[3], Cronin's return came after Greg X. Volz turned down the position for lead vocalist after becoming a Christian.[5]. REO Speedwagon continued to tour in the back half of the 2010s, often teaming up on bills featuring Styx and Chicago. [11] They teamed up with Styx to record a new single entitled "Can't Stop Rockin'", released in March 2009, as well as for a full tour that included special guest .38 Special. Although Philbin left the band just before they reached the heights of their commercial success, lead singer Kevin Cronin wrote that no one should forget his contribution to REO Speedwagon's sound. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. After the group signed with Epic Records in 1971, Philbin replaced founding bassist Joe Matt. Epic agreed to let them produce the band's first live album, Live: You Get What You Play For, which was eventually certified platinum. Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitarist and prolific songwriter who brought fresh original compositions. [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. Released in 1976, R.E.O. REO Speedwagon continues to tour regularly, performing mostly their classic hits. REO Speedwagon has released a number of successful albums, including 1980's "Hi Infidelity," which sold 10 million copies in the United States. 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. 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 members returned to school in the fall of 1967 and had their first rehearsal before classes started. 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. T.W.O., but the other members grew impatient with their slow progress toward a commercial breakthrough, and gave Cronin his walking papers. If music and guitar has never been part of your interests then this site may change your view and be a music lover. He had played saxophone in the school band. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Lear had already been invited to join REO in September 1988 as Gratzer's successor and Joseph was brought in as a temporary stand-in for Richrath. For Parade, it came down to sound, influence on the genre and cultural impact. [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. - October 25, 2022 08:01 pm EDT. \"Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold.\"He said he learned most of what he knows about being in a rock band from Richrath.\"The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans,\" he added. He recorded 12 albums with the band and also wrote another song, Take It On The Run. Gary Richrath, the REO Speedwagon guitarist who wrote some of the bands biggest hits, including Take It on the Run and In Your Letter, died Sunday, according to a post by REO lead singer Kevin Cronin. [3] Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut where it recorded original material for its first album. The band announced Derek Hilland as a touring replacement for Doughty. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. REO Speedwagon's frontman Kevin Cronin revealed the cause of Richrath's death to the Billboard website in 2015, stating that Richrath's wife told him that Richrath had abdominal surgery a few days before his death. Murphy stayed onboard for a couple of more releases -- 1974's Lost in a Dream and 1975's This Time We Mean It -- but neither managed to push REO to the next level. He is, however, still considered an official member of the band. [6] The vocalist was replaced by Kevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second album R.E.O./T.W.O. [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. 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. [2] Bob Crownover took over as the band's guitarist, but was replaced after a brief tenure by Bill Fiorio and later Steve Scorfina. 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? [25] The group spent summer 2022 touring with Styx, on the Live and Unzoomed Tour, with Loverboy serving as the opening act. In 1977, the REO members convinced Epic Records that their strength was in their live performances. Newcomer Kevin Cronin got the gig; he was a folksinger/guitarist beforehand, with little to no experience fronting a loud rock & roll outfit. Hi Infidelity received a diamond certification from the RIAA in 2017. Those members include Kevin Cronin (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Bruce Hall (bass) and Neal Doughty (keyboards). All rights reserved. Bob Crownover took over as the band's guitarist, but was replaced after a brief tenure byBill Fiorioand later Steve Scorfina. In 2021, REO Speedwagon was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Rt. [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. He sang a sampling of REO's hits with the show's singing finalists. #34).[3]. [6] Philbin was replaced by another Centennial High School (in Champaign, Illinois) alumnus, Bruce Hall,[2] to record You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish. Alan Gratzer, REO's drummer, stares at Doughty in disbelief. 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. [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. Whats up with the band REO Speedwagon these days? "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . [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. Once more, a frontman change was required, and instead of searching for a fresh new face, REO welcomed back Cronin. Hard-working and hard-rocking band from the Illinois heartland who morphed into million-selling power balladeers by the '80s. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. Rock is a genre that has set the curve for pop music. Dave Amato (lead guitar) joined the band in 1989. In 1978, they released the hits "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly," which set them on the road to success for the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s. Singer Kevin Cronin paid tribute to his former bandmate in a statement shared by the band. It was fun to look over to my left and see Richrath digging in and playing like only he can. The last album he recorded with the band was 1987's Life As We Know It. In a 2001 episode of VH1's Behind the Music series that focused on REO Speedwagon, Cronin and Richrath cleared up any misconceptions of ill will existing between either camp and voiced approval of a possible reunion in the future. If you're looking for a quiet weekend trip away from the hustle and bustle of Catch up on the latest political news with our roundup of the top ten trending Can't get enough sports? Hi Infidelity sold over 10 million copies. [2] Bob Crownover took over as the band's guitarist, but was replaced after a brief tenure by Bill Fiorio and later Steve Scorfina. [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. "Here with Me" cracked the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart. He was 40. Share. Philbin left when Cronin and the late Gary Richarath began writing songs with a more "compact" sound. After touring for several years, the Richrath band released Only the Strong Survive in 1992 on the GNP Crescendo label. [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]. [6] The vocalist was replaced by Kevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second album R.E.O./T.W.O. He then joined REO once again in Los Angeles in May 2000 for the same encore but no serious plans for a reunion ever materialized. The Ultimate Guideto Choose The Right Guitar Slide, The Ultimate Guide to Choose Guitar Picks. The band's follow-up album, Good Trouble, was released in June 1982. This is the lineup featured on the quintet's 1971 self-titled debut recording for Epic Records. I'm not ready to start going to church.". In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. So if you are going to see them live, there are now no founding members in the band. What happened to the lead singer of REO Speedwagon? 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. With him on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. [3], By late 1970, REO Speedwagon had finalised its first recording lineup with the addition of guitarist Gary Richrath in place of Scorfina. Richrath died in September 2015 at the age of 65. Hi Infidelity would eventually go on to sell more than nine million copies -- catapulting REO to arena-headlining status. [8] On July 13, on the way to a show in Milwaukee, the band made a stop in Philadelphia to play at the US leg of Live Aid, which broke a record for number of viewers. 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=tsmclipHe reunited with the group briefly in 2013, joining his former bandmates for a concert staged to aid residents of central Illinois who were displaced or had their homes damaged by a series of powerful storms in the area.Gary was in great spirits when he walked into the dressing room. 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