All the energy that came back to me was, You might want to think about doing this.. When you were recording Hi Infidelity, did you and the band feel that this was your best album up to that point? I remember where I was when I wrote that song. 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. As time went on, and my buddy broke up with her, we still remained friends. After trying to help him via interventions and stints in rehab, the family hit rock bottom when they received a phone call to say Paris had been arrested for possession. 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. I try to stick with the inspiration, and keep as much of that initial burst of creativity in the song as I possibly can. I remember that I sat down on the floor of my bedroom, and I was literally almost in tears. "It means so much," LaTonya said. 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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. I kind of want to hear some more about that. To a lesser extent perhaps, [its like] when Journeys Dont Stop Believin got played on the Sopranos final episode and that just breathed new life into that song. There was no way we would get together because she was with my friend. 10 Things You Didnt Know about Andrew Baena, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Angel Vivaldi, The Top 10 Ice Nine Kills Songs From The Silver Scream, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Steve Jordan. "Gregg . And sure enough, it ended up working out. So my dental line kinda bombed. For the good ones, the inspiration is usually a pretty big piece of the song. The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned. Read REO Speedwagon's bio and find out more about REO Speedwagon's songs, albums, and chart history. Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kodak Black Ordered Into Rehab By Florida Judge, Kodak Black Arrest Warrant Issued in Florida Over Failed Drug Test, Brad Paisley Drops Song Featuring Ukrainian Pres. YouTube Video link: REO Speedwagon band was one of the top groups in the 20th century. The song was remixed for the re-release to have more Pop appeal. George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'. The Hi Infidelity album was the one that broke things loose. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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 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. 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. When fans of the Netflix show Ozark tuned in to its third season, they were treated to a surprise appearance from Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon during episode three. I think it's a combination of both. 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. Trivia Now, hes all about healthy eating and working out. You have an entire episode of Ozark named after you (Kevin Cronin Was Here) and you and the band perform Time for Me to Fly in it. Last year, we called our tour the Family First Tour. Now, hes hoping to repeat the success of that classic track, albeit on the printed page. In 2007, REO Speedwagon released Find Your Own Way Home, their first new album in eleven years. It was a little unsettling; exciting but new. The band made a music video for this song in 1978, three years before MTV went on the air. But I was probably over halfway finished with Cant Fight This Feeling, and I felt that it was something special. So it was literally time for him to fly. At that time, my [twin] sons were 19 and my daughter was 22. I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). As we all know, those memories are Who is the lead singer in REO Speedwagon? He refers to the band as The Wagon, when fans actually call you REO. How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. 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 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). 'Heartland' Actor Robert Cormier Dead at 33 Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? 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. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song . It was not a high point of my life. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. DK: One of my favorite songs is Roll With The ChangesI think that song has inspired a lot of people. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. We did a tour of Mexico. I didnt put a whole lot of time and energy into the creative part of what I do. She began at a small local paper covering up and coming bands. Cronin: I cant say that we felt that. REOSpeedwagonPlans HiInfidelty30thAnniversary Reissue, Tour. After realizing his lifestyle was starting to overshadow his work and family life, he made a 180-degree turn. It was number one (on the Hot 100 chart) for I think three weeks, which back in the 80s was quite an accomplishment. Cronin: Ive written songs on both, honestly. 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? 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 Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album. 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. He realized that the band needed songs. Maybe you have and maybe you havent, at least not yet. Have you ever played a dental convention or equally oddball gig? As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. He might still occasionally enjoy the odd glass of wine at dinner, but he makes sure to drink it by the glass rather than the bottle. When you talk about (the line) I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me, the opening line from Norwegian Wood, which is arguably the greatest opening line in the history of songwriting. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Cronin: Well, I will tell youI was thinking about this todaythis year (2016) will be the year that I get back to knucklin down. Notably, these five band members have been together since 1989. 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. How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names. Its kind of a blessing and a curse. There was this girl in Chicago who Im still in touch with to this daywere still friends. Busted After Ariana Found Sexual Texts to Raquel. When I rejoined, the band had moved from Champaign, Illinois to Los Angeles. 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. This album contains four US top hits and has sold more than 10 million copies! 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. All the songs I write, they spring from an initial burst of creativity that kind of gets the ball rolling. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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 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 . REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Which instrument do you prefer to write songs on? ". Before we start the interview, here is some information about REO Speedwagons hit discography, and about the other members of the band, both past and present. So that was special. When you write a song, you have no idea the journey that song may or may not take you on. 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. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. All of his kids have left home, but when his daughter started working remotely and his sons colleges closed, all three moved back into the family home. So my manager, Tom Consolo, set up a writing session with Eric Carmen, who was the lead singer of the Raspberries. Who do you think is listening: old fans who were reminded of REO by the show, or young listeners just discovering the band? Cronin is known to play Ovations on tour, and even has his own signature guitar from the brand. (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. 1980 - Present43 years. The first time I was introduced to her, when I saw herit was that love at first sight feeling. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. DK: When you write, do you usually create the melody or the lyrics first? REO Speedwagon's 1971 debut album was with their original lead singer, Terry Luttrell. 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. What inspired you to write this song? So we wrote that into the script. In fact, the group's best-selling album is Hi Infidelity. He needed the money to buy the group's back catalogue. 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. Well, then you're going to love this blog post! Back in the day of the album, that was very important. Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. All Rights Reserved. The. They were told they could either bail him out or Paris would spend the next 4 days in jail. Five years later, it inspired a movie of the same name starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer. I am an avid Mac-user, nerd, musician, freelancer, and gamer. Kevin Cronin took over that role for their next effort, R.E.O./T.W.O. 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? I feel so sad. She's thinking about what her life would be like without [Marty/Jason Bateman]. 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 had written some songs before that were okaythey were passable. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. 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 Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. According to legend, Cronin thrashed out the lyrics to REO Speedwagons Roll With the Changes on the back of a trash bag. I can always pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano. 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. "I had my eyes closed the whole time picturing my brother. Three other now-former officers on the scene face related charges in George's death, and will be tried later this summer. I sat down and started playing those chordsthat was what the song came from. Im thankful for that and proud of that as well. Are you and the band working on a new studio album? Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. "AOR poll part 2: Which lead singer's voice do you like best? So the songs come in all different shapes and forms. 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). The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Luke Bolen: Musician in Bradenton, Florida. REO Speedwagon's official music video for 'Take It On The Run'. He was there with me.". 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. Its like the stars lining up. When they wrote those songs, they were just trying to write good . REO Speedwagon skyrocketed to fame in 1980 with their chart topping . It gave me an outlet for expressing myself when I was very young and didnt know any other way to do it. . He was 65. 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. "When the call came in for us to appear in, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. They sent me the script. But it would be fun to have some success as a co-writer. The opening line may be even more important than the title. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. 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? ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. 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. He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. 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. 1 of 13. Do you love music? Next year is set to be a big one for Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. REO Speedwagon has recorded 16 studio albums which have sold a total of more than 40 million units. "It's like a direct connection with my brother that was our song," LaTonya, 52, told PEOPLE afterward. Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all. Additionally, I've been playing music for the better part of 14 years. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. I learned most of what I know about being in a rock band from Gary Richrath, REO Speedwagons lead singer, Kevin Cronin, wrote on the bands website and Facebook page. Songwriting and music has always been my savior in that way. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. How much is REO Speedwagon worth? When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. REO Speedwagon has released a number of successful albums, including 1980s Hi Infidelity,which sold 10 million copies in the United States. Then theres gun violence. 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). Cronin: Yeah, I think so. They are Do you love animals? "It was just amazing," she said. Collect, curate and comment on your files. With Cant Fight This Feeling, I did not know what the name of that song was. 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.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. And then if Im lucky enough to capture that, then the actual craftsmanship comes into play. 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. Then as many of my songs do, I write them and then I kind of learn about myself when Im finished with them. 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. The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. We started out as friends. 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. Please subscribe. We did have a feeling that there was something special going on. 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. I couldnt figure it out, and as a result, I had a really hard time finishing that song. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. What was it that inspired you to write it? Speedwagon ), or simply REO, is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. After all, hes been a mainstay in the world of rap music since the late 1980s. Had I seen [that script] But that was episode one. Tickets start at . Fortunately, I stumbled into my home studio, which was a very humble little studio back in those days. REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. LaTonya Floyd, at right, with sister Zsa Zsa Floyd at their brother George's funeral June 9, 2020. My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. "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.' ". Or maybe it was a little thing to make me feel at home? 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. So when theres chaos in your personal life, then you look to the band for that security. Stevie Wonder wrote the Rufus funk classic "Tell Me Something Good. Search instead in. So when I came to Los Angeles I really wanted to feel the journey. So I think that really helped for the album, that it felt like all the songs belonged together. I wrote Keep On Loving You, Cant Fight This Feeling and Roll With The Changes on the piano. When you feel the inspiration for a song, then you have to actually craft it. 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? It shows how my manager calls me and asks if Im willing to launder money through our merchandise company for an extra hundred thousand dollars. But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. 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. 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.. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for REO Speedwagon CD Lot! Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. After the stage performance, we sang, 'I Can't Fight This Feeling' and a couple of his other songs. [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. Warning: This article contains spoilers forOzarkseason 3. It's a time when many young people feel like they are finally becoming adults. I was kind of a late bloomermusic was my vehicle. He was 65. So I was quite literally and figuratively rolling with the changes (laughs). Who knows what came first, the chicken or the egg there. How do you think Ozark meant for the song to be seen? 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. 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. Tell me about being on set to film your scene. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. Foreigner: Lou Gramm Styx: Dennis DeYoung Journey: Steve Perry REO Speedwagon: Kevin Cronin" REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. 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. Click to listen to REO Speedwagon on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/REOspot?IQid=RUNAs featured on The Essential REO Speedwagon. I felt like I had a fever and my stomach hurt. Cronin: We talked about Music Manthat song has a very special place for me because it kind of got me the gig. The lead singer of REO Speedwagon is Kevin Cronin and Terry Luttrell respectively. DK: These days, so much of the songwriting process is co-writing, particularly in Nashville. 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. REO Speedwagon has a net worth of $46 million. 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".