About Me
John and his brother, Tom Fogerty, 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.By 1968, things were starting to pick up. The band released its first album, the self-titled Creedence Clearwater Revival, and also had their first hit single, Susie Q. Other hit singles of Creedence Clearwater Revival were Proud Mary, Fortunate Son, Up Around The Bend, Green River, Down On The Corner, Travelin' Band, Lookin' Out My Back Door, Bad Moon Rising, and Who'll Stop The Rain.Tensions flared in 1971, causing John's brother, Tom, to leave the band. John demanded that Stu Cook and Doug Clifford write and sing one third each of the next album, Mardi Gras. They protested, saying it wouldn't be a CCR album, and that the fans would not understand. John replied, "my voice is a unique instrument and I will not lend it to your songs." He threatened to quit the band immediately if his ultimatum was not met; Mardi Gras turned out to be their last album as Fogerty bought himself out of his contract and officially left the band.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.[edit]
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 e.g. some Gospel-Songs like Have Thine Own Way,Lord and Working On A Building. John Fogerty was released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). Sales were slim and legal problems delayed a follow-up, though it yielded two minor hit singles, Rockin' All Over The World, later covered much more successfully by Status Quo, and Almost Saturday Night, later a minor UK hit for Dave Edmunds. Creedence Clearwater Revival's former management 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, 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 Can't Dance and Mr Greed, were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. When Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, Fogerty issued a revised version of Zanz Can't Dance (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 whole, 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.The follow-up 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.
John Fogerty on Premonition coverHe had a very successful tour in 1998 in the United States and Europe. He released a live album from that tour titled Premonition.In 2004 John Fogerty released Deja Vu (All Over Again). 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.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. 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. A new studio album is planned for 2006 release. On June 13th 2006 will be released a live dvd named The Long Road Home - In Concert including live versions of his biggest solo hits and hits of Creedence Clearwater Revival.This summer Fogerty will be touring with Willie Nelson.
