Based in Peoria, he was known as a songwriter as well as a guitarist, and helped grow the band's popularity beyond its original Midwestern stronghold.Richrath also brought new songs to the band, including Ridin' the Storm Out. With more sub genres and sub-sub genres than can be named, rock has given rise to punk, grunge, metal, indie . Hard-working and hard-rocking band from the Illinois heartland who morphed into million-selling power balladeers by the '80s. [11] Richrath also left early the next year, with Miles Joseph filling in for a show before Dave Amato took over in May. The cause of death was not given. "He was always so nice to me and I will always be grateful for that because he could have hated my guts after I joined the band. [3] The album produced only one, and - to date - the band's last Billboard Hot 100 single, "Love Is a Rock", which peaked at No. T.W.O., but the other members grew impatient with their slow progress toward a commercial breakthrough, and gave Cronin his walking papers. 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. #19). 1 hits Keep on Loving You and Cant Fight This Feeling., Celebrity Q&A, Featured Article, Where Are They Now, https://americanprofile.com/articles/where-are-they-now-reo-speedwagon-video/, https://americanprofile.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reo-speedwagon-150x150.jpg. [4] The band also briefly added saxophonist Joe McCabe and trumpeter Marty Shepard to its lineup in 1968. Frederick M. Brown/Getty. Whats up with the band REO Speedwagon these days? He. [14] In mid-2010, the band then touring with Pat Benatar announced that it would release a 30th anniversary deluxe edition reissue of Hi Infidelity.[15]. Here's the news that's unfolding this week. [19] The band toured the UK arena circuit with Status Quo in December 2016. The debut failed to break REO through to the mainstream, and the band's future was thrust into uncertainty shortly thereafter when Luttrell left the group. Accident and Injury Attorneys. REO Speedwagon was first formed in 1968 by a pair of University of Illinois students, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. The band's lineup remained stable thereafter for more than ten years until Gratzer decided to retire in 1988, withGraham Learbrought in as his replacement. Speedwagon) is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Issued at the tail end of 1980, it became one of 1981's biggest albums -- spawning one of the best-known power ballads of all time, "Keep on Loving You," as well as such popular rock radio hits as "Don't Let Him Go" and "Take It on the Run." Butter, (the bass guitar which Gregg played), has been with me for over fifty years, and I have always felt such pride and happiness in knowing that I bought that bass from Gregg. He sang a sampling of REO's hits with the show's singing finalists. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was also the bassist on their first major success, the 1977 live double album, Live: You Get What You Pay For. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Doughty eventually began sitting in on few songs. He had played saxophone in the school band. From around July 2005 until around September 2017, Gratzer made occasional live guest performances, playing percussion only. [7] Hi Infidelity spawned four hit singles written by Richrath and Cronin, including the chart-topping "Keep On Loving You" (Cronin),[3] plus "Take It on the Run" (#5) (Richrath), "In Your Letter" (#20) (Richrath), and "Don't Let Him Go" (#24) (Cronin), and remained on the charts for 65 weeks, 32 of which were spent in the top ten, including 15 weeks atop the Billboard 200. Neal was absent from the REO Speedwagon Unplugged Live in Washington XM Radio show in early April 2007, with producer Joe Vannelli filling in on keyboards. When I introduced the guy who this band wouldnt be here without and Richrath came up for Ridin the Storm Out, 7,000 people went crazy. Philbin left when Cronin and the late Gary Richarath began writing songs with a more "compact" sound. The album sold over two million copies in the US, ultimately achieving double platinum status. Three bands were the undisputed arena rock kings of the early '80s -- Styx, Journey, and REO Speedwagon -- yet all weren't overnight success stories (in fact, each group initially pursued different musical styles -- prog rock, fusion, and straight-ahead hard rock, respectively, before transforming slowly into chart-topping mainstream rockers). [3] Depending upon which member is expressing an opinion, it was either because Philbin was disenchanted with the new corporate-structure REO where Cronin and Richrath got bigger slices of the pie instead of the equal credit they once shared as a "garage band", or that he was asked to leave over his lifestyle issues affecting the music quality. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song "Take It on the Run," died Sunday, according to a publicist for the band. Also note that there are a lot of solo artists and musical groups who did phenomenal work and helped create rock's sound as we know it, but didn't fit into the "band" category if they specialized . This lineup also released an unabashed record of Christmas songs in 2009, titled Not So Silent Night. Find Your Own Way Home, the band's first studio album of new songs in more than ten years, featured Cronin along with founding member Neal Doughty on keyboards, longtime bassist Bruce Hall, and '80s additions Amato and Hitt. Those members include Kevin Cronin (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Bruce Hall (bass) and Neal Doughty (keyboards). [9] The Hits is a 1988 compilation album[3] which contained the new tracks "I Don't Want to Lose You" and "Here with Me". Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, withTerry Luttrelltaking his place on lead vocals. The Cronin-led lineup appeared to be headed in the right direction though, judging from 1972's R.E.O. Two years later, the band released Wheels Are Turnin', an album that included the #1 hit single "Can't Fight This Feeling" plus three more hits: "I Do' Wanna Know" (U.S. #29), "One Lonely Night" (U.S. #19), and "Live Every Moment" (U.S. When REO returned to the studio later in the 2000s, however, it was without Richrath. He was replaced by Bruce Hall, who has been a member of the band ever since. They performed "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Roll with the Changes" which featured members of the Beach Boys, the band members' families, and Paul Shaffer on stage for backing vocals. Although REO were slowly inching their way to big-time success, no one (not even the band) could have predicted the massive hit that their next album turned out to be, Hi Infidelity. Richrath died in September 2015 at the age of 65. Over the course of their career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and has charted 13 top 40 hits, including the number ones "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". All rights reserved. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. Brad Adams, San Diego, California, 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. [25] The group spent summer 2022 touring with Styx, on the Live and Unzoomed Tour, with Loverboy serving as the opening act. He was 65.Band frontman Kevin Cronin said in a message that \"my longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier (Sunday).\" He did not disclose a cause of death.\"I feel so sad,\" Cronin wrote. Speedwagon ), or simply REO, is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Kevin Cronin lead vocals, rhythm guitar, Gary Richrath lead guitar, backing vocals, Kevin Cronin lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, Kevin Cronin lead vocals, rhythm guitar, Kevin Cronin lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, keyboards, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 12:29. Steve Scorfina (who would go on to found progressive rock/album-oriented rock band Pavlov's Dog) came aboard for over a year, composing with the band and performing live, before being replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970. [3] The most popular track on this record was "157 Riverside Avenue"; it remains an in-concert favorite. Today is a sad day in REO World. 1987's Life as We Know It saw a decline in sales,[3] but still managed to provide the band with the top-20 hits "That Ain't Love" (U.S. #16) and "In My Dreams" (U.S. By the early '70s, Doughty and Gratzer had welcomed aboard guitarist Gary Richrath, who would soon prove to be the group's spark plug (and one of rock's more underrated players), in addition to bassist Gregg Philbin and singer Terry Luttrell. Richrath died on 13 September 2015 at age 65. Gregg Philbin died on October 24, 2022.[26]. Crownover played guitar for the group until mid-1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. After graduation, the group signed on with then-unknown manager Irving Azoff (who would later guide the careers of such multi-platinum acts as the Eagles and Steely Dan), which led to the outfit building a devoted following in the Midwest due to nonstop touring. Original bassist Gregg Philbin died on October 24, 2022 at the age of 75. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. What makes the greatest rock bands ever? The St. Louis, Missouri-based radio station KSHE, one of America's most influential rock stations, began supporting it, elevating the band's profile outside its Midwestern stronghold. 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. Gary Richrath, the REO Speedwagon guitarist who wrote some of the band's biggest hits, including "Take It on the Run" and "In Your Letter," died Sunday, according to a post by REO lead singer Kevin Cronin.Kevin Cronin wrote this note the band's official Facebook page. If music and guitar has never been part of your interests then this site may change your view and be a music lover. Hi Infidelity sold over 10 million copies. When Mike Blair left the band in mid-1968, Gregg Philbin replaced Blair, Marty Shepard played trumpet, and Joe McCabe played sax until McCabe moved to Southern Illinois University. The album was REO's first to make the top 40, peaking at No. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song "Take It on the Run," died Sunday, according to a publicist for the band. Gary Richrath, who co-wrote some of REO Speedwagon's greatest hits such as "Take It On The Run" and "Time for Me to Fly," died at age 65, according to public records. It was a night for the ages.Read More: Gary Richrath, Former REO Speedwagon Guitarist, Dies at 65 | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-richrath-dies/?trackback=tsmclipTribute tweets for Richrath started posting almost immediately. rip gary-Reo Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath has died, the band announced on its website and Facebook page Sunday. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. [3] That same year, the band moved to Los Angeles. [1] Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, with Terry Luttrell taking his place on lead vocals. Narrowing down the best rock bands of all time is no easy task given the wealth of talent throughout history. 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. Alan Gratzer, REO's drummer, stares at Doughty in disbelief. What happened to the lead singer of REO Speedwagon? The move paid off almost immediately, as REO found their niche by streamlining their sound and focusing on melodic rockers aimed at radio, as well as power ballads aimed at teenage girls' hearts. You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish, The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, The Second Decade of Rock n' Roll: 1981 to 1991. "When Gregg left the band in 1977, he took with him the prog-leaning extended instrumental section aspect of the REO sound," Cronin wrote. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Issued in 1987, Life as We Know It managed to go gold, but their fans' sudden disinterest coupled with turmoil between certain bandmembers led to the exit of both Richrath and Gratzer by the end of the decade. REO Speedwagon Guitarist Life As We Know Songwriter Fact-checking and Ethical Concerns chase koch wife; foreclosed properties quebec; if she'd had more self awareness grammar; bluepearl specialty and emergency pet hospital locations; best defensive tactics fm22 Displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes punk, grunge, metal, indie &... 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