mike murphy reo speedwagonmike murphy reo speedwagon

Record World said of the title track that it has "a good mix of hard The two held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their Illinois Street Residence Hall dormitory.[2][3]. The group's best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), contained four US top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies.[1]. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, And when I got the call from Gary Richrath about joining REO, I was driving a yellow cab in Chicago. At 14 I was in bands with kids a few years older. The chorus is very pretty but in the verses theres some nasty stuff in there, man! Our drummer Alan Gratzer retired in 1988, and by the end of 89 my working relationship with Gary had deteriorated. Vocals - Mike Murphy (7) 1st issue with KE prefix ($5.98 list price) and ORANGE Epic labels. 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. From around July 2005 until around September 2017, Gratzer made occasional live guest performances, playing percussion only. Mike Murphy, REO Speedwagon's lead singer from 1973 -1975 is still recovering after being hit by a car while riding his bike. But hey, the song did okay! Well, as a singer, when your voice is failing you, it puts you in a bad place. 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. Hi Infidelity REO Speedwagon 2005.10.07. Oh, yeah. REO Speedwagon/Lead singers. On his first night of classes, he met fellow student Alan Gratzer. The band appeared in an episode in the third season of the American TV series Ozark, which was released on Netflix on March 27, 2020. He is the author of several books including the first biography of Guns N Roses and the autobiography of bodyguard-to-the-stars Danny Francis. There are times when even I gag on it. But he was never a good fit for REO Speedwagon. Ive done it twice. . We were at a party in our hometown, Champaign, Illinois. 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. With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. I opened for The Eagles, and could carry an audience of 3,000 by myself. Ha-ha! On March 11, 2012, Kevin Cronin appeared on the Canadian reality TV series Star Acadmie. The band's debut album, R.E.O. Its kind of crazy. The '90s saw the emergence of countless REO compilations, including such titles as The Second Decade of Rock n' Roll: 1981 to 1991, Only the Strong Survive, The Ballads, and a specially priced three-disc set of Live: You Get What You Play For, You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish, and Hi Infidelity. Bruce used to sing Back On The Road Again with his own band in Champaign. I realised I hadnt written the chorus because I hadnt really accepted what the song was really about. In the fall of 1966, Neal Doughty was just beginning an electrical engineering program at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, as a junior. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. The band signed to Epic Records in 1971. REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin is one. Photo of REO Speedwagon Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Kevin Cronin and Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon pose for a portrait in Hollywood, California Bass guitarist Bruce Hall, lead guitarist Gary Richrath , rhythm guitarist and lead singer Kevin Cronin, keyboardist Neal Doughty, and drummer Alan. But I said: Dude, thats perfect! The song had been a little too sweet. He said his piece and Im glad that he got that out. You expect that every record is gonna sell 10 million copies. . And when the sales start going down, that takes its toll. When REO returned to the studio later in the 2000s, however, it was without Richrath. 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. Site Overview. Doughty retired from touring in 2023. It peaked at number 74 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1975,[3] It was the third and last album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals and features the single "Reelin'" written by Murphy. At this point in my life and career, Im able to look back and laugh at myself. Michael Murphy is the former keyboard player and lead singer for REO Speedwagon from 1973-76. Doughty eventually began sitting in on few songs. On the last day of the university's spring semester, guitarist Joe Matt called the band's leader and told him that he, drummer Gratzer, and bassist Mike Blair had decided to leave the band and start a new one with Doughty. Gratzer had been a drummer since high school, and was playing in a local group on the weekends, while Doughty had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano. Rumors began circulating around 2001 that Richrath would temporarily rejoin; however, nothing came of this. No. Doughty retired from touring in 2023. And really, that was the essence of what the song was about. They divorced about ten years later; Kevin married his second wife, Lisa, in 1992, and they had three children together: a daughter Holly and twin sons Josh and Shane. Why we thought there would be oil there is beyond me. REO Speedwagon's birth place was reportedly a Red Lion Inn, on Green Street near the U of I campus (Champaign-Urbana, IL). I wrote the verses in 1974, but the chorus I had was just horrible. The album sold over two million copies in the US, ultimately achieving double platinum status. Weve been able to sustain this band for 40 years, Cronin says. For the first time in your life, you were making serious money. They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 truck that was designed by Ransom Eli Olds. Id been taking guitar lessons for a couple of years and I didnt really know why. This Time We Mean It is the fifth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1975. Tools Ridin' the Storm Out is the third studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1973. Between 1973 and 1975, Murphy would go on to record three albums with REO. Mike Murphy is a former award-winning Canadian Football League fullback.. Career. Lets face it: Gary is irreplaceable. When did REO Speedwagon come back to the studio? The Cronin-led lineup appeared to be headed in the right direction though, judging from 1972's R.E.O. Honestly, I figured that Gary would be out of the band for maybe a year or two. They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a flatbed truck Doughty had studied in transportation history, and the initials are those of its founder Ransom E. Olds. 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. Yeah. Though it did not chart as an album, it produced two singles "I Needed to Fall" (Cronin) and "Find Your Own Way Home" (Cronin) which appeared on Billboard's Adult Contemporary radio chart. Greg never recorded/toured with the band, but rehearsed. Did you see them as competition? It was awesome! The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation. By the late 1980s, the band's popularity was starting to decline. On his Farfisa organ, he learned "Light My Fire" by The Doors. POP . Don't care for Kevin Cronin's attitude anyway and don't listen to them anymore. We ordered a bunch of Dom Perignon and just yelled like schoolboys. And thats when the lightbulb went on: Ah, thats how we do this! Kevin writes a little folk song, Gary trashes it out, and then you got something. 19802001Caroline Hoguem. How does it feel to have written the No.1 song in America? When I got the call I was ready to go. REO Speedwagon reached the Billboard charts 24 times. Well, the thing about REO is we kept our personal lives private. My solo career hadn't set any world records. [7] Philbin was replaced by another Centennial High School (in Champaign, Illinois) alumnus, Bruce Hall,[3] to record You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish. Theres a lot of emotion running through you, and we were all caught up in that energy. In 1977, Philbin was replaced with Bruce Hall to record the first studio album that reached platinum, "You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish", released in 1978 which received FM radio airplay but fell short of the Top 40. Their hard rocking live show was so integral to their success, their label released another live album in 1978, "More Live". rock guitar sounds and harmony vocals."[2]. The Midwestern United States was the original REO Speedwagon fan stronghold and is pivotal in this period of the band's history. My mom was a social worker and my father worked in the newspaper business. The Midwestern United States was the original REO Speedwagon fan stronghold and is pivotal in this period of the band's history. Rather than pronouncing REO as a single word as the motor company did ("REE-oh"), they chose to spell the word out, pronouncing each letter individually ("R-E-O"). The band announced Derek Hilland as a touring replacement for Doughty. It was right after Elton Johns Madman Across The Water was released, and there was a song on it, Holiday Inn, that I used to sing it in folk clubs in Chicago. Founding members Richrath & Gratzer left the band, essentially ending a 20 year arena rocking run, but the band's collections continued to sell and earn classic rock & retro power pop airplay. He also spent time touring with classic artists Johnny Rivers, Seals & Crofts, as well as the Blue Hawaiians. Hi Infidelity sold over 10 million copies. The minute I feel like what were doing now is not as good as the last tour, Ill be done with it. Kevin Cronin certainly knew his way around a lyric, what about you? But the creative friction between Gary and I wasnt there anymore. In 1977, bassist Gregg Philbin left the band. Personally, I was okay. Since 1995, the label has released over a dozen compilation albums featuring greatest hits, including 1999's The Ballads which features two new songs: "Just for You" (Cronin and Jim Peterik) and "Till The River's Run Dry" (Cronin). During rehearsals I started playing it on the piano, and the guys looked at me like I was from a different planet. For one summer I sold womens shoes, which was an education. 20032015 Mike Murphy, REO Speedwagons lead singer from 1973 -1975 is still recovering after being hit by a car while riding his bike. Michael Martin Murphey/Spouse. Did you like the name? Gary Richrath is such a great guitarist and songwriter. I wasnt about to let go of this song. Michael Murphy, Lead Singer, Guitar - REO Speedwagon show with Gregg "Regis" Philbin and Gary Richrath. In 1977, the REO members convinced Epic Records that their strength was in their live performances. Luttrell left the band in early 1972, eventually becoming the vocalist for Starcastle. ", A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. There was plenty of collateral damage that came with our success. Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it. They were riff-oriented, a hard rock band, like Deep Purple. Michael went on to perform with such noteworthy groups as Chuck E. Weiss & The Goddamn Liars, and Billy Vera and the Beaters. Bath Speedwagon) is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. The band's first mid 70s FM hit was the Richrath composed concert fave "Ridin' The Storm Out", and their first gold record was a live album, 1977's "Live: You Get What You Play For". Oh, no. Thats where it all coalesced for us. [17] Gary Richrath died on September 13, 2015, due to complications from surgery. It just appeared there on the paper. The 1990 release The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, with Bryan Hitt (formerly of Wang Chung) on drums, was a commercial disappointment. It was the first album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals. I have a grown-up son, and then I got remarried and I have three children with my current wife. In 1981 the band had their greatest success with the ten million selling album Hi Infidelity. The album comprised of eight band originals, all credited to the band as a whole, with the song "Sophisticated Lady," a Little Richard influenced tune, released as a single, but it did not sell in large numbers. Hopefully that will open a door for us. Original bassist Gregg Philbin died on October 24, 2022 at the age of 75. When did REO Speedwagon come back to the studio? But every night when I sing those songs, I feel like I find another part of it. Its true there were a lot of bands making melodic hard rock, and we felt a kinship with them. The band toured relentlessly under guidance from early manager Irving Azoff. Mike Murphy View source Mike Murphy Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2.1 With REO Speedwagon 3 References Biography Discography With REO Speedwagon Ridin' the Storm Out Lost in a Dream This Time We Mean It References Categories Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. He is, however, still considered an official member of the band. Profile: Rock band from Champaign, Illinois, USA. Stay up to date with in depth music reviews, exclusive interviews and widespread coverage of whats happening from your favourite music genre. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. They grew in popularity in the Midwestern United States during the early 1970s and peaked in popularity in the early 1980s. Thankfully, the honchos at Epic believed in us. By 1981's "Hi Infidelity" they had reached a new peak, and the LP spawned several major radio hits including "Keep On Loving You", "Don't Let Him Go" and "Take It on the Run" which went to #5 on the US charts, and the Cronin composed "Time For Me To Fly, released on the "Tuna" album. So the stage was set for wacky album titles. Guitar came pretty easily to me because I had a natural sense of rhythm. T.W.O., but the other members grew impatient with their slow progress toward a commercial breakthrough, and gave Cronin his walking papers. All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Roger Daltrey stutters the vocal on "My Generation" by The Who. I thought hed want to come back, and whatever needed to happen he would do his part. "Here with Me" cracked the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart. All rights reserved. Discover Lost in a Dream by REO Speedwagon released in 1974. But wed toured so much that all of our relationships at home were kind of shredding, and that bonded us as a band. The song refers to the band being stuck in a harsh winter blizzard after a show in Boulder, Colorado, at a bar named Tulagi (now closed). Still fronted by longtime vocalist Cronin, currently the only original member in the 21st century touring lineup is keyboardist Neil Doughty. The record company kept asking for the follow-up to Keep On Loving You, but I was just blocked. Having lost their recording contract with Epic, REO Speedwagon ended up releasing Building the Bridge (1996) on the Priority/Rhythm Safari label. I bared a lot of my soul in my song writing, and I didnt feel that the way we lived our lives was anybodys business. That was Fuchsia. 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. Hard-working and hard-rocking band from the Illinois heartland who morphed into million-selling power balladeers by the '80s. Take It On The Run and Keep On Loving You were pretty much the same story but from different perspectives. 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). Doughty had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano, and Gratzer had been a drummer in local bands since high school. Its been a wild ride, its had its ups and downs, but here we are today, and hopefully we can inspire people to never give up, to stay vibrant and to keep your dreams alive. But I had to make a choice: either Im gonna let his departure end the band, or Im gonna see if I can do it without him. Richrath and Gratzer was replaced by Miles Joseph and Graham Lear, Cronin's band members from jazz ensemble called "The Strolling Dudes". That being said yeah, we partied our brains out! Cronin and his wife, Denise, had a son in 1977 named Paris. There were all kinds of nefarious activities going on. BA1 1UA. Weve talked that talk and walked that walk. On November 22, 2013, they announced a benefit concert with Styx titled "Rock to the Rescue" to raise money for the affected families of the tornadoes in central Illinois. but left the band during the recording sessions for 1973's Ridin' the Storm Out because of internal conflicts. REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Doughty landed a summer job and bought his first. Daniel and Johnny are riding in Johnny's car, when the song comes on the radio. The game was the first "downloadable casual game" produced with a rock band and was cited by numerous publications including The New York Times as an innovative marketing product for a music act. Kevin first joined REO Speedwagon in 1972 for the album R.E.O./T.W.O. You had already recorded vocals for Ridin The Storm Out, but new singer, Mike Murphy re-cut your parts. 19731978Diana Verom. They already had one album, and I didnt really see how my songs were going to fit into their approach. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! [4] 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 most important thing was our performances and making good records. Additionally, further in-concert releases cropped up -- Live: Plus, Extended Versions, and a 2001 live set, Arch Allies: Live at Riverport, split 50/50 between REO and touring mates Styx. 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. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. And he wanted me to do some song writing with him, so you never know. There were some things hed been carrying around for a long time. Lets go! So thats kind of where the rift began. Cronin's original version of "Son of a Poor Man" is featured on the compilation albums A Decade of Rock and Roll: 1970-1980, and The Essential REO Speedwagon. Mike Murphy and Bruce Hall formed a new band, Silver Bullet, but before the end of the year Murphy had joined REO Speedwagon to replace Kevin Cronin who had left the group during the recording of their third album. As Ian Dury once noted, there aint half been some clever bastards. And Gary probably didnt expect the band to do very well without him either. All these bands were unique in their own way, but there was a similarity in the music that was undeniable. We rocked, you know? The line is from an Ajax commercial where a white knight rides around destroying dirt. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. So whats next for you and REO Speedwagon? But it was a sitting duck I couldnt resist. And soon Lear and Joseph was replaced by Bryan Hitt (formerly of Wang Chung) and Dave Amato. We had some songs we really felt were strong Roll With The Changes and Time For Me To Fly. Another live album, Live Again, was also issued in 1978, followed up a year later by another gold-certified hit, Nine Lives. Is it fair to say that you no longer need to work that after more than 30 years, Hi Infidelity still keeps the pool heated? REO Speedwagon toured the US in 1985, including a sold-out concert in Madison, Wisconsin in May. Hi Infidelity received a diamond certification from the RIAA in 2017. I had a business manager even before the Hi Infidelity money started coming in. I said: I think The Beatles already did a song called that! But the chorus started with Take it on the run I said: Theres your title! And of course, that song had one of the greatest opening lines in rock history: Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another you been messin around I wish Id written that! Everything else was falling apart around us, so the band became our primary relationship. The only thing that makes me a little crazy about that song is the vocal performance I recorded. When "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" In early 2014, it was announced that REO Speedwagon and Chicago would be teaming up for 15 dates throughout 2014. #34).[4]. Epic Records signed the band to a recording contract in 1971. Weve not been in a great deal of contact in the past 20 years. 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. on which he wrote 3 tracks including Music Man. At that moment, I thought: If Im turning this down, I think Im done with this stuff!. [13], In November 2009, REO Speedwagon released a Christmas album, Not So Silent NightChristmas with REO Speedwagon. [22] In 2017, the Hi Infidelity album received the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over 10 million copies. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. The keyboard player was the leader, but several other band members were unhappy with the situation. [8] Hi Infidelity spawned four hit singles written by Richrath and Cronin, including the chart-topping "Keep On Loving You" (Cronin),[4] 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. New Releases . They continued to perform cover songs in campus bars, fraternity parties, and university events. Speedwagon was released in October of 1971 and credited all five members (Doughty, Gratzer, Richrath, Philbin, and Luttrell) as the writers of all eight songs. Hi Infidelity would eventually go on to sell more than nine million copies -- catapulting REO to arena-headlining status. 65. I was afraid to tell the band. When I got the call I was ready to go. This Time We Mean It is the fifth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1975. So when he brought the song to REO, it was a no-brainer that he would sing it. Karen McCoym. Lightly textured cover with matte/uncoated finish Inner sleeve includes lyrics and band logo Later pressing from the mid-70s have a PE prefix, such as REO Speedwagon - Ridin' The Storm Out Many of their hits were inspired by the ups and downs of the band members' relationships. The band's debut LP, "R.E.O. We all spent money on various stupid things. I was freaking out because I feared I would lose my voice permanently. I knew that was the title, and yet there was a part of me going: God, thats a terrible title for a song! But when I finally surrendered to it, the chorus it wrote itself. The first lineup consisted of Doughty on keyboards, Gratzer on drums and vocals, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals, Mike Blair on bass and vocals. We had the No.1 record when MTV started out, so that just fuelled the phenomenon even further. 29. 10 years ago REO Speedwagon, Starship, Kevin Cronin, and more. Were you always hoping that Gary might rejoin the band, just as you did so many years earlier? 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. When that label went bankrupt, the album was released on Castle Records, which also experienced financial troubles. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. The lineup on the first album consisted of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin, and Luttrell. The four previous chart-toppers from her Teenage Dream set were "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework"; and, "E.T.". In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt. How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)? REO Speedwagon: Spotify Amazon: 4 : Out of Control. A graduate of University of Ottawa, Murphy was a member of the famed 1975 Vanier Cup champion Ottawa Gee-Gees team. Was that the age when you started playing in bands? But then, in 1980, came the big one, Hi Infidelity. Aug 22: difference between nascar cup and xfinity series cars . REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. It took me 10 years to finish that song! And I was an only child till I was seven, when my parents adopted three children. Click on the link below to find out. It wasnt like something cataclysmic happened that broke up the band. You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Some of the early singles barely qualified for the Hot 100, while some of the latter-day hits made no waves outside of the Mainstream Rock charts, which means that they are relatively unheard by the pop audience that loved Hi Infidelity and "Can't Fight This Feeling." [14] On December 2, the band released an online video game, Find Your Own Way Home, produced by digital design agency Curious Sense. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic. Thats a whole book right there. REO Speedwagon: Spotify Amazon: But I wasnt meant to be a solo artist. Nowadays Reo Speedwagon remains a U.S concert circuit staple, mostly known as a crowd pleasing classic AOR genre rock band. What is a fair price to replace a water heater? 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. I went to a show, and it was weird to watch the band play my songs with a different guy singing them. 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. It sounded like a hit, so I went for it. What did you think of these bands? They were less well-received. With Doughty's retirement from touring being announced in January 2023, Derek Hilland has been filling-in for Doughty live since January 2023. In early 1989, Gary Richrath was fired after tensions between him and Kevin Cronin boiled over. Pretty heavy. REO Speedwagon Follow Artist + Hard-working and hard-rocking band from the Illinois heartland who morphed into million-selling power balladeers by the '80s. Leon Huffman from Casey, Il I saw REO Speedwagon several times in the 70's and they were great. Another key song on that album was Take It On The Run, written by Gary. It was a nice meeting. We were in Colombia, so you can imagine. It was everything that Id ever hoped for as a songwriter. By that time we did know what Billboard magazine was, and to see our album at No.1 was mind-boggling. I felt for sure they would kick me out. From the beginning, our mantra was in those songs: Ridin The Storm Out, Keep Pushin, Roll With The Changes. I thought it sucked, to tell the truth. glendale dmv driving test route selects academy at bishop kearney tuition lead singer of reo speedwagon; 29. It was kind of a taboo subject, but there are people that use Keep On Loving You as their wedding song. [4] 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. 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. The studio version of "Ridin' the Storm Out" with Cronin on vocals was released on the compilation "Box Set Series" in 2014, "The Early Years 1971-1977" boxed set in 2018 and as a downloadable track in the music video game Rock Band. Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitarist and prolific songwriter who brought fresh original compositions. A resident of southern California since 1975, Cronin continues to lead REO Speedwagon alongside keyboard player and founder member Neal Doughty, long serving bassist Bruce Hall and two more recent recruits, guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt. We werent prepared for the level of success and how quickly our lives changed. Kevin Cronin earned his net worth as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the band REO Speedwagon.Kevin Cronin Net Worth. What kind of music did Michael Murphy sing? And when I woke up the next day, somehow that phrase You Can Tune A Piano, But You Cant Tuna Fish was in my mind. 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.