Terry Luttrell (born 1947
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the List of municipalities in Illinois, tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in ...
) is an American
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
singer, best known as lead vocalist for both
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Speedwagon), or simply REO, was an American Rock music, rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial suc ...
(1968–1972) and
Starcastle
Starcastle was an American progressive rock band from Champaign, Illinois, United States. Formed in 1969, the group played many shows under the names Pegasus and Mad John Fever before eventually settling on Starcastle. They signed their first r ...
(1973–1979).
Bands
Luttrell had played guitar with a local Champaign band, Terry Cook and the Majestics, in the early to mid-1960s.
In 1968, Terry joined REO Speedwagon, replacing Mike Blair on vocals, at the University of Illinois. He sang on the band's
debut album, which was released in October 1971 on
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), cong ...
. Personal differences between Luttrell and REO Speedwagon's lead guitarist,
Gary Richrath
Gary Dean Richrath (October 18, 1949 – September 13, 2015) was an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and a songwriter for the band REO Speedwagon from 1970 until 1989.
Early life
Richrath was born in Peoria, Illinois, on Octob ...
, led to Luttrell leaving the band in 1972. He was replaced by
Kevin Cronin
Kevin Patrick Cronin Jr. (born October 6, 1951) is an American musician who was the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band REO Speedwagon. The band had several hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 throughout the 1970s and 1980s, in ...
before the recording of the second album, ''
R.E.O./T.W.O.'' Although not given credit, Luttrell claims he co-wrote the song ''Golden Country'' with
Gary Richrath
Gary Dean Richrath (October 18, 1949 – September 13, 2015) was an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and a songwriter for the band REO Speedwagon from 1970 until 1989.
Early life
Richrath was born in Peoria, Illinois, on Octob ...
.
Luttrell would go on to sing for the progressive band
Starcastle
Starcastle was an American progressive rock band from Champaign, Illinois, United States. Formed in 1969, the group played many shows under the names Pegasus and Mad John Fever before eventually settling on Starcastle. They signed their first r ...
on the albums ''Starcastle'', ''Fountains of Light'', ''Citadel'', and ''Reel to Real'', before the band folded in the late 1970s. He became a
born-again Christian
To be born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelical Christianity, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is d ...
. Luttrell has participated peripherally in some Starcastle reunion projects, and can be heard on a few tracks from their 2007 album ''
Song of Times''. He helped produce some songs on an album for the country band South Of Georgia. He worked on some personal projects for himself and his daughter, Kristin. Kristin and her husband Dylan are the country music duo
Dry Creek Station.
After a period of inactivity during which he became a
FedEx
FedEx Corporation, originally known as Federal Express Corporation, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate holding company specializing in Package delivery, transportation, e-commerce, and ...
driver, Luttrell returned to music as the lead vocalist for
Champaign
Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in the state outside the Chicago metr ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
-based band "Tons O' Fun."
Discography
REO Speedwagon
*''
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Speedwagon), or simply REO, was an American Rock music, rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial suc ...
'' (1971)
Starcastle
*''
Starcastle
Starcastle was an American progressive rock band from Champaign, Illinois, United States. Formed in 1969, the group played many shows under the names Pegasus and Mad John Fever before eventually settling on Starcastle. They signed their first r ...
'' (1976)
*''
Fountains of Light'' (1977)
*''
Citadel
A citadel is the most fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of ''city'', meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
...
'' (1978)
*''
Real to Reel'' (1979)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luttrell, Terry
1947 births
Living people
Musicians from Champaign, Illinois
American rock singers
REO Speedwagon members