KENNY LOGGINS – Getting to Know The Man Behind the Hits
- KENNY LOGGINS - Getting to Know The Man Behind the Hits Sandy Kaye 52:00
Soft rock singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist and producer KENNY LOGGINS had a consistent string of hits in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. After playing in several bands in the late ’60s and honing his songwriting chops as a staff songwriter, Kenny rose to prominence with Loggins & Messina, a duo with fellow singer/songwriter Jim Messina. The two were together from 72 to 76, and released a string of successful albums.
Kenny’s first solo album was released in ’77, and included the hit
“I Believe in Love.” He enjoyed even more success in the ’80s,
scoring hits with songs cut for movie soundtracks like “I’m
Alright” (Caddyshack), “Footloose” (Footloose, and “Danger Zone” (Top Gun). Throughout the ’90s and 2000s, Kenny continued to
produce albums, and in the 2000s he also reunited with Jim Messina for a tour.
He was born in 1948, and the family moved to California when he was in his teens. Kenny initially turned to music as a way of compensating for his extreme shyness, and in the process discovered that he was a talented guitarist and had a voice. At the end of the decade, Kenny joined a band called Gator Creek and they were signed to a label. The group recorded one self-titled album, which was issued in 1970 and
included an early version of “Danny’s Song,” a track he recorded
again as part of Loggins & Messina.
Kenny Loggins was proficient on the guitar and piano, but it was his songwriting that enabled him to make his first lasting impression on
the music industry. He took a job as a staff writer for Wingate Music, for $96 per week, and later that year, four of his songs ended up on a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album. That album included the band’s biggest hit,
“Mr. Bojangles.”
Next came “House at Pooh Corner.” Kenny’s success brought him to the
attention of former Poco member Jim Messina. Jim thought he’d produce Kenny’s debut album, but he also ended up playing and singing on the record, and it worked out so well that the two ended up in a duo. Loggins and Messina were among the most popular folk-based soft rock acts of the first half of the ’70s, and enjoyed a four-year string of successful albums.
The pair broke up in 1976, and Kenny retained a strong following in the years immediately after. He went on to solo stardom with million-selling albums and he kept writing hit after hit after hit in the cheerful, sensitive style he had developed.
Kenny Loggins also became known as the king of the movie soundtrack song, scoring Top Ten hits with “I’m Alright” (from Caddyshack), “Footloose” (from Footloose), “Danger Zone” (from Top Gun), and “Nobody’s Fool” (from Caddyshack 2).
In 1994, he issued a children’s album, Return to Pooh Corner and released its sequel in early 2000. Kenny reunited with Jim Messina in 2005 for a successful tour, album, and concert video, and in 2007 he released his first new solo album in four years. It was followed by another children’s album in 2009.
Kenny Loggins joins us this week to share the increible highs and lows of his musical journey. He also tells us about playing Pickleball, venturing out on his e-bike with his new wife and his on-going search for the world’s ( or at least Los Angeles’) best donut. He also fills us in with details about his new book “Still Alright.” You can pick up a copy from all good bookstores and online.
I hope you enjoy our chat. If you’d like to know more about Kenny please jump onto his website https://kennyloggins.com/
