T O D D R U N D G R E N
LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER-MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST-PRODUCER
INTERVIEWED ON
THE RAY SHASHO SHOW-BBS RADIO
Todd Rundgren was inspired by
virtuoso trendsetters Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Michael Bloomfield and Harvey
Mandel. The Philadelphia native directed his creativities into launching the
bands ‘Money’ and ‘Woody’s Truck Stop’ achieving
regional success. Rundgren then organized the nationally recognized Nazz in
1967. Initially formed as a psychedelic-blues rock band it discovered an array
of eclectic musical styles. Todd Rundgren’s huge hit single “Hello
It’s Me” was originally recorded with the Nazz in
1968. The Nazz became
successful with the psychedelic tune “Open My Eyes” while opening shows for Jim
Morrison and The Doors. After Nazz broke up Rundgren
recorded several solo albums under the name Runt and Todd
scored commercially with his first big solo hit “We Gotta Get You a Woman” in
1971.
The genius of Rundgren
became even clearer with the release of his certified gold double album
masterpiece Something/Anything? The album spawned the huge Top 40
singles “I Saw The Light” (#16 Billboard) and Nazz original
composition “Hello It’s Me” (#5 Billboard).
Utopia
was formed in 1973 but the band’s foundation was established in 1974. Rundgren
magnified his musical inventiveness by fusing progressive, pop, psychedelic and
hard rock into euphonious orchestrations.
Utopia’s signature anthem “Just
One Victory” from the 1973 release A Wizard, A True Star is usually
played at the end of every concert. Rundgren’s penned “Love Is
The Answer” from Utopia’s Oops! Wrong Planet album in 1977 became a
huge hit for England Dan & John Ford Coley in 1979 reaching number #10 on
the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Todd Rundgren maintained a
highly successful solo career while recording and performing with
Utopia. In 1978 Todd Rundgren released the
sentimental “Can We Still Be Friends” becoming #29 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Throughout the 70’s and
80’s Todd Rundgren established himself as an industrious
musical genius in the recording studio producing and engineering for legendary
artists including classic albums Straight Up by Badfinger, Stage
Fright by The Band, The New York Dolls, We’re An American
Band and Shinin’ On by Grand Funk Railroad, Bat Out Of Hell
by Meatloaf and Skylarking by XTC Rundgren also
contributed his extraordinary skills as a first rate musician and composer to a
legion of legendary artists. In 1983 Todd
Rundgren wrote “Bang The Drum All Day” All the instruments on the song
were performed by Rundgren.
The tune is widely heard at professional sporting events around the country and
used on TV commercials and movie trailers.
Todd Rundgren continues to perform with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band. Rundgren recently released his critically acclaimed album “White Knight” on May 12th via Cleopatra Records. The 15-track collection features a dynamic range of original songs and deft studio work by Rundgren, with an impressive array of what he terms “collaborators”, including Dam Funk, Donald Fagen, Daryl Hall, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails, Joe Satriani, and Joe Walsh to name just a few. The album is available to purchase now at amazon.com.
Find out about all of Todd Rundgren’s tour dates at
Visit Todd
Rundgren on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/toddrundgren
T O D D R U N D G R E N
INTERVIEWED ON
THE RAY SHASHO SHOW-BBS RADIO
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