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Home K Kenny Loggins

Early life

Loggins was born in Everett, Washington, the youngest of three brothers. His mother was Lina (Massie), a stay-at-home mom, and his father, Robert George Loggins, was a salesman. They lived in Detroit and Seattle before settling in Alhambra, California. Loggins attended San Gabriel Mission High School, graduating in 1966. He formed a band called the Second Helping, that released three singles during 1968 and 1969 on Viva Records. Greg Shaw described the efforts as "excellent punky folk-pop records" that were written by Loggins who was likely to be the bandleader and singer as well; Shaw included "Let Me In" on both Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2 and the Pebbles, Volume 9 CD.[1] Loggins had a short gig playing guitar for the "The New Improved" Electric Prunes in 1969 before writing four songs for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which were included in their Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy album.[2] During his early twenties, he was part of the band Gator Creek with Mike Deasy. An early version of "Danny's Song" (later recorded by Loggins and Messina) was included in a record on Mercury Records.

Loggins and Messina

Jim Messina, formerly of Poco and Buffalo Springfield, was working as an independent record producer for Columbia Records in 1970 when he was introduced to Kenny Loggins, then a little-known singer/songwriter who was signed to ABC-Dunhill.

The two recorded a number of Loggins' compositions in Messina's home living room. When Columbia signed Loggins to a six-album contract (with the assistance of Messina), recording began in earnest for Loggins' debut album, with Messina as producer. Messina originally intended to lend his name to the Loggins project only to help introduce the unknown Loggins to Messina's well-established Buffalo Springfield and Poco audiences. But by the time the album was completed, Messina had contributed so much to the album - in terms of songwriting, arrangement, instrumentation, and vocals - that an "accidental" duo was born. Thus, the full name of their first album was Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin' In.

Although the album went unnoticed by radio upon release, it eventually found success by autumn 1972, particularly on college campuses where the pair toured heavily. Loggins' and Messina's harmonies meshed so well that what was begun as a one-off album became an entity unto itself. Audiences regarded the pair as a genuine duo rather than as a solo act with a well-known producer. Instead of just continuing to produce Loggins as a sole performer, they decided to record as a duo – Loggins & Messina.

"When our first album, 'Sittin' In, ' came out, we started receiving a lot of excitement about the music and good sales," Messina recalled in 2005. "We had a choice. It was either I now go on and continue to produce him and we do the solo career or we stay together and let this work. For me, I did not desire to go back out on the road. I had had enough of that, and I wanted to produce records. But Clive Davis (then president of the record company) intervened and said, 'You know, I think you'd be making a mistake if you guys didn't take this opportunity. Things like this only happen once in a lifetime. It may merit you sleeping on it overnight and making a decision that will be in your best interest.' He was absolutely correct. Kenny made the decision as well. It delayed his solo career, but it gave him an opportunity, I think, to have one." [3]

Over the next four years they produced five more original-material albums, plus one album of covers of other artists' material, and two live albums. They sold 16 million records and were the most successful duo of the early 1970s, surpassed later in the decade only by Hall & Oates.[3] Their work was covered by other artists such as, Lynn Anderson who recorded "Listen to a Country Song" released in 1972 and reached #3 on the charts. Perhaps most notably Anne Murray, who reached the U.S. top ten with "Danny's Song" in early 1973, and again with "A Love Song" the following year. A greatest-hits album, The Best of Friends, would be released a year after the duo had separated. The later studio albums often found both Loggins and Messina more as two solo artists sharing the same record rather than as a genuine partnership. As both Loggins and Messina noted in 2005, their collaboration eventually became more a competition - a frequent, almost-inevitable dynamic of show business duos.

Never really a team of true equals due to the "teacher/apprentice" nature of their music experience levels, the pair had by early 1976 quietly but amicably parted to pursue solo careers, following the release of Native Sons.

Solo career

During 1977, Loggins produced his first solo album, Celebrate Me Home, which included the successful song "I Believe In Love", sung originally by Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born. Nightwatch, a popular album released during 1978, included the smash "Whenever I Call You Friend", a duet with Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, though co-written with Melissa Manchester. He followed it in 1979 with Keep the Fire.

With Michael McDonald

Loggins also wrote the song "What a Fool Believes" with Michael McDonald. Each man recorded his own version of the song, with McDonald's recording his version as a member of The Doobie Brothers. Loggins's version was released first, but the Doobie Brothers' version achieved greater success, scoring #1 on the popular music charts. During 1980, Loggins and McDonald received a Grammy for Song of the Year for "What a Fool Believes".

During 1979, Loggins and McDonald wrote "This Is It" for Loggins' ailing father, who had to choose between life and death. The song earned Loggins a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal. NBC used the song as theme music for its coverage of the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 1980 and 1981.

Soundtracks

During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for movie soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.[4][5] He began with "I'm Alright" (#7 in the U.S.), "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack. Hits followed with "Footloose" and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)" from Footloose; "Meet Me Halfway" from Over the Top; and "Danger Zone" and "Playing With the Boys" from Top Gun. Loggins also performed "Nobody's Fool" from the movie Caddyshack II. He also performed as a member of USA for Africa on the famine-relief fundraising single "We Are the World".

During the 1990s, Loggins continued his album career, including the popular 1994 children's album Return to Pooh Corner, which included the title single, a reworking of "House at Pooh Corner", written for his newborn son Luke.

During 1991, Loggins recorded and produced Leap of Faith, which included the single "Conviction of the Heart". Former vice president Al Gore billed this song as "the unofficial anthem of the environmental movement". On Earth Day 1995, Loggins performed at The National Mall in Washington, D.C. before a live audience of 500,000.

During 1997, Loggins released the album "The Unimaginable Life" based on his book which was co-written by his wife Julia. Tracks include "Now That I Know Love", "The Art of Letting Go", and "One Chance at a Time". The album was produced by Loggins and Randy Jackson with background vocals by Skyler Jett, Lamont VanHook, and Howard Smith.

During 1998, Loggins recorded a version of the popular Sesame Street song "One Small Voice" for the ABC television special, Elmopalooza.

Recent years

During recent years Loggins has continued to record and produce Adult Contemporary music and scored a #1 single on the Billboard AC chart during 1997 with "For The First Time" (his Oscar-nominated song from One Fine Day). His last movie song was The Tigger Movie song "Your Heart Will Lead You Home", which he co-wrote with Richard and Robert Sherman. In 1999 he appeared as himself on Dharma & Greg in the episode "Tye-Dying the Knot", performing at Abby and Larry's wedding.

During 2005, JD Ryznar started web series Yacht Rock, in which Loggins appears played by Hunter Stair and shows Loggins' rise to fame. The show helped with the revival of Loggins' music.[citation needed]
Kenny Loggins performing at Interlochen Fine Arts Camp on August 5, 2009

During 2005, Loggins and Messina performed a successful nationwide tour that resulted in the CD and DVD Loggins and Messina Sittin' In Again.

During 2007 Loggins joined the new recording company 180 Music for the release of his How About Now album. That year he was also inducted into Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard RockWalk.[6]

On July 31, 2008, Loggins appeared on the TV program Don't Forget the Lyrics! and performed "I'm Alright" and "Footloose".

In 2009 Loggins issued a new children's album entitled All Join In but it was delayed due to his summer tour with Jim Messina.

In 2011 Loggins did a short tour in South East Asia including Manila, Philippines and Singapore.

Blue Sky Riders

Loggins is currently working on songs with Blue Sky Riders, a country trio also featuring Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman.

Around one year ago, Kenny along with his close confidant Drew, started the Kenny Loggins Tree Company. With revenue amassing over $200MM in their first year, Kenny Loggins Tree Company has quickly become the forerunner for the tree servicing industry. When asked what made the company so successful, Kenny stated.. "I dont really know, Drew said the idea came to him during a ride back from the beach one day so he called me and I decided to go with it. Boy, am I glad he had the vision." [7]