The Spark That Lit the Fire

Picture a young Kevin Cronin in the late 1960s, a kid from the Chicago suburbs with a mop of hair and a voice that could cut through the Midwest wind. What drove him to pick up a guitar and chase the dream of music? It wasn’t fame or fortune—not at first. It was the pure, unfiltered rush of connection. Growing up in a musical family, Cronin found solace in the piano his parents kept in the house, but it was hearing The Beatles that flipped the switch. Their harmonies, their energy, their ability to make millions feel seen—it hit him like a freight train. He once said in an interview that he wanted to “make people feel the way The Beatles made me feel.” That spark of inspiration, that desire to bridge souls through sound, became the fuel for a career that would define arena rock.

The Long Road to Hi Infidelity

REO Speedwagon’s story begins not with Cronin, but with two University of Illinois students in 1967: Neal Doughty, a keyboard whiz, and Alan Gratzer, a drummer with a steady hand. They met on campus, bonded over Beatles tunes, and named their band after a fire truck—R.E.O. Speedwagon—spotted in a history class. The early days were rough, a revolving door of singers and guitarists playing bars across the Midwest in a borrowed station wagon. Enter Gary Richrath in 1970, a guitarist with a fiery soul, and the band’s sound began to take shape. But it was Kevin Cronin’s arrival in 1972 that set the stage for their rise—though it wasn’t a straight shot.

Born October 6, 1951, in Evanston, Illinois, Cronin grew up in a tight-knit Catholic family. His father was a banker, his mother a teacher, and music was the heartbeat of their home. He taught himself guitar, sang in school choirs, and by his teens was fronting local bands. When he joined REO for their second album, R.E.O./T.W.O., his smooth tenor and songwriting chops hinted at greatness. Yet, internal clashes—mostly with Richrath—saw him exit during the recording of 1973’s Ridin’ the Storm Out. Michael Bryan Murphy stepped in, but Cronin’s absence left a void. Fate, however, had other plans. By 1976, after a stint playing in jazz ensembles, Cronin returned, and REO found its groove.

The late ’70s were a grind—nonstop touring built a loyal fanbase, but mainstream success eluded them until 1980’s Hi Infidelity. That album, a perfect blend of Richrath’s riffs and Cronin’s heartfelt ballads, exploded onto the scene, selling over 10 million copies. Suddenly, REO Speedwagon wasn’t just a Midwest act—they were arena kings, sharing the crown with Styx and Journey. Cronin’s voice became the soundtrack to countless romances, his lyrics a lifeline for the heartbroken.

Career Highlights and Heartstrings

REO Speedwagon’s journey spans decades and lineups. The classic era featured Cronin (vocals, guitar), Richrath (lead guitar), Doughty (keyboards), Bruce Hall (bass, since 1977), and Gratzer (drums). After Hi Infidelity, albums like Good Trouble (1982) and Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984) kept the momentum, though the late ’80s brought turmoil. Richrath and Gratzer left by 1989, replaced by Dave Amato (guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums). Doughty retired from touring in 2023, with Derek Hilland stepping in, and Hall’s 2023 back surgery led to Matt Bissonette filling in. On September 16, 2024, REO announced they’d cease touring by January 1, 2025, citing irreconcilable differences between Cronin and Hall after Cronin’s own emergency surgery forced canceled dates. Their final show as REO Speedwagon was December 21, 2024, though Cronin plans solo gigs with the same lineup.

Relationships? Cronin’s bond with Richrath was the stuff of legend—rocky, passionate, and pivotal. Their reunion hopes, teased on VH1’s Behind the Music in 2001, never materialized before Richrath’s death in 2015. Cronin’s personal life made headlines too—his 1992 divorce from Lisa Cronin after 20 years was tabloid fodder, though he’s since kept romance low-key.

Onscreen, REO popped up in Ozark (Season 1, Episode 4, 2017), with “Time for Me to Fly” underscoring a tense moment, and Cronin voiced himself in a 2009 Family Guy cameo. Awards? They’re Grammy-less but were inducted into the Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021—a nod to their roots.

Here are their biggest hits:

• “Keep on Loving You” (Hi Infidelity, 1980) – Written by Kevin Cronin, this power ballad hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a love letter wrapped in rock swagger.
• “Can’t Fight This Feeling” (Wheels Are Turnin’, 1984) – Another Cronin gem, this #1 smash defined ’80s romance, co-written with producer David DeVore.
• “Take It on the Run” (Hi Infidelity, 1980) – Gary Richrath’s gritty anthem peaked at #5, a tale of betrayal that still echoes in arenas.
• “Time for Me to Fly” (You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish, 1978) – Cronin’s breakup classic hit #56 but became a fan favorite.

** Controversy in the Spotlight**

REO’s biggest controversy came in 2024 with their touring cessation. Hall’s slow recovery from back surgery clashed with Cronin’s push to perform post-surgery, splitting fans. Some blamed Cronin for “abandoning” Hall; others sided with his need to keep the music alive. Social media erupted, with posts calling it “the end of an era” or “a betrayal of brotherhood.” Earlier, Richrath’s 1989 exit after tensions with Cronin stirred similar drama, though time softened that wound. Offstage, Cronin’s clean-cut image kept him scandal-free—his battles were with the road, not the headlines.

The Legacy Rolls On

From a college dorm to sold-out stadiums, REO Speedwagon’s story is one of grit, heart, and harmony. Cronin’s quest to connect through music turned a bar band into a cultural touchstone. As he gears up for solo shows, the REO name may retire, but those songs—those anthems of love and resilience—will keep rolling, a testament to a dream that refused to fade.

Note: In 2024 the band broke up, citing irreconcilable differences, as bassist Bruce Hall was unable to return from surgery as quickly as anticipated. In 2025, it appears that most of the band will continue as the Kevin Cronin Band.