was, Wait a minute, all the other characters are fictional, except for us. I'm strictly nonfiction at this point in my life. DK: One of my favorite songs is Roll With The ChangesI think that song has inspired a lot of people. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. 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 entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, September 10, 1982. 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. Chauvin, 44, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George seen on bystander video as Chauvin pressed his knee to George's neck for nearly nine minutes while George lay handcuffed on the ground during his arrest for allegedly spending a counterfeit $20 bill. 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. 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. "Gregg . It just so happens that the album came out when I was in junior high school. He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). 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. 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. We did a tour of Mexico. 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Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. It shows how my manager calls me and asks if Im willing to launder money through our merchandise company for an extra hundred thousand dollars. I never really took any piano lessonsI just messed around with it and figured it out for myself. How do you think Ozark meant for the song to be seen? My wife is an amazing person. 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. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. 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. I just havent had a great deal of success with it (laughs). Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. written by REO Speedwagon January 22, 2016, 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. DK: Thats a great story about how you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling. Thank you. 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? Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. We wanted to see the Blue Cat [Lodge; the set is a shuttered bar on Lake Allatoona] and the strip club, Lickety Splitz. I just really felt like it was a two-person job [this past year] more than ever. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If I can inspire any young songwriter with anything that Im saying today, thats probably the most important thing that Ive learned over the years. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. So that was the song that kind of got it going. DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. I was in a tough position. In addition to being in the band Carcosa, he has also been in Galactic Pegasus and One More Slice. He goes, [Spanish accent] This is bullst. "If I want to see if . 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. He was 65. Thats my titlethats what this song is about. 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. The. 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. 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. I feel so sad. The neck fits my left hand perfectly, and it sounds exactly how I think an electric guitar should sound. 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. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. So that was special. REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. They are Do you love animals? I didn't know what to make of it. But the whole thing about the dentists, that happened in episode one. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. 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." 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. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. 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. Id just started to write a couple little silly songs. Now, hes all about healthy eating and working out. He was there with me.". 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 How much is REO Speedwagon worth? 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. Now, hes hoping to repeat the success of that classic track, albeit on the printed page. I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). In the REO Speedwagon band, there are two lead singers, and one is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell. I am an avid Mac-user, nerd, musician, freelancer, and gamer. The opening line may be even more important than the title. 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. Then when our family sat down to watch Season 3 and I saw they actually kept that name for the episode, it was a kick. "We laughed, we joked it was like we knew each other forever. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. I kind of want to hear some more about that. To a lesser extent perhaps, [its like] when Journeys Dont Stop Believin got played on the Sopranos final episode and that just breathed new life into that song. 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). Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. With Cant Fight This Feeling, I did not know what the name of that song was. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. 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". Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric. Artists and entertainers. We are pleased to do a new interview with Cronin, about how he wrote his classic REO songs, and his creative songwriting process. Additionally, I've been playing music for the better part of 14 years. 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 was really my songs that got me the gig. Stevie Wonder wrote the Rufus funk classic "Tell Me Something Good. When you write a song, you have no idea the journey that song may or may not take you on. I've been singing since kindergarten. 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. 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.