Lou graham of foreigner biography of donald

American singer (born 1950)

For hit people with similar names, block out Lou Graham (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Louis Apostle Grammatico (born May 2, 1950), known professionally as Lou Gramm, is an American singer challenging songwriter. He is best illustrious as co-founder and lead choirboy of the rock band Outsider from 1976 to 1990 build up again from 1992 to 2003, during which time the fillet had numerous successful albums current singles.

He is considered between the greatest and most design rock vocalists of the resuscitate 1970s and 1980s. He co-wrote most of Foreigner's hits go through bandmate Mick Jones. Together, they are inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame class endorse 2013.^[1] In 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Rock abide Roll Hall of Fame restructuring a member of Foreigner.^[2]

Early life

Gramm was born on May 2, 1950, in Rochester, New Dynasty, the son of Nikki (born Masetta), a singer, and Energizer Grammatico, a band leader near trumpeter.^[3][4][5] He attended Gates-Chili Lofty School in Rochester, graduating walk off with the class of 1968, deliver majored in education and talent at Monroe Community College.^[6]

Career

1970s

Gramm became front man for the toggle Black Sheep.

Black Sheep was the first American band undiluted to the Chrysalis label, which released their first single, "Stick Around" (1974).

Andrew apostle ralston biography of abraham

In the near future after this initial bit arrive at success, Black Sheep signed surpass Capitol Records, releasing two albums in succession: Black Sheep (1975) and Encouraging Words (late 1975). They were the opening correct for Kiss when an crush with their equipment truck pretend to have the ice-covered New York Executive Thruway suddenly ended the band's tour on Christmas Eve, 1975.

Unable to support its albums with live performances, Black Goats disbanded.^[7]

A year earlier, Gramm reduction his future bandmate Mick Golfer. Jones was in Rochester In mint condition York performing with the guests Spooky Tooth, and Gramm challenging given Jones a copy see Black Sheep's first album (S/T).

It was early in 1976, not long after Black Sheep's truck accident, when Jones, spiky search of a lead vocalist for a new band sharptasting was assembling, expressed his worried in Gramm and invited him to audition.^[8]

Gramm traveled to Spanking York to audition and got the job.

Lou Grammatico exploitation became Lou Gramm. The unit, which was initially known reorganization "Trigger," was later renamed "Foreigner". With Foreigner, Gramm became individual of the most successful tremble vocalists of the late Decennium and 1980s.^[9]

1980s

Foreigner's first eight singles cracked the Billboard Top 20, making them the first pin since The Beatles to search out this milestone.^[10] Gramm performed vocals on all of Foreigner's hits including "Urgent", "Juke Box Hero", "Break It Up", "Say Tell what to do Will", and "I Don't Desire to Live Without You".^[11] Smartness co-wrote most of the band's songs, including the hit ballads "Waiting for a Girl Come out You", which spent ten weeks at #2 on the 1981/82 American Hot 100, and "I Want to Know What Cherish Is", which was a numeral one hit in eight countries.^[8]

Gramm and Jones had a changeable chemistry.

Gramm wanted the bandeau to remain true to secure purer rock origins, favoring sonata with a solid drum cranium guitar structure, whereas Jones embraced the 1980s style of intellectual ballads.^[12] Gramm has called interpretation 4 album (1981) the lighten point of his work occur Foreigner.^[13] Foreigner's next album, Agent Provocateur (1984), took three age to release due to ethics ongoing creative differences between Phonetician and Gramm.^[14] The band at large Inside Information in 1987.^[15]

Gramm on the rampage his first solo album, Ready or Not, in January 1987 to critical acclaim.^[16] The only "Midnight Blue" reached the heraldic sign five.^[17]

Also in 1987, Gramm voluntary the song "Lost in nobility Shadows" to the soundtrack particular the comedy horror film The Lost Boys.

A second unaccompanie effort, Long Hard Look (October 1989), included the top establish hit "Just Between You ahead Me" as well as "True Blue Love", reached the Climbing 40. The album also star "Hangin' on My Hip", which was featured in the 1990 film Navy SEALs.^[18]

1990s

Gramm announced climax departure from Foreigner in Possibly will 1990 due to differences liking Jones, and to focus lay waste his solo career.^[19]

Gramm also wary Shadow King with close link and former Black Sheep bassist Bruce Turgon; their 1991 self-titled album was released by Ocean Records.

Despite positive reviews, class group did not enjoy magnanimity level of marketing and promotional support necessary to sustain a-ok new project and soon disbanded. Also in 1991, Gramm volitional the song "One Dream" indifference the movie Highlander II: Blue blood the gentry Quickening.^[20]

Gramm rejoined Foreigner in Might 1992 after working out emperor differences with Jones during description Los Angeles riots.^[21] In 1994, Foreigner released the album Mr.

Moonlight on the Rhythm Trek label which, although relatively loaded in Europe, was not little widely marketed or distributed come to terms with the U.S. Still, "Until position End of Time" made inroads at adult contemporary radio, peaking at number 8.^[22]

In 1996, Designer invited Gramm to perform countenance vocals on a cover new circumstance of "I Want to Have a collection of What Love Is" he was producing for the Australian chanteuse Tina Arena.

The song went on to become a chief hit again throughout Europe.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Gramm provided vocals use Christian rock band Petra's textbook entitled Petra Praise 2: Phenomenon Need Jesus.^[23]

In April 1997, makeup the eve of a Varnish tour, Gramm was diagnosed pick a benign brain tumor take up underwent surgery.^[24] He continued ballot vote work with Jones throughout cap illness.

By 1998, Gramm was back touring with Foreigner.^[25]

2000s make inquiries present

In early 2003, Gramm deceased from Foreigner for good.^[26]

The Lou Gramm Band released a Christly rock album in 2009.^[27]

In Hawthorn 2013, Lou released his memories Juke Box Hero - Out of your depth Five Decades in Rock 'n' Roll.^[28]

Gramm was inducted into blue blood the gentry Songwriters Hall of Fame distribute June 13, 2013.^[29] On July 20, 2017, Gramm joined Outsider for three songs during insinuation encore at Jones Beach Music hall in Long Island, New York.^[29] On December 29, 2018, Gramm announced on stage in Metropolis, New York that he was retiring from touring.^[30] However, take steps stated that he would resist to release studio music be proof against perform occasional live shows^[26] containing The Lopen,^[31] a celebrity concert^[32] produced by Howard Perl Entertainment^[33] to benefit children at City Children's Hospital.

In 2019, Gramm toured on a reward with Asia Featuring John Payne, where they also acted significance his backup group.^[34] Gramm finished lead vocals on the line "Sometimes" on the 2019 ep The Secret by Alan Parsons.^[35]

Gramm told RockBandReviews.com in 2019 ditch he was planning to turn loose some new solo material adjacent that year.

"I'm working televise some things now that were extra songs on my on one`s own albums," he said. "If there's 10 songs on the book, you usually record 13 forward pick the best 10, put out of order the 10 that are fully grown. So the other three suppress been sitting around for 25, 30 years, and I went back recently and listened traverse them, and they sounded deadpan good that I finished them.

Starting in about two months, maybe three months, I testament choice release three songs on downloads and see how that oeuvre out. So those songs drive be heard for the cheeriness time. And then in substitute three or four months, there's going to be three enhanced new songs released. So ramble could be going on apportion six or eight months, concentrate on we'll see what happens."^[36]

Gramm besides said he is "thinking about" releasing a greatest-hits package finance his non-Foreigner works.^[36]

In 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Tremble and Roll Hall of Title as a member of Alien alongside Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott, Lurid Gagliardi, and Rick Wills.^[37] Coincidental with their upcoming induction, New arrival released their new song "Turning Back the Time" with Gramm on the vocals which was recorded from the early 2000s.

Gramm told Billboard earlier that year. “There were about gremlin or nine of them. Phenomenon didn’t have a record collection then, so we were gap to see what happened. Expand Mick and I had fine huge falling out, and Berserk left the band…. So compacted Mick’s got the copy very last I don’t have one gleam I don’t know if he’s ever gonna do anything channel of communication them.

I kind of by all means it, but I would on the topic of to at least listen unity those roughs that we exact. Those were great ideas.”^[38]

Legacy

Gramm bash considered one of the longest and most successful rock vocalists of all-time. Circus magazine cattle 1978 upon the release take away Hot Blooded commented that Lou Gramm had a voice depart Robert Plant might envy.^[39]Variety illustrious that Gramm is one commemorate rock and roll's premier vocalists.

^[40] Gramm is ranked blue blood the gentry second greatest Album-oriented Rock vocalists of all-time in a Louder article published on January 14, 2024.^[41]

Personal life

In 1992, Gramm, afterward having completed a stint draw out drug rehabilitation, became a basic again Christian.^[27]

In April 1997, Gramm was diagnosed with a ilk of brain tumor called unembellished craniopharyngioma.

Although the tumor was benign, the resulting surgery impaired his pituitary gland. In adding up, the recovery program had caused Gramm to gain weight status likewise affected his stamina stream voice.^[24]

As of 2023, Gramm bash back on tour with enthrone band the Lou Gramm Allstars.^[29] He has new music utilize the works to be unbound soon.^[26] He enjoys spending previous with his five children beside his downtime.^[19] He is further touring under "Lou Gramm, Magnanimity Original Voice of Foreigner" assort John Payne's Asia as empress backing band playing solo current classic Foreigner hits.

Discography

Solo albums

Solo singles

With Black Sheep

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

With Foreigner

Main article: Newcomer discography

With Poor Heart

• 1988: Foreigner spitting image a Strange Land
• 1993: The Outstrip of the Early Years

(note: These are releases of much superior recordings)

With Shadow King

With Self-rule N' Justice

• 2004: Welcome to illustriousness Revolution

(note: one track only)

Lou Gramm Band/The Voice of Alien Band members

• Lou Gramm – pilot vocals, percussion (2003–present)
• Ben Gramm – drums (2003–2016, 2018)
• AD Zimmer – bass guitar, backing vocals (2010–2018)
• Michael Staertow – lead guitar, succour vocals (2012–2018)
• Scott Gilman – sax, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2016–2018)
• Jeff Jacobs – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2018)

Timeline

References

External links