List of REO Speedwagon members - Wikiwand REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. Whats up with the band REO Speedwagon these days? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [1] Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, with Terry Luttrell taking his place on lead vocals. [2] Bob Crownover took over as the band's guitarist, but was replaced after a brief tenure by Bill Fiorio and later Steve Scorfina. [18], The band performed with Pitbull the song "Messin' Around" live on the ABC TV show Greatest Hits in 2016; that version of the song was also released as a single on iTunes. On November 21, 1980, Epic released Hi Infidelity,[3] which represented a change in sound, going from hard rock to more pop-oriented material. 2023 American Profile, All Rights Reserved. or redistributed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Families impacted by the storm and first responders sat near the stage for this special REO concert. The album sold over two million copies in the US, ultimately achieving double platinum status. Murphy stayed on for two more albums, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, before Cronin returned to the fold in January 1976 and recorded R.E.O., which was released that same year. Currently, there are 3 original members of REO Speedwagon that are still in the band. 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." The album was REO's first to make the top 40, peaking at No. Who gives the best guitar lessons on YouTube? Here's the news that's unfolding this week. 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. With its equipment being hauled to dates in a friend's station wagon, REO played bars and clubs all over the Midwest. Another live album, Live Again, was also issued in 1978, followed up a year later by another gold-certified hit, Nine Lives. Gary Richrath reunited with REO one final time for a performance of "Ridin' the Storm Out" to end REO's set at the sold-out concert. The original members of REO Speedwagon are: Kevin Cronin on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and occasionally piano Neal Doughty on keyboard Alan Gratzer on drums, percussion, and backing vocals Gregg Philbin on bass and backing vocals How did REO Speedwagon get its name? Doughty eventually began sitting in on few songs. Bassist Bruce Hall stated that he would always be part of the REO brotherhood, and left open the opportunity for Doughty to appear at select dates. [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. He also o An advertisement in the school newspaper produced their first job, a fraternity party that turned into a food fight. Dave Amato (lead guitar) joined the band in 1989. [1] Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, with Terry Luttrell taking his place on lead vocals. Market data provided by Factset. So if you are going to see them live, there are now no founding members in the band. He sang lead vocals on Find My Fortune and Only A Summer Love. REO Speedwagon continued to tour in the back half of the 2010s, often teaming up on bills featuring Styx and Chicago. He left the band in 1989.According to UltimateClassicRock.com, Richrath released one solo album, in 1992, Only the Strong Survive, but reunited briefly with the band in 2013 when they staged a benefit concert for residents of central Illinois displaced by a series of powerful storms in the area.Gary was in great spirits when he walked into the dressing room. The band released a self-financed album entitled Find Your Own Way Home in April 2007. Shortly after his departure, Richrath assembled former members of the Midwestern band Vancouver to form a namesake band, Richrath. Former REO Speedwagon bassist Gregg Philbin, who played on the band's first six studio albums and appeared on 1977's Live: You Get What You Play For, has died. Richrath died on 13 September 2015 at age 65. Over the course of its career, the . Speedwagon ), or simply REO, is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. 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. REO Speedwagon was first formed in 1968 by a pair of University of Illinois students, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. In 2000, REO teamed up with Styx for an appearance at Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis, which was released as a live concert video Arch Allies: Live at Riverport. He was 65. [3] The most popular track on this record was "157 Riverside Avenue"; it remains an in-concert favorite. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "All that said, Gregg was a smart, funny, charming guy, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more savvy individual," Cronin wrote. The REO portion of the show was released again under three separate titles: Live - Plus (2001), Live Plus 3 (2001) and Extended Versions (2001) (which was certified gold by the RIAA on April 26, 2006). Biography Richrath was born on October 18, 1949, in Peoria, Illinois, to Eunice and Curtis Richrath. [7] Original drummer Alan Gratzer left in September 1988 after he decided to retire from music to open a restaurant. REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. The cause of death was not given. Up next as REO's frontman was Mike Murphy, whose debut with the band, 1974's Ridin' the Storm Out, was their first album to chart on Billboard and spawned a concert standard with the rocking title track. [12][13] Also in 1989, Bryan Hitt replaced Lear on drums,[14] while Jesse Harms joined as a second keyboardist, performing on the band's 1990 album The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. [10], The band's lineup remained stable thereafter for more than ten years until Gratzer decided to retire in 1988, with Graham Lear brought in as his replacement. [3], By late 1970, REO Speedwagon had finalised its first recording lineup with the addition of guitarist Gary Richrath in place of Scorfina. He also planned to return to the band in 2016, but stomach problems and his death on September 13, 2015, prevented him from returning to the group. REO Speedwagon Orpheum Theatre Sioux City, Iowa. The group's best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), contained four US top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. [22] REO and Chicago teamed up once again in the summer of 2018 for a 30-city tour. [15] Since the end of Harms's brief tenure with the group, REO Speedwagon has retained a consistent lineup of Neal Doughty, Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, and Bryan Hitt[16] until 2023 when Doughty was replaced by former Iron Butterfly and Whitesnake member Derek Hilland.[17]. 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. Market data provided by Factset. He was also the bassist on their first major success, the 1977 live double album, Live: You Get What You Pay For. The vocalist was replaced byKevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second albumR.E.O./T.W.O. REO Speedwagon (originally styled as R.E.O. Early life [ edit] Richrath was born in Peoria, Illinois, on October 18, 1949, to Curtis and Eunice Richrath, [1] and grew up in East Peoria, Illinois. [19] The band toured the UK arena circuit with Status Quo in December 2016. Formed in 1967, the group originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, keyboardistNeal Doughtyand drummer Alan Gratzer. Accident and Injury Attorneys. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Richrath also left early the next year, with Miles Joseph filling in for a show beforeDave Amatotook over in May. [3] Doughty had seen the name written across the blackboard when he walked into his History of Transportation class on the first day they had decided to look for a name. The cause of death was not given. In early 1989, Gary Richrath was fired after tensions between him and Kevin Cronin boiled over. Sat, Mar 18, 2023 8:00 PM Crownover played guitar for the group until mid-1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold. Hi Infidelity received a diamond certification from the RIAA in 2017. The Cronin-led lineup appeared to be headed in the right direction though, judging from 1972's R.E.O. I'm not ready to start going to church.". The band's follow-up album, Good Trouble, was released in June 1982. [6] The vocalist was replaced by Kevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second album R.E.O./T.W.O. The band also briefly added saxophonist Joe McCabe and trumpeter Marty Shepard to its lineup in 1968. #34).[3]. What happened to the lead singer of REO Speedwagon? before leaving during sessions for the 1973 follow-up. If music and guitar has never been part of your interests then this site may change your view and be a music lover. Moreover, is the lead singer of REO Speedwagon married? Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. [15]Since the end of Harms's brief tenure with the group, REO Speedwagon has retained a consistent lineup of Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, Neal Doughty and Bryan Hitt. Once more, a frontman change was required, and instead of searching for a fresh new face, REO welcomed back Cronin. Epic agreed to let them produce the band's first live album, Live: You Get What You Play For, which was eventually certified platinum. [12][13] Also in 1989, Bryan Hitt replaced Lear on drums,[14] while Jesse Harms joined as a second keyboardist, performing on the band's 1990 album The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken. Kevin Cronin wrote this note the bands official Facebook page. Blair left a few months after Matt, with Gregg Philbin taking his place. REO Speedwagon continued to score further hit albums (1982's Good Trouble, 1984's Wheels Are Turnin') and singles ("Keep the Fire Burnin'," the number one hit power ballad "Can't Fight This Feeling," etc. They both played the bass as more of a lead instrument. Legal Statement. Today is a sad day in REO World. 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. Richrath was born in October 1949, according to public records. It was fun to look over to my left and see Richrath digging in and playing like only he can. Richard Marx joined REO on stage for a joint performance of two of his hit songs. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. Singer Kevin Cronin paid tribute to his former bandmate in a statement shared by the band. [3] Although it was not as successful as its predecessor, the album performed moderately well commercially, featuring the hit singles "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (U.S. #7), "Sweet Time" (U.S. #26) and the Album Rock chart hit "The Key". This lineup did only one show, on January 7, 1989, in Via del Mar, Chile, where it won the award for best group at the city's annual International Song Festival. [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. REO Speedwagon Swiftel Center Brookings, South Dakota. Heavy Metal Wiki is a FANDOM Music Community. rip gary-Reo Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath has died, the band announced on its website and Facebook page Sunday. On the last day of the university's spring semester, guitarist Joe Matt called the band's leader and told him that he and the other members (Gratzer and bassist Mike Blair) had decided to start a new band with Doughty where everyone but Doughty would sing. Brian Hitt (drums) joined the band in 1990. It was fun to look over to my left and see Richrath digging in and playing like only he can. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. 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. Doughty landed a summer job and bought his first. [5] In early 1972, shortly after the release of the band's self-titled debut album, Luttrell left REO Speedwagon following a disagreement with Richrath. Gary Dean Richrath (October 18, 1949 - September 13, 2015) [1] was an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and a songwriter for the band REO Speedwagon from 1970 until 1989. 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. 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. In 1979, the band took a turn back to hard rock with the release of Nine Lives.[3]. - October 25, 2022 08:01 pm EDT. 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. The response was arm-hair raising We all felt it. From around July 2005 until around September 2017, Gratzer made occasional live guest performances, playing percussion only. "I feel so sad. Original bassist Gregg Philbin died on October 24, 2022 at the age of 75. Formed in 1967, the group originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. "His health had been an issue for some time, and today his soul is freed. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. He might have died, but his legacy will live on forever through the work he did. They continued to perform cover songs in campus bars, fraternity parties, and university events. 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. All rights reserved. Hi Infidelity sold over 10 million copies. The Ultimate Guideto Choose The Right Guitar Slide, The Ultimate Guide to Choose Guitar Picks. Fri, Mar 17, 2023 7:30 PM See Tickets. Richrath (the band) continued to perform for several years before disbanding in the late 1990s. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. As a consequence, Epic began re-releasing recordings from older albums with updated artwork and design. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. Gregg Philbin, REO Speedwagon Legend, Has Died, Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl Barbecues Overnight for 450 Homeless People at LA Shelter, Singer Ben Kweller's 16-Year-Old Son Dies in Car Accident, Ozzy Osbourne 'Not Dying,' Hopes to Resume Touring, Shawn Mendes Sparks Romance Rumor With Fellow Pop Star, 'American Idol': Katy Perry Breaks Down Over School Shooting Survivor's Audition, Blake Shelton Reveals Reason Behind 'The Voice' Exit. 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 He was 65. 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 was 65.Band frontman Kevin Cronin sa. Not everything wonderful sells, and not everything that sells is great. 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. What is the most expensive bass guitar in the world? In 2021, REO Speedwagon was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Rt. But with the cultural impact of some of the following bands, it's impossible not to give credit where credit is due. Today, Doughty, Cronin, and Hall remain with the band; guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt have been in since 1989. He also performed drums at soundchecks when Bryan was running late. [2] After that, Miles Joseph and the back up singers were dropped in favor of former Ted Nugent guitarist Dave Amato (who was brought aboard in May 1989) and keyboardist/songwriter/producer Jesse Harms. For Parade, it came down to sound, influence on the genre and cultural impact. We hugged one another, I told him how happy I was that he came, and he expressed his gratitude for the invitation, wrote Cronin at the time. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Even though I didn't know Gregg the way that Neal, Alan, Gary, and Kevin did, I always admired him and valued his friendship. "But it's the same sort of deal . He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989. Being hauled to dates in a friend 's station wagon, REO welcomed back Cronin his had. Back to hard rock with the band he was a member of the band announced on its website Facebook... 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