About Kevin Cronin - The Voice and Songs of REO Speedwagon

Cronin began fronting REO Speedwagon in 1972. With him at the mic, the band’s unrelenting drive, as well as non-stop touring and recording, jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Platinum albums and freeform FM radio staples such as “Ridin’ The Storm Out” followed, setting the stage for the release of the band’s explosive HI INFIDELITY (1980). HI INFIDELITY’s millions in sales were fueled by the massive hit singles “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run.” Nearly 40 years later, the now RIAA Diamond Award-certified album (for 10 million sold in the U.S.) HI INFIDELITY still remains a high-water mark for rock bands, with its 15 weeks in the No. 1 slot. With REO, Cronin has sold 22 million albums in the U.S. and 40 million around the globe, including a string of nine consecutive platinum-plus albums and several international hit singles. Those hits include many songs which he has written, such as "Keep on Loving You," "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Roll With the Changes," "Time for Me to Fly," and "Don't Let Him Go," Plus co-writes such as “In My Dreams” and “Here With Me,” and many more. Kevin also considers it his responsibility to continue shepherding and sharing, not only his songs, but the songs of his former bandmate, the late great Gary Richrath. Performing at Live Aid, back-to-back sold out shows at The Houston Astrodome and New Orleans Super-Dome in 1981, two sold-out shows at the Budokan Arena, and five appearances at his favorite venue in the world, Red Rocks Amphitheater, are among his many live performance highlights.

More recently, in addition to his work with REO Speedwagon, in 2023, Kevin Cronin performed a duet with Dolly Parton on his number one hit "Keep on Loving You" for her ROCKSTAR album. Cronin is also an active family man, philanthropist, health and fitness enthusiast, and author. He and Lisa, his wife of thirty-five years, are “partners in everything.” The former music publisher at Geffen Music left the business in favor of stay-at-home motherhood, as Lisa put her full-time energy into raising the couple’s now-adult children Holly, Josh, and Shane. Along with overseeing the Cronin family business, Lisa is working with Kevin as he puts the final touches on his memoir, "Roll With The Changes... my life within and without REO Speedwagon." 

Dave Amato hails from the working-class Boston suburb of Framingham, Mass. After playing in various local bands and working some tough blue collar jobs, Dave decided that if he was going to make a Fender Stratocaster and a Marshall amp stack the tools of his trade, he needed to make a big move. Hollywood was not exactly the glamorous destination Dave was expecting, as he paid his dues sleeping on floors and barely making ends meet as a studio singer/musician in LA. But word spread about the multi-talented guitarist/singer, and Amato would eventually land a spot in the Ted Nugent band, and spent the three longest years of his life with Uncle Ted! Dave did three tours of Australia with Jimmy Barnes, before joining Cher’s band. The day after Amato passed the exhaustive Cher audition process, Dave got the call to pick up where Gary Richrath left off, as the lead guitarist in REO Speedwagon. I knew he could play and sing, but a mutual friend described Dave as, “the kind of guy who would help you move”, and that sealed the deal. Dave Amato has been at my side on stage left for the past thirty-five years, and is sticking with me all the way.

Bryan Hitt, (his actual surname), fits Bryan perfectly, as he hits his drums with both power and precision. Born in Juaquin, Texas and having moved to Anchorage, Alaska as a high schooler, the “Hittman” banged around the local bar circuit, eventually making his way down to LA. Bryan scored a steady gig with the Spencer Davis Group, and later as the drummer in Wang Chung. My wife Lisa was working at the David Geffen Company as a music publisher, and saw Bryan drumming at a songwriter showcase. She told me that he was a soulful player, very inventive, and “cute”. Bryan is the ageless wonder in our band, his work ethic is unmatched, and he is never shy about speaking his mind. He joined REO in 1990, and has been with me ever since.

Derek Hilland is an Albuquerque native, who at age 21 and by way of “the back of some guy’s pick-up truck”, moved to Los Angeles to pursue his musical dreams. I met Derek in early 2023 through my pal, Rick Springfield. Rick described Hilland as an amazing Hammond organist, great piano player, top-notch harmony singer, and the sweetest most decent human ever. Derek is hands-down the happiest man in rock and roll, not to mention a self-taught and untrained magician! If “Hilland the Magnificent” ever asks to show you his favorite in-flight magic trick, take it from Dave … run!

Matt Bissonette is Detroit born and bred, and attended the University of North Texas jazz music program. Along side his brother Gregg, the Bissonette brothers formed the rhythm section of Maynard Ferguson’s jazz band and toured with David Lee Roth, among several other luminaries. Matt moved to Los Angeles in 1983, and has been on bass guitar with a long list of talented artists such as Joe Satriani, Gino Vannelli, Rick Springfield, and for the twelve years before joining me, as the touring bassist with Elton John. Matt is not only a master musician, he is a highly motivated, creative, and funny dude. I have come to learn that Matt is also an expert meteorologist!