JOHN FOGERTY

'John Cameron Fogerty' (born May 28, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock or roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. He was born in Berkeley, California. John Fogerty plays many instruments including guitar, harmonica, piano, bass, drums, banjo, electronic organ, percussion, violin, and saxophone. A former brother of Theta Chi Fraternity.

Contents

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Solo recording career

Trivia

Discography

Albums

Chart Singles

References

External links

Creedence Clearwater Revival

John and his brother, Tom Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook formed the band in El Cerrito, California in the late 1950s as Tommy Fogerty and the Blue Velvets. The name was changed to The Golliwogs in the mid 1960s, but the band remained unpopular.
The government tried to draft Fogerty in 1966 but instead he joined an Army reserve unit. He served at Fort Bragg, Fort Knox and Fort Lee. Fogerty was released from the army in 1967.
By 1968, things started to pick up for the band. The band released its first album, the self-titled ''Creedence Clearwater Revival'', and also had their first hit single, "Suzie Q". Other hit singles of the band were "Proud Mary", "Fortunate Son", "Up Around The Bend", "Lodi", "Green River", "Down on the Corner", "Travelin' Band", "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Bad Moon Rising", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and "Who'll Stop The Rain."
Many people are not aware that Creedence performed at Woodstock in August 1969. They were the first band to be signed, but Fogerty was unhappy with the band's performance during their set, so he wouldn't give permission for any portion of their performance to be included in "Woodstock," the film which documented the legendary rock festival.
Upset by John's prominence, in 1971 Tom, left the band. Stu and Doug were hit with a bombshell by Fogerty later that year when he informed them that, for their next LP, the band would adhere to a new democratic formula, and each of the members would be responsible for a third of the record. Cook and Clifford, who had only wanted more of a voice in the business decisions, not the onus of having to write and sing on at least six songs between them, resisted this arrangement. However, Fogerty insisted that they either accept his terms, or he would quit the band, so they reluctantly agreed. ''Mardi Gras'' turned out to be their last, and according to many (including John) worst, album. Fogerty officially left the band after CCR's last show in Denver, CO. They were booed off the stage and the crowd threw objects at them. One person threw a quarter at John, which John kept in his pocket for years.
However, his influence was not forgotten with his departure. His guitar playing with CCR would later lead ''Rolling Stone'' to name him the 40th greatest guitarist of all time.^[1]
In the early 1970s Fantasy Records recommended to the Creedence members that they bank their royalties somewhere in the Caribbean for tax reasons, and all four members did that (as did Fantasy). But at some point, Fantasy decided the Caribbean bank was not stable and told three Creedence members to withdraw their money. But no one told John Fogerty and he lost millions while the others avoided the loss.

Solo recording career

John Fogerty began a solo career, originally under the name 'The Blue Ridge Rangers' for his 1973 debut, on which he played all of the instruments and covered others' hits, such as "Jambalaya" (which was a Top 40 hit) and some gospel songs like "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" and "Working On A Building". ''John Fogerty'' was released in 1975. Sales were slim and legal problems delayed a follow-up, though it yielded two minor hit singles, "Rockin' All Over the World" and "Almost Saturday Night". The Georgia Satellites later combined the two songs as "Almost Saturday Night/Rockin' All Over the World". Creedence Clearwater Revival's former music publisher (affiliated with Fantasy Records) filed a suit against Fogerty, claiming that his new, solo compositions sounded too much like his former work as songwriter for Creedence.
Fogerty's solo career emerged in full force with 1985's ''Centerfield'', his first album for Warner Bros. Records, which went to the top of the charts and included a Top Ten hit in "The Old Man Down The Road"and a title track frequently played on classic rock radio and at baseball games to this day. But that album was not without its legal snags either. Two songs on the album, "Zanz Kant Danz" and "Mr Greed", were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. "Zanz Kant Danz" was about a pig who can't dance but would "steal your money". When Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, Fogerty issued a revised version of "Zanz Kant Danz" (changing the lead character's name to Vanz). Another lawsuit claimed that "The Old Man Down The Road" shared the same chorus as "Run Through The Jungle" (a song from Fogerty's days with Creedence). Fogerty ultimately won his case when he proved that the two songs were wholly separate and distinct compositions. Bringing his guitar to the witness stand, he played excerpts from both songs, demonstrating that many songwriters (himself included) have distinctive styles that can make different compositions sound similar to less discerning ears.
Fogerty later sued Zaentz for the cost to defend himself against the copyright infringement lawsuit. In such copyright cases, prevailing defendants seeking recompense are generally bound to show that the original suit was frivolous or made in bad faith. However, ''Fogerty v. Zaentz'' became precedent when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned lower court rulings in 1993 and awarded attorneys' fees to Fogerty, without Fogerty having to show that Zaentz's original suit was frivolous.
The follow-up album was ''Eye of the Zombie'' in 1986, which was less successful. In 1993, his group Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Fogerty refused to perform with his former bandmates, thus claiming his revenge against them for having sided with Fantasy Records in his disputes with the company. He retired until returning with 1997's ''Blue Moon Swamp'', which won the Grammy for Best Rock album in 1997.
He had a very successful tour in 1998 in the United States and Europe. He released a live album from that tour titled ''Premonition'', which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album in 1998, but lost to Sheryl Crow's 'The Globe Sessions'.
In 2004 John Fogerty released ''Deja Vu (All Over Again)'', on DreamWorks Records which also took over distribution of Fogerty's Warner Bros. catalog. ''Rolling Stone'' wrote: "The title track is Fogerty's indictment of the Iraq war as another Vietnam, a senseless squandering of American lives and power." On the album, Fogerty succinctly squeezed ten songs into only 34 minutes.
In October 2004 John Fogerty appeared on the ''Vote for Change'' tour, playing a series of concerts in American swing states. These concerts were organized by MoveOn.org with the general goal of mobilizing people to vote for John Kerry and against George W. Bush in that year's presidential campaign. Fogerty's numbers were played with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
The sale of Fantasy Records to Concord Records in 2004 ended the 30+ year estrangement between Fogerty and his former label as the new owners took steps to restore royalty rights Fogerty gave up in order to be released from his contract with Fantasy in the mid 1970s.
Fogerty appeared in 2004's ''Santa's Rockin'!'', a Christmas-themed home video release from Australian children's entertainers The Wiggles. Fogerty performed two songs with the band: "Great Big Man in Red", and "Rockin' Santa".
On June 9 2005, Fogerty was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
In September 2005, Fogerty returned to Fantasy Records. That was made possible when DreamWorks Records was absorbed by Geffen Records which dropped Fogerty but continue to distribute his earlier solo albums (ironically, Geffen started out as an independent label distributed by Fogerty's earlier label Warner Bros. Records). The first album released under the new Fantasy contract was ''The Long Road Home'', a compilation CD combining his Creedence hits with solo material which was issued on November 1 2005. On June 13 2006 a live DVD named ''The Long Road Home - In Concert'' was released and included live versions of his biggest solo hits and hits of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The live concert was also issued on a double CD with the same name on October 31 2006.
Also in September 2005, Fogerty was introduced by Bill Clinton, former U.S. President, at the From the Big Apple to the Big Easy Hurricane Katrina relief concert at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. His set included renditions of ''Born on the Bayou'' and ''Proud Mary''.
The summer of 2006, Fogerty toured the USA with Willie Nelson. On June 29, he played his first headlining British concert since 1972, at the Hammersmith Apollo theater in London, as part of the European leg of the tour. During the European leg of the tour he also performed in Sundsvall, Sweden. 25,000 people came to see him perform at the town square.
On September 13, 2006, Fogerty had his first concert in Mexico City, at the Auditorio Nacional; which was sold out to 10,000 fans.
On Thanksgiving Day 2006, Fogerty performed at halftime of the Miami Dolphins/Detroit Lions game, as well as the Denver Broncos/Kansas City Chiefs halftime later that evening. ^{[2] [3] [4]}
Fogerty is working on his first new album in three years to be titled ''Revival'' which will be released on October 2, 2007.[1]
Fogerty has also had his songs covered by other prominent artist including Ike & Tina Turner's version of Proud Mary and British band Status Quo's version of Rockin All Over the World which was a huge hit all over the world (except the USA). The cover of Fogerty's song was chosen to open Live Aid and being a favorite of Princess Diana, was included in the Concert for Diana.

Trivia

★ The Fogerty family name is Irish, an Anglicized form of the Irish personal name ''Fógartach'', from ''fógartha'', meaning 'banished, outlawed' (Hanks & Hodges, ''A Dictionary of Surnames'' [Oxford UP, 1988], p. 187).

★ He wrote the CCR hit "Who'll Stop the Rain" after Woodstock about the rain there and the insecure feelings he had about the future of his band. In concert he always introduces the song saying that there is a myth that he played it at Woodstock, when in fact he wrote it afterwards, about Woodstock.

★ On his live album ''Premonition'', near the end of "Bad Moon Rising" Fogerty replaces the usual lyric "There's a bad moon on the rise" with a well-known mondegreen, "There's a bathroom on the right." He does this, as well, in his appearance on the Public Broadcasting System's television program, ''Austin City Limits'', pointing to his right and smiling.

★ He wrote "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" to express his views about the second Iraq War.

★ Is a staunch opponent of president George W. Bush's policies. Ironically, Bush has called "Centerfield" his favorite song, and it is reportedly one of the songs on Bush's iPod. Although not a supporter of his, Fogerty was reportedly amused by this.

★ Creedence's version of "Suzie Q" was the band's only Top 40 hit that was not written by Fogerty.

★ A group of fans followed him on tour across Europe in 2006 and 2007, resulting in Fogerty nicknaming them the "Million Milers."
Upcoming Releases
Revival to release in Fall of 2007.

Discography

For Discography of Creedence Clearwater Revival see ''Creedence Clearwater Revival Discography''

Albums

★ 1973: ''The Blue Ridge Rangers'' (#47 US Billboard 200)

★ 1975: ''John Fogerty''

★ 1976: ''Hoodoo'' - Unreleased

★ 1985: ''Centerfield'' (#1 US Billboard 200, #7 Top Country Albums)

★ 1986: ''Eye of the Zombie'' (#26 US Billboard 200)

★ 1997: ''Blue Moon Swamp'' (#37 US Billboard 200)

★ 1998: ''Premonition'' - Live Album (#29 US Billboard 200)

★ 2004: ''Deja Vu (All Over Again)'' (#23 US Billboard 200)

★ 2005: ''The Long Road Home'' - Compilation of Solo and CCR recordings (#13 US Billboard 200, #32 UK Albums Chart)

★ 2006: ''The Long Road Home - In Concert'' - Live Album

★ 2007: '' - Budget compilation of Solo and CCR recordings

★ 2007: ''Revival''
'DVD'

★ 2006: ''The Long Road Home - In Concert''

Chart Singles

★ Chart placings refer only to the USA.

★ 1973: "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" (as The Blue Ridge Rangers) (#16 Billboard Hot 100)

★ 1973: "Hearts of Stone" (as The Blue Ridge Rangers) (#37 Billboard Hot 100)

★ 1975: "Rockin' All Over The World" (#27 Billboard Hot 100)

★ 1985: "The Old Man Down the Road" (#10 Billboard Hot 100, #1 Mainstream Rock Tracks)

★ 1985: "Rock And Roll Girls" (#20 Billboard Hot 100)

★ 1985: "Centerfield" (#44 Billboard Hot 100, #4 Mainstream Rock Tracks, #17 Adult Contemporary)

★ 1985: "Big Train From Memphis" (#38 Hot Country Singles & Tracks)

★ 1986: "The Eye Of The Zombie" (#81 Billboard Hot 100, #3 Mainstream Rock Tracks)

★ 1986: "Headlines" (#27 Mainstream Rock Tracks)

★ 1986: "Change In The Weather" (#3 Mainstream Rock Tracks)

★ 1997: "Walking In A Hurricane" (#14 Mainstream Rock Tracks)

★ 1997: "Blueboy" (#32 Mainstream Rock Tracks)

★ 1998: "Premonition" (#19 Mainstream Rock Tracks)

References

1. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5937559/the_100_greatest_guitarists_of_all_time
2. [http://www.nfl.com/thanksgiving ''NFL.com'', 20 November 2006.
3. Website for the Kansas City/Denver Thanksgiving game halftime promoters
4. Thanksgiving game - Volunteers needed! ''KCChiefs.com'', 13 November 2006.

External links

★ Official website

★ Daily Vault review of John Fogerty's "The Long Road Home - In Concert"

★ John Fogerty and rarities pictures

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