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Celebrate the Arts ...page 9
Northwest
Prime Time
CELEBRATING LIFE AFTER 50 IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION SINCE 1986
www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com
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VOL. 16 NO. 7 SEPTEMBER 2016
Kenny Loggins
Northwest native is in the third act of a long and storied musical career
“T
his is dedicated to my children and our everexpanding clan,” writes celebrated songsmith Kenny Loggins, father of five and now a grandfather, about the release of his upcoming children’s book, Footloose.
With over 40 years in the music industry, Kenny Loggins considers himself in the midst of his third act. He started as a part of the duo, Loggins and Messina, then launched a successful solo career and is now part of the country trio, Blue Sky Riders. (l-r,) Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina: Sittin’ In (1971), Celebrate Me Home (1977), Blue Sky Riders (2013).
The multiplatinum, Grammy awardwinning singer-songwriter was born in Everett on January 7, 1948. The family moved to Seattle while Kenny was still a baby, but after a few years settled in Alhambra, California. Kenny has been deeply involved with music nearly his entire life. When he was only seven, his two older brothers were struggling to write a song, “and I remember thinking, it just can’t be that hard,” he laughed. About a year later, while watching Yankee Doodle Dandy— the movie starring James Cagney about famed entertainer George M. Cohan— somehow Kenny knew that songwriting was his calling. “It’s a moment that sticks with you,” he said. “I knew deep inside
that this is something I can do.” Music was always on his mind. He remembers being fired as a bag boy for humming on the job. But Kenny didn’t start dabbling in music until high school, when he joined a band and began writing songs. At the beginning, he admits, it was a way to compensate for his shyness. “My guitar and music were my means of meeting and communicating with people.” Two of the songs he wrote in high school remain beloved to this day: “Danny’s Song” and “House at Pooh Corner” – which eventually gave him his first big break. But he didn’t perform his own music with the high school band. “We did all Beatles and Rolling
It’s been 32 years since Footloose, the 1985 Oscar-nominated and Grammy Award-winning “Song of the Year,” hit the airwaves and graced movie screens—making it one of Kenny’s most recognizable hits. Now, the iconic pop anthem takes on a brand new life of its own as a children’s book, Footloose, with new lyrics by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford, illustrated by Tim Bowers (Moondance Press, to be released in October). In this version of the classic, Footloose features a zoo-full of animals—dressed in their dancing best—all ready to party by the light of the moon after the visitors leave and Mr. DJ Elephant pumps up the music! Also embedded in the book package is a new CD, including the new version of the song recorded by Kenny, plus a three-song medley of traditional songs. Kenny is no novice to reaching out to the kids’ market; he released his first children's album, Return to Pooh Corner, which remains the best-selling children's album of the last 20 years. In 2013, Kenny was the performer of the music for the critically-acclaimed book Frosty the Snowman. On the subject of the new kids’ book Footloose, says Kenny, “Now, as a grandfather of Phifer, and a dad who always sang with my kids, I’m totally psyched that Footloose has taken up a whole new persona with the new lyrics and characters.”
World-renowned singer-songwriter Kenney Loggins, photo by Stephen Morales
Stones music,” he said. They entered Battle of the Bands contests back then, but “we never won, because we didn’t do Wooly Bully, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs…that was more popular than The Beatles!” Shortly after high school, Kenny left college to begin his professional music career working at as a staff writer at a record label. “I was making $100 a week as a songwriter,” said Kenny of his humble beginnings. Later that same year, four of his songs, including “House at Pooh Corner,” ended up on Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s hit album. Loggins and Messina – the Accidental Duo The success of “House at Pooh Corner” brought Kenny to the attention of sound engineer/music producer Jim Messina, the man who was instrumental in helping to launch his career. Messina served as producer with Buffalo Springfield and later toured with the band, which included musical luminaries Neil Young and Stephen Stills. When that band broke up, he formed Poco with Richie Furay. But his focus was always on becoming a record producer, not a performer. When Kenny auditioned for Jim Messina, he didn’t have any recordings and didn’t even bring his guitar because it had a hole in it and he didn’t want Messina to see that. Messina recalled, “I thought, well, this is weird.” But he handed Kenny one of his guitars, and said, “Let’s hear your songs.” It was then that Messina realized he was discovering a true talent. While the two started working together on Kenny’s solo debut album, Messina played one of his songs for Kenny, “Peace of Mind.” Kenny loved the tune and they decided to include it
on the album, with Messina sitting in on some vocals. The two had a great sound together, but they both thought of their work together as a one-record deal. However, when they approached producer Clive Davis, he drew the line. “No way am I going to put out an album with a band that will break up.” He insisted that the two sign up for more albums. Six years on the road was the last thing Messina wanted, and Kenny always planned on a solo album. But the results of their work together enthused Kenny, which reenergized Messina. Their first album, Kenny Loggins With Jim Messina Sittin’ In, came out in 1971, featuring the songs from Kenny’s high school days, “Pooh Corner” and the beautiful ballad “Danny’s Song” which he’d written about the birth of his brother’s first child. “That was the beginning of his family, and many of those lyrics were taken right from a letter he wrote me,” said Kenny. The album was a hit and suddenly they were stars. Loggins and Messina became one of the most successful musical acts of the 70s. The prolific recording and touring duo created a string of hits, including “Your Mamma Don’t Dance.” The duo released seven albums from 1971 to 1976. Solo Career “We did exactly what we intended to do,” said Kenny of the duo’s eventual parting. “When we launched Loggins and Messina, I was always getting ready to make my solo album. Finally, in 1975, I started writing the music for Celebrate Me Home,” (his first solo album). “The writing was so different from anything we’d done with Loggins and Messina. I knew it was time for me to head off on my own.” continued on page 18