Born: May 28, 1945 in Berkeley, California
Personal: 5'11" (Approx. 1.85 m), 145lbs (Approx. 68 kg), brown eyes and brown
hair.
Present home: Los Angeles
Instrument: Guitar, harp, piano, organ, saxophone, dobro, steel guitar
... the Storybook
He is an American singer, composer and plays the guitar. He was born on
the 28 th of May 1945 in Berkeley, California, USA. Played during the 60īs
with local bands in the San Francisco area. Became in-between 1962 - 1972 the
leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival and wrote a series of hits for the group.
Among others, songs like "Proud Mary", Bad Moon Rising", "Green River" and
"up Around The Bend" are still rock classics.
John Fogerty tried in 1973 on a solo career and released the "very" country
influenced album "Blue ridge rangers". It had a follow-up in 1975 "John Fogerty"
which you could put in the RockīnīRoll box and had a stile similar to the CCRīs.
He got a minor hit with "Rockin' all over the world" in 1975, but did choose to
leave
the music life shortly after (musical exile ??).
The following ten years he spent with his family on a farm in Oregon, USA. He
tried
during this time to straighten his economical and law-things of the right to things
he had with the former members of CCR. You see, the original contract, which the
group signed,
tied him to the Fantasy Record Company for life. It ended up with a sour deal
between
John and the VD of Fantasy, Saul Zaentz. In due time, John was out of the original
contract, but Fantasy kept all rights to the original recordings made by CCR.
In 1985, John Fogerty did an overwhelming comeback with the album "Centerfield",
which
really is an extended musical part of the CCR. This record started to move up
the charts.
Then Zaentz stopped it all. He felt violated by the title"Zantz Kant Dantz". The
title
was then changed to "Vantz kant Dantz", which was OK for all involved.
You canīt miss out that John Fogertyīs music has been inspired by many artists.
To give
you some example, how about "Ray Charles", "Muddy Waters", "Little Richard", "Bo
Diddley"
and especially from the old rockīnīroll king himself, "Elvis Presley". Heīs musical
back-
ground has itīs roots in that kind of music that you can hear on the "Sun-recorded"
records from the 50īs Memphis era. You can also hear his influence from the "swamp
rock"
they play in Louisiana, the Delta Blues, Gospel and Country. John F has a great
voice
for that kind of music.
Most of Johnīs songs are written with a few than many accords and his lyrics are
simple
to understand. Maybe thatīs why most of them ended up as HITS on charts all over
the world?
To compare John F with other artists is easy. He is in the same league as Chuck
Berry and Buddy
Holly! A lot of artists have had John as an inspiration through the years. Look
at "Tom Petty",
for example - or "The Blasters" - but also a bit more "aside" groups like "Gun
Club", etc.
The first three albums he wrote where straight solo projects. He played all instruments
himself.
For the fourth album, he had collected a trio, which contained Neil Stubenhaus
(El-base),
John Robinson (drums & perc.) and himself (vocals, electric guitar & keyb.).
During the late 80īs and the beginning of the 90īs, John F did not make a lot
of songs.
He gave some (read: A Few) concerts and it looks like most of his time was spent
at
hearings and in court rooms.
In 1997, he went on the road again......and what a road he was on ! He gave some
concerts
in Sweden from between the summer and November. The "comeback" could not have
been better!
You just have to see the show to believe it!
He came back in September 1998 and gave five concerts in
Sweden.
I attended the one in Gothenburg and I must say - It
can not be much better than this !!
