I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. 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). Cronin is known to play Ovations on tour, and even has his own signature guitar from the brand. All Rights Reserved. Meanwhile, their 1988 compilation album, The Hits, entered the Top Rock Albums chart at 49. I've also got a horrible habit of needing the absolute newest technological wonder, whether it's stable or not. 2023 Getty Images. So that was the song that kind of got it going. Guess what he looks like now! Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. (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. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. He discovered his love for music at an early age, and spent most of his time outside of school honing his guitar skills. But if theres one guitar he never leaves home without, its his trusty 52 Fender Telecaster. Richrath last played with the band in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois, to raise money for tornado victims. The first was a Hey, everybody, how you doing? thing. The. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. Cronins decision to forgo a college education for music paid off by the age of 20, hed been recruited by REO Speedwagon as a replacement to original lead vocalist, Terry Luttrell. Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? 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. So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. At that point, Cronin decided to dole out some tough love and stop enabling his son. Tell me about being on set to film your scene. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. "AOR poll part 2: Which lead singer's voice do you like best? The first time I was introduced to her, when I saw herit was that love at first sight feeling. Time for Me to Fly has taken me on an amazing musical journey that started when I wrote it in 1970. He realized that the band needed songs. I wanted to put any extra time that I hadobviously the band tours and thats very important to all of us. 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. 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. Im trained on the guitarI took guitar lessons for years when I was a kid. 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. However, there, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about DJ PaulContinue, Your email address will not be published. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. I just really felt like it was a two-person job [this past year] more than ever. It was kind of shocking in a way. I didnt really picture myself as a Los Angeles person, Im a Midwest boy. Ask me about my collection of M:TG cards! 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.. Bay Area. So I sat there and looked at my lyric notebook and if you think about it, the opening line of the song is I cant fight this feeling any longer. That was likeBingo! Yet Im thinking this song is so important to me and I think its got the potential to be a real special song in the world, but this title is going to kill it. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. 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. 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. Thats another way of doing it. I literally woke up in the middle of the night and I had these three, simple piano chords going through my head. 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. Trivia Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. Now, hes all about healthy eating and working out. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. After the stage performance, we sang, 'I Can't Fight This Feeling' and a couple of his other songs. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. We recorded it in Nashville, and the song of mine that [probably] got me the gig was called Music Man. It was never a huge hit, but its still in the REO setlist and it was basically my fantasy of how my life would turn out. When Gary (Richrath) heard that song, it signaled to him that I had some ability as a songwriter. George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'. Maybe it was just the timing of when it was released. 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? Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. So we wrote that into the script. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? My biggest successes are songs that I write myself. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. 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. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. 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. I try to stick with the inspiration, and keep as much of that initial burst of creativity in the song as I possibly can. The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song . 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. 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. "When the call came in for us to appear in, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising. Cronin: Ive written songs on both, honestly. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? You know, I went through some fictional years there in the past! 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. 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. 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. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Showing Editorial results for reo speedwagon. "We laughed, we joked it was like we knew each other forever. Learn how your comment data is processed. Roll With The Changes was personally about me moving from Chicago to L.A.I was quite literally rolling with the changes. 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. What are we doing here? I swear to you, all of a sudden from behind one of our road cases pops the ventriloquists dummy. Well, that got dropped. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. They were told they could either bail him out or Paris would spend the next 4 days in jail. Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write. I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 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. 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. It was a little unsettling; exciting but new. Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all. (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 . So that was special. But my friend, Sammy Hagar, his brand name is Sammy Hagar. So I wanted to drive. 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." Tickets start at . I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. 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. He was 65. So well seethis year should be interesting. I sat down and started playing those chordsthat was what the song came from. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Speaking to Guitar World about his favorite piece of kit, he said: People tell me its too valuable to take on tour, but I love playing that guitar so much that I dont care. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. Search instead in. Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. No. We did a tour of Mexico. So it all kind of came true. Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. This song, even though it wasnt finished yet, meant so much to me and it was such a big part of who I am, that I just knew that I wanted to finish this song myself. In addition, his songs Roll With The Changes and Keep The Fire Burning have had an enduring impact, becoming rock anthems which convey positive and uplifting lyric themes. 9/28/2010 1:00 PM PT With '80s hits like " Keep On Loving You " and " Can't Fight This Feeling ," Kevin. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Richrath co-wrote some of the bands songs, including Take It on the Run, which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. Although Philbin left the band just before they reached the heights of their commercial success, lead singer Kevin Cronin wrote that no one should forget his contribution to REO Speedwagon's sound. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. 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). DK: A couple years later REO released Hi Infidelity, which became your biggest album. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Artists and entertainers. Kevin Cronin -- lead singer of '80s rock group REO Speedwagon -- heard the words straight from his own son's mouth . It was monumental.". It's been a pretty amazing journey. 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. But it certainly did come together. Cronin: We talked about Music Manthat song has a very special place for me because it kind of got me the gig. "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . 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). 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. 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. "Pretty In Pink" by Psychedelic Furs was released in 1981. The bandwe were all kind of going through some chaos in our personal lives. Michael Bryan Murphy took his place, and remained with the band until Cronin stepped back up to the mic in January 1976. S.F. It's a different feeling, because I'm not used to it. 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. 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. Thats my titlethats what this song is about. 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. How did it come about? Classic Rock at the best online prices at eBay! Collect, curate and comment on your files. REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. He was like, 'Oh my God, you're a true fan!' ". We wanted to see the Blue Cat [Lodge; the set is a shuttered bar on Lake Allatoona] and the strip club, Lickety Splitz. Midway through the song, the words disappeared from the screen and the singer had to rely on memory to get through the rest. And the journey continues. I've been singing since kindergarten. I remember where I was when I wrote that song. Your email address will not be published. 1980 - Present43 years. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. Usually for me, the title is the last thing that happens. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. In addition to being in the band Carcosa, he has also been in Galactic Pegasus and One More Slice. How much is REO Speedwagon worth? REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. Cronin: I think so. Find out more about their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist as we reveal 10 things you didnt know about Kevin Cronin. These words do not come close to expressing the depth of emotions I am feeling at this time.. The band is actually mentioned two episodes before you appear. 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. Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! 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. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. [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. DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. If they made a home-version of the LHC, I'd have 2. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUNAs featured on The Essential REO Speedwagon. It just so happens that the album came out when I was in junior high school. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. Showing Editorial results for kevin cronin of reo speedwagon. My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. And sure enough, it ended up working out. "Gregg . 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 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.' ". 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. I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. 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 . Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. When Mike Blair left the band in the summer of 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced . What was it that inspired you to write it? Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. 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. I think it's a combination of both. Does anyone call you The Wagon? Is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? His initial period with the band proved brief. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. At that time, my [twin] sons were 19 and my daughter was 22. Then theres gun violence. But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. It's a time when many young people feel like they are finally becoming adults. There was this girl in Chicago who Im still in touch with to this daywere still friends. It gave me an outlet for expressing myself when I was very young and didnt know any other way to do it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Andrew Baena was born on July 18, 1992, in Canada. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. 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. In fact, the group's best-selling album is Hi Infidelity. Some of the greatest songs ever have been written by songwriting partnerships. These days, though, its a different story. Get recommendations for other artists you'll love. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. Turning 17 is a big deal. The opening line may be even more important than the title. Cronin managed to reach $350,000 before being eliminated after forgetting the lyrics to Donna Summers Last Dance.. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of Russian War. Joined my first band in 2008 (a Metallica cover band) and. I never really took any piano lessonsI just messed around with it and figured it out for myself. Theres no bigger influence for me. Weiland died of an accidental overdose of alcohol and drugs, the Hennepin County (Minnesota). 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. 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. I gotta tell ya, I see the name REO Speedwagon all the time, but I don't often see my own name there. You have entered an incorrect email address!