CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – One of the greatest musical acts to ever come out of the Champaign-Urbana area is returning for a retrospective concert to honor its legacy.
REO Speedwagon, nearly 50 years after its formation in the late 1960s, will be at State Farm Center this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Former members Neal Doughty, Alan Gratzer, Bruce Hall, Terry Luttrell, Mike Murphy, and Steve Scorfina will be present.
Doughty and Gratzer met on their first day of classes at the University of Illinois in the fall of 1966, and created REO Speedwagon the following fall. Their first gig was a performance at a fraternity house, one of their regular venues as they performed cover songs at campus bars and university events in their earliest days.
In 1968, Luttrell and Gregg Philbin joined the band, as did Scorfina in 1969 and Gary Richrath the year after.
Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philpin, and Luttrell were signed by Epic Records in 1971, but as the core members of the band remained, it switched its lead vocalist three times for its first three albums.
Luttrell left in 1972 and was replaced by Kevin Cronin, who recorded one album before leaving in 1973. He was replaced by Michael Murphy. Philbin left the band in 1977, and was replaced by Centennial High school alum Bruce Hall.
Luttrell left the band in early 1972, replaced by Kevin Cronin. Cronin recorded one album with the band before leaving during recording sessions in 1973 and was replaced by Michael Murphy on lead vocal. Philbin left the band in 1977 and was replaced by Champaign Centennial High School alumnus, Bruce Hall.
For more information on ticket pricing and availability, visit the State Farm Center’s website.