Kenny Loggins | |
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.jpg) Loggins in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Kenneth Clark Loggins (1948-01-07)January 7, 1948 (age 78) |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
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| Website | kennyloggins |
Kenneth Clark Loggins (born January 7, 1948)[3] is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.[4] His early songs were recorded with theNitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970,[5] which led to seven albums recorded withJim Messina asLoggins and Messina from 1972 to 1977.[6] His early soundtrack contributions date back toA Star Is Born in 1976,[7] and he is known as the "King of the Movie Soundtrack".[4][8] As a solo artist, Loggins experienced a string of soundtrack successes, including anAcademy Award nomination for "Footloose" in 1985.[9]Finally Home was released in 2013, shortly after Loggins formed the groupBlue Sky Riders withGary Burr andGeorgia Middleman.[10] He has won twoGrammy Awards and aDaytime Emmy Award; and was nominated for anAcademy Award, aTony Award, and aGolden Globe Award.
Loggins was born inEverett, Washington,[11] the youngest of three brothers. His father, Robert George Loggins, was a salesman ofEnglish andIrish ancestry,[12] while his mother, Lina (née Massie), was a homemaker ofItalian descent, fromAvezzano.[13] They lived inDetroit andSeattle before settling inAlhambra, California. According to his biography, Loggins was born on the birthday of his brother, Bobby. As such, and allowing him to keep a Christmas promise his father had made his brother, Bobby got to name his new brotherClark Kent Loggins.[14] Later, his first and middle names were flipped, and Kent was changed to Kenneth.
Loggins attendedSan Gabriel Mission High School, graduating in 1966. He formed a band, The Second Helping, that released three singles during 1968 and 1969 onViva Records.Greg Shaw described the efforts as "excellentpunkyfolk-pop records" that were written by Loggins who was likely to be the bandleader and singer as well; Shaw included "Let Me In" on bothHighs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2 and thePebbles, Volume 9 CD.[15]
Loggins had a short gig playing guitar forthe New Improved Electric Prunes in 1969 before writing four songs for theNitty Gritty Dirt Band that were included on their albumUncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy.[16] During his early 20s, he was in the band Gator Creek withMike Deasy. The first recorded version of "Danny's Song" (later recorded by Loggins and Messina and a No. 7 Hot 100 hit forAnne Murray in 1973) was included on their only album, released onMercury Records.
Jim Messina, formerly ofPoco andBuffalo Springfield, was working as an independent record producer forColumbia Records in 1970 when he was introduced to Loggins, then a little-known singer-songwriter who was signed toABC-Dunhill.
The two recorded a number of Loggins's compositions in Messina's home living room. When Columbia signed Loggins (with Messina's help) to a six-album contract, recording began in earnest for Loggins's debut album, with Messina as producer. He assembled The Kenny Loggins Band by summoning his old friends bassist Larry Sims and drummer Merel Bregante (both formerly ofthe Sunshine Company, a disbanded 1960s group from Los Angeles), violinist/multireedist Al Garth, and multireedist Jon Clarke. KeyboardistMichael Omartian also played on the album and, despite dropping out at the start of the touring, continued to play keyboards on the next two albums. Los Angeles–based session percussionistMilt Holland, described by Messina as anethnomusicologist, also contributed.[17]
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. However, 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 wasKenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin' In. The album's first single release, the Caribbean-flavored "Vahevala", found top 3 success onWCFL on May 18, 1972.[18]
Although the album went unnoticed by radio upon release, it eventually found success by fall 1972, particularly on college campuses where the pair toured heavily. Loggins and Messina's vocal harmonies meshed so well that what was begun as a one-off album became an entity in itself. Audiences regarded the pair as a genuine duo rather than as a solo act with a well-known producer. Instead of continuing to produce Loggins as a solo 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. ButClive 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.[19]
Both members of the duo were guitarists: Loggins played acoustic and electric rhythm guitar and harmonica; and Messina played lead acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, and Dobro. Over the next four years, they produced five more albums of original material in the studio, plus one album ofcovers 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 byDaryl Hall & John Oates.[19] Their work also includedLynn Anderson's "Listen to a Country Song", which was released in 1972 and reached No. 4 on the USBillboardHot Country Singles chart, and "Danny's Song" and "A Love Song" forAnne Murray, which reached No. 7 and No. 12 on theBillboardHot 100 pop chart in 1973 and 1974 respectively. The latter two songs also hit No. 1 on the CanadianRPM Top Singles chart. Later studio albums often found Loggins and Messina more as two solo artists sharing the same record than as a genuine partnership. As they both noted in 2005, their collaboration eventually became more of a competition. Following their January 1976 release ofNative Sons and a final concert inHonolulu, Hawaii, on September 25, 1976, the pair amicably and quietly parted to pursue solo careers. A greatest-hits album,The Best of Friends, was released in November 1976. Two months later, a live album,Finale was released, more by record company decision than one intended by the artists, one year after the duo had come to an end.[citation needed]
In 1977, Loggins produced his first solo album,Celebrate Me Home, which included the successful song "I Believe in Love", originally sung byBarbra Streisand inA Star Is Born.Nightwatch, a popular album released in 1978, included the hit song "Whenever I Call You Friend", a duet withStevie Nicks ofFleetwood Mac, co-written withMelissa Manchester. Loggins followed that in 1979 withKeep the Fire and in 1982 withHigh Adventure. The latter contained his rock duet withJourney frontmanSteve Perry, "Don't Fight It", which rose to No. 17 on the USBillboardHot 100 chart. Loggins abandoned the harmonica in his solo career but continued to play guitar, just as he had done with Loggins & Messina.
Loggins also co-wrote the song "What a Fool Believes" withMichael McDonald. Each recorded his own version of it, with McDonald recording as a member ofthe Doobie Brothers. Loggins' version was released first, but the Doobie Brothers' version achieved greater success, reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100 and earning Loggins and McDonald the 1980Grammy forSong of the Year.[20]
In 1979, Loggins and McDonald wrote "This Is It", about summoning one's inner resources and seizing the moment. As Loggins toldAmerican Songwriter in 1987, "The best musical statements are usually the ones that aren't calculated and the ones that come out in the largest chunks. Michael McDonald and I must have written 'This Is It' four times. The first three times it was a love song, 'Baby I this, baby I that…,' and we both said, 'Eh! This is boring. This song is not working as a love song.' Then I had a fight with my dad when he was going into the hospital because he gave me the feeling that he was ready to check out. He'd given up, he wasn't thinking in terms of the future, and I was so pissed at him. It was real emotional. That afternoon, I was meeting with Michael to work on new tunes and I walked in and said, 'Man, I got it. It's 'This Is It.'"[21]
During the next decade, Loggins became known as the King of the Movie Soundtrack after recording multiple successful songs for films.[22][23] It began with "I'm Alright" fromCaddyshack. Hits followed with "Footloose" (his only solo No. 1) and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)" fromFootloose; "Meet Me Half Way" fromOver the Top; and "Danger Zone" and "Playing with the Boys" fromTop Gun. Loggins also performed"Nobody's Fool" for the filmCaddyshack II. He performed as a member ofUSA for Africa on the famine-relief fundraising single "We Are the World", which led to an appearance performing "Footloose" at the Philadelphia leg of the July 13, 1985,Live Aid famine-relief dual-venue charity concert and global television broadcast.[24]
During the 1990s, Loggins continued his album career, including the popular 1994 children's albumReturn to Pooh Corner, which included the title single, a reworking of "House at Pooh Corner", written for his newborn son Luke.
In 1991, Loggins recorded and producedLeap of Faith, which included the single "Conviction of the Heart". Vice PresidentAl Gore called this song "the unofficial anthem of theenvironmental movement". OnEarth Day 1995, Loggins performed atThe National Mall in Washington, D.C., before a live audience of 500,000.
In 1997, Loggins released the albumThe Unimaginable Life, based on a book he co-wrote with his then-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 andRandy Jackson with background vocals bySkyler Jett, Lamont VanHook, and Howard Smith.
In 1998, Loggins recorded a version of theSesame Street song "One Small Voice" for the ABC television specialElmopalooza, which was included as a track on the Grammy Award-winningsoundtrack album.
Loggins scored a No. 1 single on theBillboardadult contemporary chart in 1997 with "For the First Time" (hisOscar-nominated song fromOne Fine Day). In 2000, he performed the theme song for Disney'sThe Tigger Movie, "Your Heart Will Lead You Home", which he co-wrote withRichard and Robert Sherman.
In 1999, he appeared as himself on the television showDharma & Greg in the episode "Tye-Dying the Knot", performing at Abby and Larry's wedding.In 2004, Loggins appeared as himself in episode three, "Well Well Well," of Fox TV'sMethod & Red. In 2005, Loggins and Messina gave a nationwide tour that resulted in the CD and DVDLoggins and Messina Sittin' In Again. The tour's concerts were three hours long with an intermission and included an acoustic set in the middle. Complete with a set change that turned the stage into an old gas station setting, the show had a large IMAG video screen that showed old footage of the band, as well as tribute footage of recently deceased former L&M bandmate Jon Clarke. In 2007, Loggins joined the new recording company 180 Music for the release of his albumHow About Now. That year, he was also inducted into Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard RockWalk.[citation needed]
In 2009, he recorded a new children's album,All Join In, but it was not released due to complications with his record company. In 2009, Loggins and Messina toured the United States and Canada, reviving their "Sittin' In Again tour". In 2011, he performed a short tour in South East Asia, including Manila, Philippines, and Singapore. On June 3, 2011, he performed at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles, Illinois. He stopped by the Eddie and Jobo Show in Chicago to talk about his music, his personal life and what kind of show you can expect from him.[25]
The 2016 parody filmDonald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie features an original song by Loggins,The Art of the Deal, written specifically for the film. In July 2016 Loggins performed on ABC'sGreatest Hits.[26]
In January 2017, Loggins was featured with McDonald onThundercat's single "Show You the Way".[27] Loggins made a cameo appearance as himself in episode 1 of season 3 of the television showGrace and Frankie.In October 2018, he received the inauguralMusic Icon Award at theSan Diego International Film Festival.[28]
On September 22 and 24, 2022, Loggins and Messina reunited at theHollywood Bowl for a 50th anniversary weekend celebration of when they played the Bowl supporting their debut album, Sittin' In. The opening set featured songs like "Danny's Song" and "House at Pooh Corner". Loggins took the second act on his own, performing some of his best-known hits such as "I'm Alright", "Footloose", and "Danger Zone".[citation needed]
Loggins is a member of Blue Sky Riders, acountry music trio also featuringGary Burr andGeorgia Middleman.[10] They released their debut album,Finally Home, on January 29, 2013.[29] The band released a special pre-release edition of their second studio album,Why Not, in 2015 to Kickstarter backers.[30]
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Loggins appears in the 2013 video gameGrand Theft Auto V playing himself as the host of an in-game radio station calledLos Santos Rock Radio.[31] He also lends the songs "Danger Zone" and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)" and sings station jingles. His song "I'm Alright" appeared in the game's beta files, but was never added to the full release.
In 2014, Loggins appeared as himself in the episode "Baby Shower" of thefifth season of the animated comedy seriesArcher. His song "Danger Zone" had been a recurring joke in the show. At the end of the episode and during the credits, Loggins also performs acountry version of "Danger Zone" as a duet with the character ofCherlene.[32] Loggins stated in a later interview that his in-show nickname 'K-Log' is a complete creation of the show, stating, "It was always a joke. That's why it works, because it's so absurd."[33]
In 2018, Loggins lent his voice to a caricature of himself on the animated comedy seriesFamily Guy, in the episode titled "Veteran Guy". He also voiced himself in 2019 in "Yacht Rocky" fromseason 18 and in 2021 in the episode "80's Guy" fromseason 20.[34][35]
In 2022, theMall of America overlaid theirLog Chute attraction into the "Kenny Loggins Chute" forApril Fools Day, with the animatronicPaul Bunyan being redressed as Loggins.[36]
In October 2025, Loggins criticized United States PresidentDonald Trump for using his song "Danger Zone" in an AI-generated video posted toTruth Social, stating that the video was "an unauthorized use of my performance of 'Danger Zone'" and "something created with the sole purpose of dividing us". Loggins called for the immediate removal of his music from the video.[37]
Loggins was married to Eva Ein from 1978 to 1990; they had three children: Crosby, Cody and Isabella. In 2007, the oldest,Crosby Loggins, produced his first album,We All Go Home. In 2008, Crosby Loggins was voted the winner of theMTV reality showRock the Cradle. Cody was born in 1983 and Isabella in 1988.[38] As of 2009, Isabella was a music major in college.[39]
When Loggins experienced health problems in 1982, he was referred to Julia Cooper, a colon therapist. Their relationship was limited to a friendship, but near the end of the 1980s, Loggins separated from his wife at nearly the same time Cooper left her husband.[40] Loggins's divorce was made final in 1990 and he and Cooper married in July 1992.[41][42] In 1994, they became involved withEquinox International, amulti-level marketing organization and created a promotional video for the company, as didTed Danson andDave Parker.[43]
The couple had two children: Lukas, born in 1993, and Hana, born in 1997.[42] After several years of marriage, they assembled material from the journals each kept, which included poems, songs, and letters. They authored a 1997 book,The Unimaginable Life, about their relationship. Its purpose was to offer an alternative to typical relationships where spouses feel they cannot be completely honest.[40] Later on, they faced possible bankruptcy.[42]
The couple divorced in 2004. Loggins said in 2009, "I got pretty blindsided by Julia's decision to leave. She's a very impulsive woman and she found herself going through a midlife crisis and she didn't know what to make of it and it changed her life."[39]
Loggins has a home in the hills north ofSanta Barbara, California, and has lived there for several decades.[38] Loggins is a second cousin to singer-songwriterDave Loggins.[44][45]
Studio albums
| With Loggins and Messina
| With Blue Sky Riders
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | American Bandstand | Himself (Musical Performer) | "15.43" |
| 1982 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (Musical Guest) | "Robert Blake/Kenny Loggins" |
| 1990 | The Chipmunks: Rockin' Through the Decades | Himself | TV movie |
| 1998 | Elmopalooza | Himself (Performer) | Sesame Street 30th anniversary special |
| 1999 | Dharma & Greg | Himself | "Tie-Dying the Knot" |
| 2000 | VH-1 Where Are They Now? | Himself | "Viewers Choice" |
| 2005 | American Idol | Himself (Guest Judge) | "Auditions: Las Vegas" |
| 2006 | Celebrity Duets | Himself | "1.2" |
| 2009 | Caddyshack: The Inside Story | Himself | TV documentary |
| 2012 | Let's Make a Deal | Himself (Guest) | "3.98" |
| 2014 | Oprah: Where Are They Now? | Himself | "Ralph Macchio/Tia and Tamera Mowry/Kenny Loggins/Peter Scolari" |
| 2014 | Archer | Himself (voice) | "Archer Vice: Baby Shower" |
| 2014 | Raising Hope | Himself | "The Father/Daughter Dance" |
| 2015 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Montage Singer (voice) | Episode: "Where Dragons Dare" |
| 2015 | Playing House | Himself | Episode: "Celebrate Me Scones" |
| 2015 | Documentary Now! | Himself | "Gentle and Soft: The Story of the Blue Jean Committee" |
| 2016 | Home & Family | Himself (Musical Guest) | "Kenny Loggins/Jameela Jamil/Rich Roll" |
| 2017 | Grace and Frankie | Himself | "The Art Show" |
| 2018 | The Big Interview with Dan Rather | Himself | "Kenny Loggins" |
| 2018–2021 | Family Guy | Himself (voice) | 3 episodes — "Veteran Guy" (2018) — "Yacht Rocky" (2019) — "80's Guy" (2021) |
| 2020 | Jay Leno's Garage | Himself | "In Pursuit of Perfection" |
| 2020 | Behind Closed Doors | Himself | "Top Gun" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | Grand Theft Auto V | Himself (Captain Loggins; voice) | Los Santos Rock Radio DJ |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link).Rip It Up.singer Kenny Loggins in 1948 (age 71)
This is family. 'La Familia,' as my Italian mama used to say.
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