Sometimes it takes serendipity to rise above the crowd. Kenny Loggins’ accidental partnership with Jim Messina is just such a story.
Born on this date in 1948 in Everett, Washington, Kenny’s family lived in in Detroit and Seattle before settling in Alhambra, California. It was at San Gabriel Mission High School, that he formed The Second Helping, a unit that released three singles in 1968 and 1969.
In 1970, Kenny was introduced to former Poco and Buffalo Springfield member, Jim Messina. Jim was an independent record producer for Columbia Records, who had recently signed the an unknown ABC-Dunhill songwriter named Kenny Loggins. The depth and breadth of Messina’s contributions to what became Kenny’s first LP lead to it’s title, Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In.
They became the most successful duo of the early 1970s, releasing five more studio albums, and two live live collections. Loggins and Messina sold 16 million records as a duo. Both have admitted that their partnership became more of a competition and by 1977, Kenny was ready to release his first solo LP, Celebrate Me Home, followed the next year by Nightwatch, which included Kenny’s duet with with Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac.”Whenever I Call You Friend”, co-written with Melissa Manchester, became Kenny’s first Top-5 hit. By the mid 1980s, he had five Top-20 singles. “This Is It“, “I’m Alright” from the film Caddyshack, “Don’t Fight It,” a duet with Journey’s Steve Perry, “Heart to Heart” and his only chart topper, the theme from the movie “Footloose“.
Loggins and Messina reunited in 2005, touring and releasing a live CD/DVD. They were on the road again in 2009. By then, they rekindled the friendship that Kenny said had been allowed to “atrophy”. “There was a spark that I’d completely forgotten about. It’s still there!”
In recent years, Kenny Loggins appeared as himself, singing “Danny’s Song” in the 2014 series finale of Raising Hope. He performed with Daryl Hall on the June 23, 2016 episode of Live From Daryl’s House. In 2017, he performed at a concert celebrating the music of Aretha Franklin at Carnegie Hall. Grace and Frankie fans know that Loggins made a cameo appearance as himself in episode 1 of season 3. And in October 2018, he received the inaugural Music Icon Award at the San Diego International Film Festival.
Twice married with five children, Loggins has a home in the hills north of Santa Barbara, California.
Today’s Tweet worth Re-Tweeting comes from Kristin @FeralCrone: “When I told my parents over the phone that my husband has the flu, my dad said ‘Have you tried euthanasia?’ and in the background my mom yelled ‘For the last time, it’s echinacea!'”
When imitation gets you into court. Today In 1963 – Twister Chubby Checker is sued by soul singer Gary “U.S.” Bonds, who alleges that Checker’s “Dancin’ Party” is a theft of “Quarter to Three.” They settle out of court. You decide! (Video)
Today in 1955, ‘Rock Around the Clock‘ by Bill Haley & His Comets, enters the UK chart for the first time. It is often cited as the biggest-selling vinyl rock and roll single of all time with sales over 25m. (Video)
Also from our Rock and Roll Revisited Almanac: Today in 1894 marked the first copyrighting of a movie. A 5 second film of Fred Ott sneezing is shot by Thomas Edison‘s company (Video). Quora calculates that we sneeze about 65,700 times during our lifetime. In 1955 Marian Anderson became the 1st African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera. Two iconic television shows premiered on this date. In 1967, “The Newlywed Game” on ABC and year later, “The GE College Bowl” quiz show debuted on NBC.
Click Image to EnlargeThe KHJ Boss Radio survey from this week in 1969. “Crimson & Clover” by Tommy James & The Shondells is Number One. And there are some tunes that few of us may remember, including “The Grooviest Girl in the World” (Video) by Fun & Games and the forgettable “Baby Let’s Wait” (Video) from The Royal Guardsmen of “Snoopy vs The Red Baron” fame.
Today in 1978, Saturday Night Fever enters the US album charts. The sound track from the film that cemented John Travolta‘s stardom was a double LP that had a chart stay of 39 weeks & sold over 15 million copies. It reinvigorated the Bee Gees’ career and brought others to our attention, including Yvonne Elliman and The Trammps. (Video – Disco Inferno)
Today’s Birthdays include: The late Paul Revere (Paul Revere & The Raiders), 1938 (d. 2014); and Kathy Valentine (Bassist for The Go-Go’s), 1959
We leave you with one of our favorite Kenny Loggins love songs. Stay masked, distanced and safe! And we’ll see you tomorrow!
Thanks for listening!
Scott Westerman
Host and Producer – Rock and Roll Revisited
Author: Motor City Music – Keener 13 and the Soundtrack of Detroit
