Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon

Back where it all began!

A retrospective concert honoring the legacy of REO Speedwagon. Featuring special guests and former members, Neal Doughty, Alan Gratzer, Bruce Hall, Terry Luttrell, Mike Murphy and Steve Scorfina. With Special in Memorium to early members Gary Richrath and Gregg Philbin.

Where and how it all began:

Neal Doughty met fellow student Alan Gratzer on his first night of classes at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois in the fall of 1966. Upon returning to school in the fall of 1967, they created REO Speedwagon from when Doughty had seen the name written on the blackboard in his History of Transportation class on the first day they had decided to look for a name. An advertisement in the Daily Illini produced their first gig, a fraternity party that turned into a food fight. They continued to perform cover songs in campus bars, at fraternity parties and university events.

In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, in mid-1968, Gregg Philbin joined the band, followed by Steve Scorfina in 1969, being replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970.

Epic Records signed the band to a recording contract in 1971 with a lineup of Richrath, Gratzer, Doughty, Philbin and Luttrell.

Although the rest of the band's lineup remained stable, REO would switch lead vocalists three times for their first three albums.

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.

In November 1980, REO released Hi Infidelity, consisting of a lineup of Richrath, Cronin, Hall, Doughty & Gratzer. After a long run of album and touring success, Gratzer retired in 1988 followed by Richrath in 1989.