Lou Gramm (born Louis A. Grammatico on May 2, 1950 in Rochester, New York) is an American rock vocalist and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist for the rock band Foreigner for over 27 years and also had a successful solo career. Lou is now recording and touring with the Lou Gramm Band.
Gramm began his musical career in his mid-teens, playing in local Rochester bands, including St. James Infirmary (later The Infirmary), and PHFFT. He later sang harmony vocals in another local band, Poor Heart; then went on to sing and play drums, and to eventually become front man for the band Black Sheep. Black Sheep had the distinction of being the first American band signed to the Chrysalis label, which released their first single, "Stick Around" (1973). Soon after this success, Black Sheep signed with Capitol Records, releasing two albums in succession [S/T (1974) and Encouraging Words (1975).
With his powerful vocals, Lou Grammatico became Lou Gramm as frontman for the band initially known as "Trigger," and later renamed Foreigner and became one of the most successful rock vocalists of the late 1970s and 1980s.
Gramm was the lead vocalist on many of Foreigner's hit songs, including "Feels Like The First Time", "Cold As Ice", "Hot Blooded", "Urgent", "Double Vision", "Juke Box Hero", "Head Games", "Dirty White Boy" and "Say You Will". The band achieved two of its biggest hits with the ballads "Waiting for a Girl Like You", which spent ten weeks at 2 on the 1981 American singles charts, and "I Want to Know What Love Is", which was a 1 hit internationally in 1984.
In 1987 Gramm released his first solo album, Ready or Not, which received critical acclaim and contained a top five hit single with "Midnight Blue". This was followed by a late 1987 Foreigner album Inside Information and, eventually, a second solo effort, Long Hard Look, that included the top ten hit, "Just Between You and Me", and "True Blue Love", which reached the Top 40. Gramm also performed the title song from the 1987 movie The Lost Boys, titled "Lost in the Shadows."
Shadow King was another of Lou’s side projects which released its self-titled album on the Atlantic label in 1991. It remains a cult classic among hard rock and heavy metal fans worldwide. With its evocative hooks and melodies, outstanding keyboards and guitars, and the ever-powerful vocals of Lou Gramm, it is truly one of the best hard rock releases of the 90s.
Gramm returned to Foreigner in 1992 to record three new songs for the compilation, The Very Best of ... and Beyond, bringing a new energy back into the mix. In 1994, the group released the album Mr. Moonlight on the Rhythm Safari label.
In April 1997, two months after providing vocals for Christian rock band Petra's Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus, and on the eve the band was to leave for a Japan tour, Gramm was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Surgery was successful and Lou continued to tour with Foreigner until late 2002.
In 2003, Gramm once again split from Foreigner to rejuvenate his solo career. Following the death of both his father and mother, Bennie and Nikki Grammatico (he a trumpeter and bandleader, she a singer for his Big Band), Gramm fulfilled a lifelong wish of his parents that their three musical sons might someday make their music together. Gramm and his brothers, Ben and Richard, formed the current lineup of the Lou Gramm Band (also known as "LGB").
The band has been touring the U.S., Canada, and Mexico steadily since January 2004, as well as occasional dates off the continent...and the touring continues.
Lou, Ben, and Richard, with friends Don Mancuso and Andy Knoll, play a retrospective of Gramm's work with Foreigner, his solo material, plus a few personal favorites of their own. The new LGB Christian Rock album was recenty released domestically on the Spectra label and internationally by Frontiers Records.
Lou & Vivian Campbell, London 1991
THE LOU GRAMM BAND Featured In Issue 32 of Melodic Rock Fanzine
“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together.. ..there is something you must always remember...you are braver than you believe,..stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think...but the most important thing is, even if we're apart....I'll always be with you.”..
.. ~ Winnie the Pooh quotes....
Thanks for your friendship! :))) ~ C
Hi dear Lou, it's time to wish you a very nice week. i hope you had a great weekend so far and you are well. You should know you are always in my thoughts and deep in my heart. Love, peace and big Hugs to you Franziska
Good Morning Lou! and the handsome Lou Gramm Band!!! Did I tell you how much I adore your new CD. I listen everyday, in the car, on my way to work, to and fro. Wonderfully presented with lyrical lines that send chills up my spine. Must be the Holly Ghost Lou!!! BIG weekend coming up. Anne's birthday the 13th. Jacob's 2nd Birthday on the 14th. We took Jacob to Toys r Us last Saturday and enjoyed a fun filled toy shopping event with him. I had a blast!!! Have all his presents wrapped in an assortment of pretty BD papers and ribbons, ready to go. The dinnette table is covered I am pleased to say. Jake says 3 to 4 word sentences now and counts to 15. He identifies his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, abdomen, knee, foot, toes, etc., etc., knows his colors and shapes. He calls Sparkle dog "Markle" LOL . Anywho, His BD bash is on Sunday. A few of the adults have to work Saturday. and.... it's Rib Fest this weekend, 13,14,15. Check it out. http://www.ribfest.org After many years in the making, finally, the brand new All Children's Hospital is finished. Post the Time Capsule ceremony there were cloud angels in the sky. Check out the photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/allchildrenshospital/. Awesome. ACH ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for Saturday NOV 21st. Blue Oyster playing SAT. George Thorogood playing SAT. Check out the rest of the line up => www.ribfest.org Come on down and join us? Classic Car Show is incorporated in the fun filled days. Come on down. Not to worry, we are blowing IDA away! No hurrycaines allowed. As always, I Love You Lou!
hi nice to meet you too? and thanks for being my friend, you can never have too many friends! do you have a video or something that you can blog me? I love to hear some of your muisc.
Olá !!! Muito obrigado por fazer parte dos meus amigos aqui em meu espaço e muito boa sorte pra você!!! Fique a vontade pra ouvir todas as canções do meu terceiro CD: Ebulição de Idéias, ver os vídeos de shows e tudo que quiser, ta bom?! O CD tem a participação do Zé Geraldo na música (S.O.S) e tem também uma canção em homenagem ao Maluco Beleza, Raul Seixas (Um Canto Para Raul), Além da música "Essência Oculta" que foi trilha Sonora de um filme(TV Cultura) do Grande Cineasta Hermano Penna. Grande abraço do César Di.
hello Lou: thank you for all your music.... I'm living in Lima Los Olivos Peru, very far not?.. that not's important to listen ever and forever your song.. kisses anf huges to you.
Thank you for being my friend.Hope you keeping well.I really like all your miusic and I wish you all the success in your future.Martin Bland UK Legends
Hi dear Lou, hope you have a great sunday. Weekend is always great. The week is so long. We must work.....At the moment i'm ripe for the island...LOL...i hope it's the right words...LOL...i will think of you always i'm looking forward every day to see you soon. Big Hugs Franziska
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