REO Speedwagon biography
REO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1966, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US. Over the course of its career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and has charted thirteen Top 40 hits. REO Speedwagon's popularity has declined over the years but the band still tours regularly, and remains popular on the fair and casino circuits and teams up with other acts to play larger venues. In summer 2010, the band - then touring with Pat Benatar - announced that it will release a 30th anniversary deluxe edition reissue of Hi Infidelity.
History
Formation
thumb In the fall of 1966, Neal Doughty entered the electrical engineering program at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, coming in as a junior. On his first night, he met another student who was equally disinterested, Alan Gratzer. They soon decided to start a rock band. Alan had been a drummer since high school, and was playing in a local group on the weekends, while Neal had learned some Beatles songs on his parents' piano. Neal started to follow around Alan's band, eventually sitting in on a song or two. The keyboard player was the leader, but the other members weren't happy with the situation. On the last day of school, Alan called the band's leader and told him that everyone had decided to quit the band and start a new one with Neal. They made a list of songs to learn over the summer break, and Neal got a summer job to buy his first keyboard. On his Farfisa organ, he learned "Light My Fire" by The Doors, note-for-note.
The members returned to school in the fall of 1967, and had their first rehearsal before classes even started. They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a flatbed truck Neal had studied in transportation history, and the initials are those of its founder Ransom E. Olds. An ad in the school paper got them their first job-a fraternity party that turned into a food fight. They continued to perform cover songs in campus bars. The first line up consisted of Neal Doughty on keyboards, Alan Gratzer on drums and vocals, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals, and Mike Blair on bass and vocals.
In the spring of 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover and Gregg Philbin replaced Matt and Blair. Joe McCabe played sax at this time until moving to Southern Illinois University. Crownover played guitar for the group until the summer of 1969 when Bill Fiorio replaced him. Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs. Another guitarist, Steve Scorfina, came aboard briefly, and was replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970.
Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitarist and prolific songwriter who brought original material to the band including REO's signature song "Ridin' the Storm Out". With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. The Midwestern United States was the original REO Speedwagon fan stronghold and is pivotal in this period of the band's history.
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