Al Greenwood

Last updated

Al Greenwood
Al Greenwood.jpg
Greenwood in 2009
Background information
Born (1951-10-20) October 20, 1951 (age 72)
New York City, U.S.
InstrumentKeyboards

Alan Greenwood (born October 20, 1951) is an American rock musician who was a founding member and keyboardist of the rock band Foreigner from 1976 to 1980. He performed on the albums Foreigner (1977), Double Vision (1978) and Head Games (1979). In 2024, Greenwood was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Foreigner. [1]

Contents

In 1981, Greenwood formed the band Spys with former Foreigner bass player Ed Gagliardi, John Blanco, John Digaudio and Billy Milne and recorded the albums Spys (1982) and Behind Enemy Lines (1983). [2]

Greenwood played keyboards on former Rainbow (and future Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force and Deep Purple) frontman Joe Lynn Turner's 1985 debut solo album, Rescue You .

Discography

Al Greenwood performs with Foreigner on November 25, 1979 Al Greenwood Foreigner November 1979.jpg
Al Greenwood performs with Foreigner on November 25, 1979

Foreigner

Ian Lloyd

Spys

Joe Lynn Turner

Jennifer Rush

Garbo Talks

Equipment

As per an interview conducted by Dominic Milano from Contemporary Keyboard (Keyboard since 1980), and appeared in the April 1979 issue, Greenwood states,

"When I first got into Foreigner I had a Hammond L-100 and an EML 101 synthesizer, and I think I had an Orchestron, but that's all been changed. Now I use a cutdown Hammond B-3, an ARP Omni, and a Wurlitzer electric piano. I still use the same EML 101, which I've had for about six years, and I just got an Oberheim OB-1, which is a really nice little programmable synthesizer." [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Light Orchestra</span> English rock band

The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan. Their music is characterised by a fusion of pop and classical arrangements with futuristic iconography. After Wood's departure in 1972, Lynne became the band's sole leader, arranging and producing every album while writing nearly all of their original material. From this point until their first break-up in 1986, Lynne and Bevan were the group's only consistent members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">REO Speedwagon</span> American rock band

REO Speedwagon, or simply REO, is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Their best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), contained four US Top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blondie (band)</span> American rock band

Blondie is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid-1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hall & Oates</span> American pop rock duo (1970–2024)

Daryl Hall & John Oates, commonly known as Hall & Oates, were an American rock duo formed in Philadelphia in 1970. Daryl Hall was generally the lead vocalist; John Oates primarily played the electric guitar and provided backing vocals. The two wrote most of the songs they performed, either separately or in collaboration. They achieved their greatest fame from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s with a fusion of rock and roll, soul music, and rhythm and blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Company</span> British rock band

Bad Company was an English rock supergroup that was formed in London in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers, drummer Simon Kirke, guitarist Mick Ralphs and bassist Boz Burrell. Kirke was the only member to remain throughout the band's entire run, while he and Ralphs were the only members to appear on every studio album. Peter Grant, who managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, also managed Bad Company until 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Supply</span> Australian soft rock group

Air Supply is a soft rock duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1975, consisting of Englishman Graham Russell and Australian Russell Hitchcock (vocals). With record sales of 100 million worldwide, they had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight top-five hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, "Lost in Love" (1979), "All Out of Love", "Every Woman in the World", "The One That You Love", "Here I Am", "Sweet Dreams", "Even the Nights Are Better" and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" (1983). In Australia, they had four top ten placements with "Love and Other Bruises" (1976), "All Out of Love", "Every Woman in the World" and "The One That You Love". Their highest charting studio album, The One That You Love (1981) reached number ten in both Australia and the US. The group, which relocated to Los Angeles in the late 1970s, has included many members, with Hitchcock and Russell at the core. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) inducted Air Supply into their Hall of Fame on 1 December 2013, at the annual ARIA Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Men Without Hats</span> Canadian synthpop and new wave band

Men Without Hats are a Canadian new wave and synth-pop band, originally from Montreal, Quebec. Their music is characterized by the baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk, as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing. They achieved their greatest popularity in the 1980s with "The Safety Dance", a worldwide top ten hit, and "Pop Goes the World". After a hiatus for most of the 1990s and 2000s, Doroschuk reformed the band in 2010, and released Love in the Age of War (2012). The group, based in Vancouver, has continued to perform, including tour dates announced in support of the release of two studio albums, Men Without Hats Again , in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Triumph were a Canadian hard rock band formed in 1975 that was popular during the late 1970s and the 1980s, building on its reputation and success as a live band. Between its 16 albums and DVDs, the band has received 18 gold and nine platinum awards in Canada and the United States. They were nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including the "Group of the Year Award" in 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They were inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreigner (band)</span> British-American rock band

Foreigner is a British-American rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by guitarist Mick Jones, vocalist Lou Gramm, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, bassist Ed Gagliardi and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, the last of whom was also a founding member of King Crimson. Foreigner is one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 80 million records, including 37.5 million in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space (French band)</span> French electronic music band

Space, are a French music band active from 1977 through 1980 and returning with on-stage remake performances since 1982. Their work is associated with the short-lived space disco genre and is a precursor of electronica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gap Band</span> American R&B and funk band (1967–2010)

The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets in the historic Greenwood neighborhood in the brothers' hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian McDonald (musician)</span> English musician (1946–2022)

Ian Richard McDonald was an English musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the progressive rock band King Crimson in 1968, as well as the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976.

David Sancious is an American musician. He was an early member of Bruce Springsteen's backing group, the E Street Band, and contributed to the first three Springsteen albums, and again on Human Touch (1992), Tracks (1998), and Western Stars (2019). Sancious is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known as a keyboard player and guitarist. He left the E Street Band in 1974 to form his own band, Tone, and released several albums. He subsequently became a popular session and touring musician, most notably for Stanley Clarke, Narada Michael Walden, Zucchero Fornaciari, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel, Jack Bruce, and Sting among many others. In 2014, Sancious was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urgent (song)</span> 1981 single by Foreigner

"Urgent" is a song by the British-American rock band Foreigner, and the first single from their album 4 in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Elliott</span> British musician and artist

Dennis Leslie Elliott is a British musician and artist, who was the original drummer for the rock band, Foreigner. He played with the band from 1976 until leaving between 1991 and 1993. He went on to become a sculptor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feels Like the First Time</span> 1977 single by Foreigner

"Feels Like the First Time" is the debut single by British-American rock band Foreigner. It was written by Mick Jones and released in 1977 from the band's eponymous debut album. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atomic Rooster</span> British rock band

Atomic Rooster are a British rock band originally formed by members of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, organist Vincent Crane and drummer Carl Palmer. Their history is defined by two periods: the early-mid-1970s and the early 1980s. The band went through radical style changes, but they are best known for the hard, progressive rock sound of their hit singles, "Tomorrow Night" and "Devil's Answer", both in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head Games (song)</span> 1979 single by Foreigner

"Head Games" is the title-cut and second single taken from the band Foreigner's third release. It was written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, and released primarily in the U.S. in November 1979 while at the same time, "Love On The Telephone" was being released elsewhere. The song's b-side, "Do What You Like" uses multi-layered harmony vocals along the lines of their earlier single, "Cold as Ice."

<i>The Very Best ... and Beyond</i> 1992 compilation album by Foreigner

The Very Best ... and Beyond is a greatest hits album by the British-American rock band Foreigner released on 22 September 1992 by Atlantic Records. The collection spans the band's history from 1977 through 1987, and includes three new tracks recorded in 1992. The compilation skips over the period in the early 1990s when original lead singer Lou Gramm had left the band, omitting any songs from the 1991 album Unusual Heat.

Spys was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1981 by Al Greenwood and Ed Gagliardi, who had been keyboardist and bassist, respectively, of Foreigner. They signed with EMI Records and released their debut album, Spys, in 1982, produced by Neil Kernon. The album reached #138 on the Billboard 200 chart and the single "Don't Run My Life" reached #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #19 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. A follow-up album, Behind Enemy Lines, was released in 1983, but it did not sell well, and after a contract dispute with the label, the group disbanded.

References

  1. "2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  2. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. USA: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-531373-4.
  3. "4eigner.net The Foreigner Website: The Band: Interviews: "Al Greenwood topping the charts with Foreigner"". www.4eigner.net. Retrieved November 14, 2019.