1. Lou Gramm is best known as co-founder and lead vocalist of the rock band Foreigner from 1976 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 2003, during which time the band had numerous successful albums and singles.
35 Facts About Lou Gramm
1. 2.
Lou Gramm is considered among the greatest and most successful rock vocalists of his generation.
3.
Lou Gramm co-wrote most of Foreigner's hits with bandmate Mick Jones.
4.
In 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foreigner.
5.
Lou Gramm attended Gates-Chili High School in Rochester, graduating with the class of 1968, and majored in education and art at Monroe Community College.
6.
Jones was in Rochester New York performing with the band Spooky Tooth, and Lou Gramm had given Jones a copy of Black Sheep's first album.
7.
Lou Gramm traveled to New York to audition and got the job.
8.
Lou Gramm wanted the band to remain true to its purer rock origins, favoring music with a solid drum and guitar structure, whereas Jones embraced the 1980s style of synthesizer ballads.
9.
Lou Gramm has called the 4 album the high point of his work with Foreigner.
10.
Lou Gramm released his first solo album, Ready or Not, in January 1987 to critical acclaim.
11.
Also in 1987, Lou Gramm contributed the song "Lost in the Shadows" to the soundtrack for the comedy horror film The Lost Boys.
12.
Lou Gramm announced his departure from Foreigner in May 1990 due to differences with Jones, and to focus on his solo career.
13.
Lou Gramm formed Shadow King with close friend and former Black Sheep bassist Bruce Turgon; their 1991 self-titled album was released by Atlantic Records.
14.
Also in 1991, Lou Gramm contributed the song "One Dream" to the movie Highlander II: The Quickening.
15.
Lou Gramm rejoined Foreigner in May 1992 after working out his differences with Jones during the Los Angeles riots.
16.
In 1996, Jones invited Lou Gramm to perform backing vocals on a cover version of "I Want to Know What Love Is" he was producing for the Australian singer Tina Arena.
17.
In 1997, Lou Gramm provided vocals for Christian rock band Petra's album entitled Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus.
18.
Lou Gramm continued to work with Jones throughout his illness.
19.
The Lou Gramm Band released a Christian rock album in 2009.
20.
In May 2013, Lou Gramm released his autobiography Juke Box Hero - My Five Decades in Rock 'n' Roll.
21.
Lou Gramm was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 13,2013.
22.
On July 20,2017, Lou Gramm joined Foreigner for three songs during an encore at Jones Beach Theatre in Long Island, New York.
23.
On December 29,2018, Lou Gramm announced on stage in Schenectady, New York that he was retiring from touring.
24.
In 2019, Lou Gramm toured on a bill with Asia Featuring John Payne, where they acted as his backup group.
25.
Lou Gramm performed lead vocals on the track "Sometimes" on the 2019 album The Secret by Alan Parsons.
26.
Lou Gramm said he is "thinking about" releasing a greatest-hits package of his non-Foreigner works.
27.
In 2024, Lou Gramm was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foreigner alongside Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, and Rick Wills.
28.
Lou Gramm is considered one of the greatest and most successful rock vocalists of all-time.
29.
Circus magazine in 1978 upon the release of Hot Blooded commented that Lou Gramm had a voice that Robert Plant might envy.
30.
Variety noted that Lou Gramm is one of rock and roll's premier vocalists.
31.
Lou Gramm had decorative elements in his delivery that weren't overdone.
32.
In 1992, Lou Gramm, after having completed a stint in drug rehabilitation, became a born again Christian.
33.
Lou Gramm has new music in the works to be released soon.
34.
Lou Gramm enjoys spending time with his five children during his downtime.
35.
Lou Gramm is touring under "Lou Gramm, The Original Voice of Foreigner" with John Payne's Asia as his backing band playing solo and classic Foreigner hits.