REO Speedwagon Tickets
REO Speedwagon is an American rock band that formed in 1967. Their most recognized hits are “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep on Loving You,” and their most successful album was Hi Infidelity. The bad has sold over forty million albums over the course of their career and charted thirteen Top 40 hits.
The band was started by two University of Illinois students, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. They played in local campus bars until they graduated and was signed by an unknown manager at the time, Irving Azoff.
In 1967, the band consisted of Neal Doughty on keyboards, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals, Alan Gratzer on drums and vocals and Mike Blair on bass and vocals. In 1968, Terry Luttrell became the lead singer; Bob Crownover and Gregg Philbin ended up replacing Joe Matt and Mike Blair. Joe McCabe played the sax until he moved to Southern Illinois University and Bob Crownover played guitar until he summer of 1069 when he was replaced with Bill Fiorio until he left the band late 1969.
Late 1970, Gary Richrath replaced guitarist Steve Scorfina; a guitar player and songwriter who wrote original material for the band, which included the band’s signature song, "Ridin' the Storm Out.” With Gary on board with REO, the band’s popularity started to grow quickly.
In 1971, REO Speedwagon signed with Epic Records, and the first album was in the works. The first album consisted of Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer, Neal Doughty, Gregg Philbin and Terry Luttrell.
Over the years, the band had several band member and front man changes which included Kevin Cronin. Before joining REO Speedwagon, Kevin was a folksinger and guitarist. Unfortunately, the band thought with Kevin leading the band, their success was moving too slow; they let him go.
It wasn’t too long before welcomed Kevin back instead of searching for a new face. Almost immediately after Kevin returned, REO was on their way to success. In 1976, they released R.E.O; in 1977, Live: You Get What You Play For and in 1978, You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish were REOs first albums to earn gold and platinum certifications.
In 1979, they had another gold certification album called Nine Lives. The band was on their way to big time success. REO’s next album Hi Infidelity released at the end of 1980 became one of their biggest albums yet. The album hits were “Keep on Loving You,” “Don’t Let Him Go” and “Take It on the Run.” The album sold over nine million copies.
REO Speedwagon fans love to hear “Can’t Fight this Feeling” and “Keep on Loving You” live in concert. You don’t want to miss a chance to sing along with REO live in concert. Kevin Cronin has one of the most recognizable and unique voices ever, and you don’t want to miss hearing him singing live.
