I sat down and started playing those chordsthat was what the song came from. In 2018, REO Speedwagon and Chicago toured again. I wrote Time For Me To Fly on the guitarmost of my songs I write on the acoustic guitar. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. 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. Speedwagon" written across the blackboard when he walked into the classroom. Olds then changed the name to his initials. Blair left a few months after Matt, with Gregg Philbin taking his place. Three years later, in 1957, Reo's vehicle manufacturing operation became a subsidiary of the White Motor Company. Their album Hi Infidelity received the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over 10 million copies. 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. He was taking a class, History of Transportation, and found "R.E.O. Paul Leka, record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, CT where it recorded original material for the first album, which included Richrath, Gratzer, Dought, Philbin and Luttrell. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Subscribe now. Here with Me from 1988 (Uploaded to YouTube by REO Speedwagon). 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? We were kids from Cloud Nine. But You Get turned out to be the record REO had needed all along four sides of crackling power that will probably rank as the years best live collection. It was the groups first gold album. The band began when college freshman and keyboard player Neal Doughty met drummer Alan Gratzer on his first day at the University of Illinois in the fall of 1966. Does REO Speedwagon have all original members? 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. Volvo later took over White and thus currently owns the rights to the REO brand name. As the story is told most often, Doughty is credited with coming up with the group's name. To ensure a reliable supply of parts, he organized a number of subsidiary firms, like the National Coil Company, the Michigan Screw Company, and the Atlas Drop Forge Company. Roll With The Changes was personally about me moving from Chicago to L.A.I was quite literally rolling with the changes. Copyright 2023 About the 80s. There was this girl in Chicago who Im still in touch with to this daywere still friends. Founded in 1967 and fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin, REO Speedwagon's unrelenting drive, as well as non-stop touring and recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Kevin Cronin wrote this note the bands official Facebook page. REO has been recording since 1971, but the success that sent Cronin and his band members into such a culture shock came a decade later, when Hi . Fifty years after their first album, they remain a touring draw that can find new audiences in unexpected ways. ALSO SEE: Rock out with these 30 old Star Hits music magazines from the 80s. Tools Ridin' the Storm Out is the third studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1973. The resulting Nuclear Corporation of America, Inc., diversified and purchased other companies to become a conglomerate, spreading into an array of fields including prefabricated housing and steel joist manufacturing in addition to nuclear services. [3], Cottage Grove Dump Truck, Lane County, Oregon, An REO Speed Wagon, from a 1917 advertisement, REO Speed Wagon Fire Truck at Jack Daniel's Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee, Car emblem for a Reo Flying Cloud (1930 model), REO truck filled with citrus fruit, Kfar Saba, Israel, 1932. What is the most expensive bass guitar in the world? So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. The cause of death has not yet been determined.. 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. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. Doughty retired from touring with REO in January 2023, though remains an official member. Speedwagon (they would later drop the periods). Temporary guitarist Bill Fiorio later found fame under the name Duke Tumatoe. The band formed in the autumn of 1967 by Neal Doughty and Alan Gratzer. guitarist Gary Richrath In 1923, the company sold an early recreational vehicle, called the "Motor Pullman Car". He helped REO Speedwagon release five Platinum-selling hit albums, including Wheels Are Turnin'. 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. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), The Rolling Stones: Charlie Is My Darling DVD Review. [9] White then merged REO with Diamond T Trucks in 1967 to form Diamond Reo Trucks. At the end of the performance, the emcee thanked "REO Speedway.". Thats another way of doing it. Your email address will not be published. "During dress rehearsal, they introduced us as Reo Speedwagon," said Cronin, as reported by Rolling Stone. What was it that inspired you to write it? A new concert series of them with Pat Benatar would be a smokin hot idea. REO has been recording since 1971, but the success that sent Cronin and his band members into such a culture shock came a decade later, when Hi-Infidelity stayed on top of the pop charts for nearly six months, making REO one of the hottest groups of 1981. The Top 40 album was produced by Cronin and Richrath who also, together and individually, wrote the whole of the album (with one exception, Runnin Blind, co-written by Richrath and Debbie Mackron). Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vinyl Album, REO Speedwagon/"Life As We Know It", Original 1987 Release at the best online prices at eBay! So the answers to those other questions are separate topics, but here I wanted to explain just where REO Speedwagon got their name. 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. And these easy tips kept us grooving, See inside the home of vintage actor James Coburn (1970), Check out these 20 glamorous 50s housewives who REALLY loved their toilet paper, The Black Dahlia murder: Find out all about this mysterious and brutal unsolved crime from 1947, 21 bad vintage product names you wouldnt see today, 100 vintage 1960s supermarkets & old-fashioned grocery stores, The history of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress planes from WWII, Rediscover vintage Village Lip Lickers flavored lip glosses from the 1970s & 1980s. Trivia. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Founding a long-running, successful rock band has always been a long shot. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. [1] REO Speedwagon released their debut album, R.E.O. Remember Maybelline Kissing Potion & other flavored lip gloss from the 70s & 80s? 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. The band from Illinois has managed to, yes, roll with the changes for more than five decades. ""It's R-dot-E-dot-O-dot Speed-wagon REO Speedwagon!" The Model 8-31 was priced at $2,145. So I wanted to drive. Instead, were lumped in with heavy metal groups, and were not like Angel Oh yeh, another Kiss band., Its our own fault, I guess, he continued, because we lost perspective of our strong points., ALSO SEE: Even back in 75, people knew Bruce Springsteen was something special, Those strengths, according to Cronin, center around the energy REO generates during a live performance. Getting gigs in the Midwest, however, is no problem at all. Was there any personal experience you had with them? This site uses cookies but never sells your personal information. Weve been a team through the years, For a while, we were almost in competition, he admitted. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Actually, for the first time in six years, we both like being in the band. The Syracuse Herald, June8, 1919, REO advertisement in 1953 (back cover of the October 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics), 1929 REO advertisement sold at Yanase dealerships in Japan, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers, "Reo Motor Car Company Plant (Designation Withdrawn)", "Gallery of vintage magazine advertisements", "Rolling Cottage Latest Luxury in Automobiles", "What's In A Name: Diamond Rio Discovers That Its New Moniker Is A Real Gem", "My Life and Hard Times: The Car We Had To Push", REO (and Diamond T) Trucks (Hank's Truck Pictures), A REO Speed Delivery (State Library, Victoria, Australia images), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=REO_Motor_Car_Company&oldid=1132628423, Vehicle manufacturing division merged with, A REO is mentioned in a humorous 1933 short story. From early struggles and line-up changes to major successes and seemingly endless touring, the group from Champaign, Illinois has been riding out the storm of rock for over five decades. It wasnt long before Gratzer, bassist Mike Blair, and guitarist Joe Matt decided to quit the old band and join Doughty in a new one. lead singer of reo speedwagon. Band member and lead singer Kevin Cronin stressed about the announcer getting the name right. You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. 2023 American Profile, All Rights Reserved. Today, Doughty, Cronin, and Hall remain with the band; guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt have been in since 1989. 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. He formed the band in the fall of 1966, with original drummer Alan Gratzer (who left REO in 1988). and has remained the lead vocalist ever since. Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. Featured image: Bruce Hall, Kevin Cronin, and Dave Amato perform in 2018. It did land a recording contract with Epic Records back in 1971, but six years and seven albums later, its still waiting for seemingly overdue popularity, on the east and west coasts. Whats your opinion of this band? Olds Motor Works soon adopted the popular name of its vehicles, Oldsmobile (which, along with Buick and Cadillac, became a founding division of General Motors Corporation). DK: I know you play both guitar and piano onstage. We circled our wagons and started making some changes We changed everything except the record company. What was REO Speedwagon's first #1 single? The model 8-35 was priced from $2,745 for the sedan to $3,000 for the convertible coupe. While Ned Jordan is credited with changing the way advertising was written with his "Somewhere West of Laramie" ads for his Jordan Playboy, Reo's Flying Clouda name that provoked evocative images of speed and lightnesschanged the way automobiles would be named in the future. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. My wife is an amazing person. I didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. Roll with the Changes. Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic, particularly with regard to health and safety, but also in terms of outdated cultural depictions and social values. Ransom E. Olds was an entrepreneur who founded multiple companies in the automobile industry. Your ego gets pumped up a lot at first, but were used to it now. And now all the doors that seemed to be closing in REOs face are wide open again if their eighth album has any guts to it at all. Through it, we work off each other, work things out, and improve because of it. The band made an appearance in one episode of the Netflix series Ozark; the one guest-spot put four of the bands songs back on the Billboard rock chart in 2020. See original listing. In the fall of 1967, the group returned to campus; Doughty brought with him a Farfisa electronic organ. I just really felt like it was a two-person job [this past year] more than ever. I wanted to put any extra time that I hadobviously the band tours and thats very important to all of us. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. Who died from REO Speedwagon? If interested in music and guitars, then you are in the right place and will learn a lot. 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. 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. Who is famous for playing a 12-string guitar. [7] Mike Murphy took over and recorded Ridin' the Storm Out, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, but was replaced by a returning Cronin in 1976. One album I know I "bought" from the Columbia House Record and Tape Club was REO Speedwagon's 1978 classic,You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish.There are . It was really my songs that got me the gig. All Rights Reserved. The band also briefly added saxophonist Joe McCabe and trumpeter Marty Shepard to its lineup in 1968. Cronin: I think so. It was the first song where I thought, Wow, I kind of like this song (laughs). So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. Take, for example, the biography of REO Speedwagon. But who are the original members of REO Speedwagon? 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. 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. However, during the Second World War, REO produced a number of them under license from Studebaker. Mike Murphy took over and recordedRidin' the Storm Out,Lost in a DreamandThis Time We Mean It, but was replaced by a returning Cronin in 1976. REO Speedwagons popularity began to decline in 1987 when the album Life as We Know It didnt sell nearly as many as the others. DK: So what were you thinking about, when you wrote Cant Fight This Feeling? [5] During 1925, however, Scott, like many of his contemporaries/competitors, began an ambitious expansion program designed to make the company more competitive with other automobile manufacturers by offering cars in different price ranges. Excerpted from The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington) April 5, 1985. The band's most famous album, Hi Infidelity, which was released in 1980, has sold 10 million copies and became the best-selling rock album of 1981.The album contained four Top 40 hits: "Keep On Loving You" and "Don't Let Him Go" (written by Cronin), plus "Take It On The Run" and . Then as many of my songs do, I write them and then I kind of learn about myself when Im finished with them. His first track written for REO was Lost In A Dream from 1974 (co-wrote with Mike Murphy). Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neal_Doughty&oldid=1135295662, This page was last edited on 23 January 2023, at 20:16. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Most Studebaker US6 trucks were built by Studebaker. Their compilation album, The Hits, included Here With Me and I Dont Want to Love You, but unfortunately after that, they lost Gary Richrath and Alan Gratzer. And, well were crazy enough that we dont need that kind of artificial craziness. 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. The band name was found when one of their members, Neal Doughty, saw the name written across the blackboard in his History of Transportation class at the University of Illinois (U of I) in Champaign, IL. They worked their way through small clubs and venues, as well as through more than a few personnel changes. 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. Philbin left the following year, withBruce Halltaking his place. Dont second guess it. The group that formed in Chicago played the mid-60s clubs dates for some time, then branched out into the concert circuit throughout the Midwest. Could use a Which Ones Pink? The announcer sort of got it right. I try to keep it that way, because I think theres a certain purityI try to keep the craftsmanship to a minimum. Neal Doughty Kevin Cronin Bruce Hall Dave Amato Bryan Hitt Many people think the current lead singer of REO Speedwagon is dead! The name "REO Speedwagon" refers to Ransom Eli Olds, the founder of Oldsmobile. Crownover only lasted two years when Bill Fiorio replaced him before also leaving in late 1969, taking the name Duke Tumatoe and forming the All Star Frogs. Shortly afterwards, four of their songs reentered the Billboard rock charts. Your email address will not be published. (Brandon Nagy / Shutterstock), Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. He was 65. A convertible Victoria was listed at $3,195 but only one is known to have been built. The 8-cylinder model was sold through 1933 with minor updates. Two years later, Olds claimed that he had built the best car he could, a tourer able to seat two, four, or five, with a 3035hp (2226kW) engine, 112 inches (2,845mm) wheelbase, and 32 inches (81cm) wheels, for $1,055 (not including top, windshield, or gas tank, which were US$100 extra); self-starter was $25 on top of that. All told, the band would have 12 Top 40 singles through the 1980s. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. But it would be fun to have some success as a co-writer. It also contains affiliate links in which we earn a fee from qualifying sales. Your email address will not be published. [3], By late 1970, REO Speedwagon had finalised its first recording lineup with the addition of guitarist Gary Richrath in place of Scorfina. All rights reserved. Also in 1989,Bryan Hittreplaced Lear on drums,whileJesse Harmsjoined as a second keyboardist, performing on the band's 1990 albumThe Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. The rest of the band went with it as their first advertisement went out in their school newspaper at a frat party, which later turned into a food fight. What did you like about REO Speedwagon? Olds had 52% of the stock and the titles of president and general manager. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. 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. It was great. However, Cronin admitted, after two months the self-production they were permitted to do didnt sound right. Theres no bigger influence for me. So I was quite literally and figuratively rolling with the changes (laughs). Meanwhile, after selling Reo's vehicle manufacturing operation to Bohn in 1954, management began liquidating the remainder of the company. Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. For definitive proof, consider REO Speedwagon. Cronin: We talked about Music Manthat song has a very special place for me because it kind of got me the gig. The band would continue to juxtapose rock numbers and power ballads to great success, much like contemporaries Styx and Journey. 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. Hi Infidelity (1980) contained four US Top 40 hits and is the group's best-selling album, with over ten . Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946) is an American keyboardist, best known as a founding member of the rock band REO Speedwagon and the only member to have played on every album. Before they met, Gratzer was a drummer in high school and played in a local group on the weekends while Doughty was studying the Beatles songs closely using his parents piano. Hes looking over the hills.. They also gained a strong supporter in the St. Louis, MO-based radio station, KSHE, one of the United States most influential rock stations. On July 13, on the way to a show in Milwaukee, they made a stop in Philadelphia to perform at the US leg of Live Aid, which broke a record for number of viewers in person and TV. Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the release of the band's explosive Hi Infidelity which contained the . In 1980 their album Hi Fidelity sold more than 10 million copies, about a quarter of all of the band's album sales. Unlike so many of the undeserving in the entertainment industry, theyre out there giving it their all. 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? In the big business that is rock in its third decade, it takes a lot more than hard work to succeed. Every other album weve made wed start recording at 10 at night and drag home at 7 the next morning, completely dry. We were just doing our best to stay normal as everything for the band was changing.. Neal Allan Doughty (born July 29, 1946 in Evansville, Indiana) is an American keyboardist, best known as a founding member of the rock band REO Speedwagon and the only member to have played on every album. This may sound weird after everything else, but this tour is turning out to be our best yet, Cronin said. That same year, Philbin left and the band added bassist Bruce Hall, who remains at the spot today. The company's name was spelled alternately in all capitals REO or with only an initial capital as Reo, and the company's own literature was inconsistent in this regard, with early advertising using all capitals, and later advertising using the "Reo" capitalization. But when Good Trouble came out a year later, the reception was considerably cooler. In 1971, REO Speedwagon signed a contract with Epic Records. 1912 REO advertisement. The songs for that album had a certain cohesive nature to them. They started jamming and formed a group almost immediately. REO SPEEDWAGON, "WHEELS ARE TURNIN" Condition: Used. 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! Kevin and Lisa share the story of their storybook romance and secret to their successful 24-year marriage. Discover the benefits that come with your membership. These singles were on the charts for over a year, selling over 10 million copies. With a Continental engine, artillery wheels, and a different pattern of horizontal radiator louvers from the Flying Cloud, the Wolverine was made until 1928. Steve Scorfina was also part of the band for a year, composing and performing live with the band for a year and being replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970. So I called up and cancelled the songwriting session. With the exception of the last, our albums just didnt capture those energies.. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. The words referred to a 1915 vehicle produced by the founder of the Oldsmobile automotive company, Ransom E. Olds. Cronin: That song, coincidentally, was number one 35 years ago from right now. 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? What inspired you to write this song? So well seethis year should be interesting. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? I agree 1978s You Can Tune a Piano album did help pave the way for 1980s Hi-Infidelity which to many (myself included) was/is their peak album. Here, take a look back at the ups and downs of the career of this American rock group, with interviews and insights from the 70s and 80s. I feel as if it is our first album.. For some reason they didnt do that many concerts out here or I likely would have gone to see them more. Its a disagreement, but it isnt antagonistic. The group compiled a list of songs that summer while Doughty worked a summer job to buy his first keyboard, a Farfisa organ. [17] Members [ edit] Current [ edit] Former [ edit] Timeline [ edit] Basically, the only songs I can play on piano are those that I wrote (he laughs). By late 1970, REO Speedwagon had finalised its first recording lineup with the addition of guitaristGary Richrathin place of Scorfina. And wallah! The first time I was introduced to her, when I saw herit was that love at first sight feeling. Cant Fight This Feeling would hit #1 in 1984.
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