I couldnt figure it out, and as a result, I had a really hard time finishing that song. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. 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. He was 65. 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. I kind of operate under the brand name of REO Speedwagon. For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names. "Gregg . Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and occasional pianist for the American rock band REO Speedwagon. Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. 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 . 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. I felt like I had a fever and my stomach hurt. So I was quite literally and figuratively rolling with the changes (laughs). I know there are many writers who come up with the title and then write the song around the title. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Kevin Cronin - Wikipedia I had the verses already written. . For our episode, they had me on stage delivering a couple of lines. 5 Questions with REO Speedwagon's lead singer Kevin Cronin Please subscribe. Kevin Cronin - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Basically, the only songs I can play on piano are those that I wrote (he laughs). But it would be fun to have some success as a co-writer. Cronin: We talked about Music Manthat song has a very special place for me because it kind of got me the gig. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. Dont second guess it. To hear people say things like this is amazing, said Bruce Hall, bass guitarist and lead and harmony vocalist for REO Speedwagon. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. 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. Whether you're young or old, everyone loves a good song about memories and good times. 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. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. And the journey continues. Its like the stars lining up. The song was remixed for the re-release to have more Pop appeal. 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. 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." So we wrote that into the script. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. I think it's a combination of both. 1980 - Present43 years. 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. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. Linda has been writing professionally since November 2012. My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. 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. 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. I think the main reason that I got the gig, was that REO had released one album, and they were working on songs for their second album for Epic Records. and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. Then of course, you refine it from there. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Here it is, 50 years later, and it's still out there appealing to people; bringing up emotions, making people smile. She covers numerous genres of music but her favorites are Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Rap, and even the classics. I learned something from thisthat if you pay attention to the song, the song will tell you what it needs. REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. 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. REO Speedwagon singer pays tribute to George Floyd at Houston vigil Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? I didnt really picture myself as a Los Angeles person, Im a Midwest boy. The cause of death has not yet been. "When Gregg left the band in 1977, he took with him the prog-leaning extended instrumental section aspect of the REO sound," Cronin wrote. Well, then you're going to love this blog post! I just havent had a great deal of success with it (laughs). Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). I had a little red Wurlitzer electric piano that Id had since I was in high school. Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? "If I want to see if . DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. When we play Time for Me to Fly in concert, it's always one of those songs that gets a big response. 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. Im finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, and writing them down and recording them. 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. Where Are They Now: REO Speedwagon - American Profile 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. I never really took any piano lessonsI just messed around with it and figured it out for myself. 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. After all, hes been a mainstay in the world of rap music since the late 1980s. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. At that time, my [twin] sons were 19 and my daughter was 22. 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. 2023 Getty Images. Search instead in. List of REO Speedwagon members - Wikiwand I just really felt like it was a two-person job [this past year] more than ever. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. It was monumental.". REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising Ozark cameo - EW.com 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. It was kind of shocking in a way. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUN Show more REO Speedwagon - Event. In addition to being in the band Carcosa, he has also been in Galactic Pegasus and One More Slice. 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. Hi Infidelity blew the doors off the joint and people went back and discovered (early albums like)You Can Tune a Piano, But You Cant Tuna Fish and discovered R.E.O/T.W.O, and all the songs on those albums. Cronin: Well for me, songwriting has been kind of a solitary journey. But my friend, Sammy Hagar, his brand name is Sammy Hagar. When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. The title line is, Cant you see, Ill always be a music man. It basically talked about my story in a song. Still now, this band is remarked and will be noted for its best performance in rock kinds of music. We didnt set out to write a concept album, but the songs do hang together conceptually, because we were all going through similar things. The subjects that we were writing about were what was going on in our lives, since we were all in the same boat in a lot of ways. 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 memoir (which is tentatively titled Roll With the Changes: My Life Within and Without REO Speedwagon) is now in its final stages -according to Cronin, it should be finished in time for a 2022 release. I had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. They perform about 100 dates a year. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. 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. Theyre all home (and becoming) young adults. Cronin had been inspired to write the album after his son, Paris, fell into drug addiction. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Now I kind of see how it feels when your own name is up there. I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. Thats not to say they never willsongs have a way of surfacing in the future sometimes. I sat down and started playing those chordsthat was what the song came from. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Sold in excess of 17 million records worldwide. It must have been 1989 after [late guitarist/songwriter] Gary Richrath and I parted ways and the band was at kind of a low point. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The bandwe were all kind of going through some chaos in our personal lives. Honestly, when I finished that song, I was really youngI was 18 or 19 when I wrote that song. REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin -- Heard It From My Son Bleeps Her Cronin: I was kind of a late bloomer with the ladies. I didnt just want to jump on an airplaneit was too big of a move for me. What are we doing here? I swear to you, all of a sudden from behind one of our road cases pops the ventriloquists dummy. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. The. Ozark, a dark, violent drama about family both the crime and blood variety is not the kind of show where youd expect to hear the light classic rock stylings of REO Speedwagon. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. 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. However, there, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about DJ PaulContinue, Your email address will not be published. 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." REO Speedwagon skyrocketed to fame in 1980 with their chart topping . 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". In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit 'Time for Me . "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. REO Speedwagon, Boz Scaggs Latest To Sue Sony Music Over Digital Downloads, I feel so sad. [REO band member] Gary Richraththe late, great Gary Richrath who unfortunately passed away this past yearwas my partner in crime, so to speak. Tell me about being on set to film your scene. "It was just amazing," she said. After the stage performance, we sang, 'I Can't Fight This Feeling' and a couple of his other songs. 10 Things You Didn't Know about Kevin Cronin - Chaospin DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? When you were recording Hi Infidelity, did you and the band feel that this was your best album up to that point? Usually for me, the title is the last thing that happens. So it was literally time for him to fly. Meanwhile, their 1988 compilation album, The Hits, entered the Top Rock Albums chart at 49. When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. 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. 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. Se do you feel more comfortable writing the song by yourself, or do you also love the process of co-writing? Even though it wasnt a hit, its a REO fan favorite. DK: A couple years later REO released Hi Infidelity, which became your biggest album. This album contains four US top hits and has sold more than 10 million copies! So it all kind of came true. Paul Natkin/WireImage. But Ive written some of our biggest hits on the piano. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. 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. The. Trivia I was writing [the words] on this brown paper bag as I was rolling down the road. "It was so inspirational.". Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. 12 best REO Speedwagon songs 1. Ive sat down with peopleIve written with some great writers in Nashville, and for whatever reason, none of those songs have really panned out. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. 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. Bay Area. 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. The last time they toured together was 2018, but now theyre promising a comeback to the stage with a multi-act major tour. So far, Cronin is keeping mum on who the other acts will be, telling Ultimate Classic Rock, The two other bands will remain nameless for the moment but suffice to say, theyre really both great friends of ours. 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. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. "It's like a direct connection with my brother that was our song," LaTonya, 52, told PEOPLE afterward. They are Do you love animals? So to me, my experience has been that my strongest songs are the ones where it all kind of happens at once. Roll With The Changes by REO Speedwagon - Songfacts Derek Chauvin's Use of Force Was 'In No Way, Shape or Form' Proper, Police Chief Testifies. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Turning 17 is a big deal. 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.. As my father always used to say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and in songwriting thats ityour opening line. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. He goes, [Spanish accent] This is bullst. 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.". There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. Currently seeking: Band to Join, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and more.Hi my name is Luke Bolen! Stevie Wonder wrote the Rufus funk classic "Tell Me Something Good. About The Lead Singer Of REO Speedwagon So my dental line kinda bombed. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. [1] 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. It was a little unsettling; exciting but new. 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. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Cronin, like the rest of the band, earned a reputation as a party animal. He discovered his love for music at an early age, and spent most of his time outside of school honing his guitar skills. 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. So the songs come in all different shapes and forms. 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). DK: Which album was it, where you started to write a good amount of the songs for the group? I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). It's a different feeling, because I'm not used to it. I didn't know what to make of it. says the actress. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song . Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? So I wanted to drive. If you catch Linda at a wedding be sure to check out the dance floor. ". Night Ranger original guitarist formed in 1980. Hes a real sweet guy and hes written some big hit ballads, and we were supposed to co-write.