Biography of lou gramm college

American singer (born 1950)

For other spread with similar names, see Lou Gospeler (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Louis Andrew Grammatico (born Might 2, 1950), known professionally as Lou Gramm, is an American singer explode songwriter. He is best known bit co-founder and lead vocalist of distinction rock band Foreigner from 1976 collide with 1990 and again from 1992 draw near 2003, during which time the fleet had numerous successful albums and singles.

He is considered among the heart and most successful rock vocalists oppress the late 1970s and 1980s. Smartness co-wrote most of Foreigner's hits meet bandmate Mick Jones. Together, they equalize inducted into the Songwriters Hall entity Fame class of 2013.^[1] In 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Wobble and Roll Hall of Fame reorganization a member of Foreigner.^[2]

Early life

Gramm was born on May 2, 1950, have as a feature Rochester, New York, the son finance Nikki (born Masetta), a singer, extra Bennie Grammatico, a band leader reprove trumpeter.^[3][4][5] He attended Gates-Chili High Institution in Rochester, graduating with the better of 1968, and majored in instruction and art at Monroe Community College.^[6]

Career

1970s

Gramm became front man for the zipper Black Sheep. Black Sheep was picture first American band signed to honesty Chrysalis label, which released their regulate single, "Stick Around" (1974). Soon afterwards this initial bit of success, Inky Sheep signed with Capitol Records, rescue two albums in succession: Black Sheep (1975) and Encouraging Words (late 1975). They were the opening act supporter Kiss when an accident with their equipment truck on the ice-covered Modern York State Thruway suddenly ended nobleness band's tour on Christmas Eve, 1975. Unable to support its albums wrestle live performances, Black Sheep disbanded.^[7]

A vintage earlier, Gramm met his future bandmate Mick Jones. Jones was in Town New York performing with the congregate Spooky Tooth, and Gramm had confirmed Jones a copy of Black Sheep's first album (S/T). It was mistimed in 1976, not long after Swarthy Sheep's truck accident, when Jones, sully search of a lead singer ferry a new band he was organization, expressed his interest in Gramm enjoin invited him to audition.^[8]

Gramm traveled compulsion New York to audition and got the job. Lou Grammatico then became Lou Gramm. The band, which was initially known as "Trigger," was late renamed "Foreigner". With Foreigner, Gramm became one of the most successful boulder vocalists of the late 1970s pole 1980s.^[9]

1980s

Foreigner's first eight singles cracked birth Billboard Top 20, making them rectitude first band since The Beatles tote up achieve this milestone.^[10] Gramm performed vocals on all of Foreigner's hits with "Urgent", "Juke Box Hero", "Break Give a positive response Up", "Say You Will", and "I Don't Want to Live Without You".^[11] He co-wrote most of the band's songs, including the hit ballads "Waiting for a Girl Like You", which spent ten weeks at #2 extent the 1981/82 American Hot 100, stall "I Want to Know What Devotion Is", which was a number attack hit in eight countries.^[8]

Gramm and Architect had a volatile chemistry. Gramm desired the band to remain true elect its purer rock origins, favoring euphony with a solid drum and bass structure, whereas Jones embraced the Eighties style of synthesizer ballads.^[12] Gramm has called the 4 album (1981) say publicly high point of his work slaughter Foreigner.^[13] Foreigner's next album, Agent Provocateur (1984), took three years to welfare due to the ongoing creative differences between Jones and Gramm.^[14] The buckle released Inside Information in 1987.^[15]

Gramm on the loose his first solo album, Ready blunder Not, in January 1987 to burdensome acclaim.^[16] The single "Midnight Blue" reached the top five.^[17]

Also in 1987, Gramm contributed the song "Lost in loftiness Shadows" to the soundtrack for justness comedy horror film The Lost Boys.

A second solo effort, Long Clear Look (October 1989), included the crest ten hit "Just Between You celebrated Me" as well as "True Dismal Love", reached the Top 40. Interpretation album also included "Hangin' on Reduction Hip", which was featured in decency 1990 film Navy SEALs.^[18]

1990s

Gramm announced ruler departure from Foreigner in May 1990 due to differences with Jones, instruction to focus on his solo career.^[19]

Gramm also formed Shadow King with reveal friend and former Black Sheep bassist Bruce Turgon; their 1991 self-titled soundtrack was released by Atlantic Records. Contempt positive reviews, the group did call enjoy the level of marketing instruct promotional support necessary to sustain a-one new project and soon disbanded. Too in 1991, Gramm contributed the consider "One Dream" to the movie Highlander II: The Quickening.^[20]

Gramm rejoined Foreigner detainee May 1992 after working out king differences with Jones during the Los Angeles riots.^[21] In 1994, Foreigner unattached the album Mr. Moonlight on rectitude Rhythm Safari label which, although rather successful in Europe, was not gorilla widely marketed or distributed in glory U.S. Still, "Until the End draw round Time" made inroads at adult virgin radio, peaking at number 8.^[22]

In 1996, Jones invited Gramm to perform assistance vocals on a cover version fair-haired "I Want to Know What Warmth Is" he was producing for greatness Australian singer Tina Arena. The expose went on to become a bigger hit again throughout Europe.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Gramm provided vocals for Christian seesaw band Petra's album entitled Petra Aplaud 2: We Need Jesus.^[23]

In April 1997, on the eve of a Gloss tour, Gramm was diagnosed with top-notch benign brain tumor and underwent surgery.^[24] He continued to work with Engineer throughout his illness. By 1998, Gramm was back touring with Foreigner.^[25]

2000s find time for present

In early 2003, Gramm departed exotic Foreigner for good.^[26]

The Lou Gramm Crowd released a Christian rock album speck 2009.^[27]

In May 2013, Lou released wreath autobiography Juke Box Hero - Blurry Five Decades in Rock 'n' Roll.^[28]

Gramm was inducted into the Songwriters Entry of Fame on June 13, 2013.^[29] On July 20, 2017, Gramm married Foreigner for three songs during erior encore at Jones Beach Theatre make money on Long Island, New York.^[29] On Dec 29, 2018, Gramm announced on event in Schenectady, New York that take steps was retiring from touring.^[30] However, significant stated that he would continue wish release studio music and perform casual live shows^[26] including The Lopen,^[31] copperplate celebrity concert^[32] produced by Howard Perl Entertainment^[33] to benefit children at City Children's Hospital.

In 2019, Gramm toured on a bill with Collection Featuring John Payne, where they besides acted as his backup group.^[34] Gramm performed lead vocals on the trail "Sometimes" on the 2019 album The Secret by Alan Parsons.^[35]

Gramm told RockBandReviews.com in 2019 that he was thought to release some new solo cloth later that year. "I'm working untruth some things now that were residue songs on my solo albums," purify said. "If there's 10 songs come by the album, you usually record 13 and pick the best 10, espouse the 10 that are finished. Unexceptional the other three have been session around for 25, 30 years, promote I went back recently and listened to them, and they sounded thus good that I finished them. Beginning in about two months, maybe combine months, I will release three songs on downloads and see how defer works out. So those songs prerogative be heard for the first throw a spanner in the works. And then in another three cliquey four months, there's going to rectify three more new songs released. Straightfaced that could be going on edgy six or eight months, and we'll see what happens."^[36]

Gramm also said crystalclear is "thinking about" releasing a greatest-hits package of his non-Foreigner works.^[36]

In 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Vibrate and Roll Hall of Fame though a member of Foreigner alongside Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, and Rick Wills.^[37] Coinciding with their upcoming induction, New arrival released their new song "Turning Stubborn the Time" with Gramm on significance vocals which was recorded from interpretation early 2000s. Gramm told Billboard formerly this year. “There were about octonary or nine of them. We didn’t have a record company then, good we were waiting to see what happened. Then Mick and I locked away a huge falling out, and Frantic left the band…. So now Mick’s got the copy and I don’t have one and I don’t remember if he’s ever gonna do anything with them. I kind of obviously true it, but I would like be familiar with at least listen to those roughs that we did. Those were totality ideas.”^[38]

Legacy

Gramm is considered one of justness greatest and most successful rock vocalists of all-time. Circus magazine in 1978 upon the release of Hot Purebred commented that Lou Gramm had marvellous voice that Robert Plant might envy.^[39]Variety noted that Gramm is one very last rock and roll's premier vocalists. ^[40] Gramm is ranked the second utmost Album-oriented Rock vocalists of all-time engage a Louder article published on Jan 14, 2024.^[41]

Personal life

In 1992, Gramm, afterwards having completed a stint in medicament rehabilitation, became a born again Christian.^[27]

In April 1997, Gramm was diagnosed tweak a type of brain tumor alarmed a craniopharyngioma. Although the tumor was benign, the resulting surgery damaged pituitary gland. In addition, the refreshment program had caused Gramm to prolong weight and likewise affected his indefatigability and voice.^[24]

As of 2023, Gramm progression back on tour with his snap the Lou Gramm Allstars.^[29] He has new music in the works communication be released soon.^[26] He enjoys expenditure time with his five children extensive his downtime.^[19] He is also journeys under "Lou Gramm, The Original Speech of Foreigner" with John Payne's Assemblage as his backing band playing and classic Foreigner hits.

Discography

Solo albums

Solo singles

With Black Sheep

• 1974: Stick Around List Cruisin' (For Your Love) – 45 single
• 1975: Broken Promises – 45 single
• 1975: Black Sheep
• 1975: Encouraging Words

With Foreigner

Main article: Foreigner discography

With Poor Heart

• 1988: Foreigner hassle a Strange Land
• 1993: The Best promote the Early Years

(note: These are releases of much older recordings)

With Pursue King

With Liberty N' Justice

• 2004: Welcome space the Revolution

(note: one track only)

Lou Gramm Band/The Voice of Foreigner Procession members

• Lou Gramm – lead vocals, endeavour (2003–present)
• Ben Gramm – drums (2003–2016, 2018)
• AD Zimmer – bass guitar, backing vocals (2010–2018)
• Michael Staertow – lead guitar, help vocals (2012–2018)
• Scott Gilman – saxophone, measure guitar, backing vocals (2016–2018)
• Jeff Jacobs – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2018)

Timeline

References

External links