Lou Gramm Biography
Lou Grammatico, 2 May 1950, Rochester, New York, USA. Vocalist Lou Gramm possesses one of the great hard rock voices, and rose from small beginnings with late 60s group Poor Heart and Black Sheep to fame and fortune with Foreigner. After the enormous success of Agent Provocateur, however, Gramm's desire for more upbeat, guitar-based songs led him to write solo material with bass playing friend Bruce Turgon. His 1987 release Ready Or Not was a satisfying solo debut, proving that Gramm could produce classy AOR material without Foreigner cohort Mick Jones, and produced a surprise hit in "Midnight Blue'. Gramm returned to Foreigner for Inside Information, but solo success had only increased the tension between Jones and the vocalist, and a split was inevitable. Gramm and Turgon worked together again on 1989"s Long Hard Look, producing another US hit in "Just Between You And Me", and Gramm's departure from Foreigner was confirmed as he embarked on a solo US tour, with Jones drafting in former Wild Horses (USA) vocalist Johnny Edwards for Unusual Heat, which ironically returned to the harder style that Gramm had been missing. Gramm subsequently put together the ill-fated Shadow King with Turgon, drummer Kevin Valentine and ex-Dio/Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell. The band barely lasted beyond their first album and live show before Campbell left to replace the late Steve Clark in Def Leppard and Valentine joined Cinderella. However, Gramm and Jones eventually put their differences behind them, and the vocalist rejoined Foreigner in 1992, taking Turgon along with him. The band's 1994 album Mr. Moonlight was not as successful as previous releases, although they continued to be a strong live draw. In 1997, Gramm was successfully treated for a brain tumour before Foreigner reconvened briefly two years later. A more substantial reunion took place in 2002 for the band's 25th anniversary tour, but the following year Gramm announced he was resuming his solo career.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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