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 . And there were some radio stations in the Midwest that were playing those songs. I saw both seasons, all the way through, and I was like, Im ready to go. REO Speedwagon is back on the Billboard charts for songs that are many decades old. 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.". But I think it served its purpose because people at the record company heard it, REO Speedwagon fans heard itif they didnt hear it on the radio they heard us playing it live. 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. I feel songs are kind of the same way. "Gregg . 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). YouTube Video link: REO Speedwagon band was one of the top groups in the 20th century. 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. He refused to bail him out, something he credits with putting Paris, whos now sober, on the road to recovery The songs on the album were written about the experience, which Cronin has described as the darkest, yet most fulfilling, chapter of my life.. 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. Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? Do you love music? George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. "It was so inspirational.". Kevin Cronin Of REO Speedwagon Talks About His Classic Hits And His It just so happens that the album came out when I was in junior high school. 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. Cronin: I think so. So if the viewer remembers that this is a dental convention, that line is kind of funny. 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. I've been singing since kindergarten. But for me, I usually write the song first and then I find the title in the song. But Ive written some of our biggest hits on the piano. So it all kind of came true. 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. 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 Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. It was not a high point of my life. Usually for me, the title is the last thing that happens. I can always pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano. I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. 5 Questions with REO Speedwagon's lead singer Kevin Cronin 10 Things You Didn't Know about Kevin Cronin - Chaospin 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 Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Biggest hit "Sister Christian" (1984) took the band to . Does anyone call you The Wagon? He was like, 'Oh my God, you're a true fan!' The career of Antonio Vivaldi defies music industry logic. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. In fact, the group's best-selling album is Hi Infidelity. Is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? 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. I literally woke up in the middle of the night and I had these three, simple piano chords going through my head. Learn how your comment data is processed. REO Speedwagon - Wikipedia So that was special. All the energy that came back to me was, You might want to think about doing this.. For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. About The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon Bradley Gillis - Lead Guitarist - Night Ranger | LinkedIn Welcome to the Quantum Realm. Who Is The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? Tickets start at . Bay Area. So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. 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? 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 Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. When you start second guessing yourself, thats when you get lost. 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. When REO Speedwagon were at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, their tours were known to get pretty wild. 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. My wife is an amazing person. 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. 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. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. DK: So what were you thinking about, when you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling? He has written many classic hit songs for REO, including Cant Fight This Feeling, Keep On Loving You, Roll With The Changes, Keep The Fire Burnin, Time For Me To Fly, Dont Let Him Go, That Aint Love, Keep Pushin and In My Dreams.. 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. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? 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. 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. Linda has been writing professionally since November 2012. So I wanted to drive. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Even our (REO) song Take It On The Run which Gary Richrath wrote, Heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend, who heard it from another youve been messin aroundwhen I heard that line that Gary wrote, I said this song is amazing. I was determined to do everything I could possibly do to get that song finished and help Gary in any way, so we could record that song, because that opening line just killed me. DK: Besides some of your big hits, what are some of your songs that are your favorites? But my friend, Sammy Hagar, his brand name is Sammy Hagar. Thanks to their appearance, REO songs "Keep On Loving You," "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Time for Me to Fly," and "Take It On the Run" have all re-entered Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart. Here it is, 50 years later, and it's still out there appealing to people; bringing up emotions, making people smile. Cronin managed to reach $350,000 before being eliminated after forgetting the lyrics to Donna Summers Last Dance.. 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. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. It's a time when many young people feel like they are finally becoming adults. Search instead in. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. 2023 Getty Images. We were all psyched up. Cronin is known to play Ovations on tour, and even has his own signature guitar from the brand. Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write. 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). Time for Me to Fly has taken me on an amazing musical journey that started when I wrote it in 1970. Joined my first band in 2008 (a Metallica cover band) and. Find out more about their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist as we reveal 10 things you didnt know about Kevin Cronin. So that was the song that kind of got it going. 4 CD Lot! 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. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO Speedwagon CD Lot! So it was literally time for him to fly. 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. Get recommendations for other artists you'll love. 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. Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? - TMZ Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. 1980 - Present43 years. Back in the day of the album, that was very important. Theyre one of my favorite bands of all time, and I thought it was, Read More The Top 10 Ice Nine Kills Songs From The Silver ScreamContinue, Have you heard of American rap artist 2KBABY? 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. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. Michael Bryan Murphy took his place, and remained with the band until Cronin stepped back up to the mic in January 1976. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. I know there are many writers who come up with the title and then write the song around the title. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. He was 65. Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. Cronin also presented LaTonya with the plaque commemorating the Billboard chart-topping single's 1981 platinum status for sales of more than 1 million copies. Friday's prayer vigil with its call for justice on George's behalf "was beautiful," LaTonya said. "AOR poll part 2: Which lead singer's voice do you like best? Richrath last played with the band in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois, to raise money for tornado victims. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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. 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. The bands most famous album, Hi Infidelity, which was released in 1980, has sold 10 million copies and became the best-selling rock album of 1981. ", "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye was inspired by Jackie Gleason's saying, "How Sweet It Is!". 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. Collect, curate and comment on your files. They also have pleaded not guilty. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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 Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. Ask me about my collection of M:TG cards! 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. When you were recording Hi Infidelity, did you and the band feel that this was your best album up to that point? and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. But it would be fun to have some success as a co-writer. Gregg Philbin, REO Speedwagon Legend, Has Died REO Speedwagon hometown, lineup, biography | Last.fm When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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). Anyway, Smooth would chase them down. 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 didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. I was kind of a late bloomermusic was my vehicle. He was 65. (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. says the actress. REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. No. As time went on, and my buddy broke up with her, we still remained friends. But the whole thing about the dentists, that happened in episode one. DK: Thats a great story about how you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling. Thank you. He needed the money to buy the group's back catalogue. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising Ozark cameo - EW.com Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? Afterwards, she spent time with Cronin, his daughter and his manager. The 10 Best Ty Dolla Sign Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Lupe Fiasco Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best 4 Non Blondes Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Marina and the Diamonds Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Ruben Blades Songs of All-Time. 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. "Pretty In Pink" by Psychedelic Furs was released in 1981. Yes! Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. 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. She doesn't hold back. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? We did a tour of Mexico. All Rights Reserved. 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. 2023 Getty Images. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. Thats my titlethats what this song is about. How much is REO Speedwagon worth? 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). REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. Since rejoining the band, Cronin has penned the bulk of their most successful songs, including Keep the Fire Burnin', I Do Wanna Know, Keep on Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling, In My Dreams, and Dont Let Him Go. Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all. Guess what he looks like now! Honestly, when I finished that song, I was really youngI was 18 or 19 when I wrote that song. 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. The opening line may be even more important than the title. The. "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.'