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Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins in San Diego, September 14, 2008
Background information
Birth name	Kenneth Clark Loggins
Born	January 7, 1948 (1948-01-07) (age 62) Everett, Washington, U.S.
Origin	Alhambra, California, U.S.
Genres	Rock, pop, pop rock, yacht rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Years active	1966-present
Labels	Columbia Records
Associated acts	Loggins and Messina
Website	Official website

Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter best known for a number of soft rock and adult contemporary hit singles beginning in the 1970s. Originally a part of the duo Loggins and Messina, he has also recorded as a solo artist and written hit songs for other artists.

Early life

Loggins was born in Everett, Washington and raised in Alhambra, California, where he formed a band called The Second Helping. This band released three singles in 1968 and 1969 on Viva. Greg Shaw described the efforts as "excellent punky folk-pop records" that were written by Loggins who was likely to be the bandleader and singer as well; Shaw included "Let Me In" on both Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2 and the Pebbles, Volume 9 CD.¹

His early 20s found him in the band Gator Creek with Mike Deasy. An early version of "Danny's Song" (later recorded by Loggins and Messina) was included on an effort on Mercury Records.

Loggins and Messina

Loggins continued his career in the 1970s. After attracting the attention of fellow singer-songwriter Jim Messina, the two began a duo career as Loggins and Messina, which lasted until 1976. In 1977, Loggins went on to produce his first solo album, Celebrate Me Home, which included the hit "I Believe In Love," originally sung by Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born. Nightwatch, a popular album released in 1978, included the hit "Whenever I Call You Friend", a duet with Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. He followed this in 1979 with Keep the Fire.

Loggins also wrote the song "What a Fool Believes" with Michael McDonald. Each man recorded his own version of the song, with McDonald's recording his version as a member of The Doobie Brothers. Loggins's version was released first, but The Doobie Brothers' version became better known, as it went to #1 on the pop charts. In 1980, Loggins and McDonald received a Grammy for Song of the Year for "What a Fool Believes".

In 1979, Loggins and McDonald wrote "This Is It" for Loggins's ailing father, who had to choose between life and death. The song earned Loggins a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal. NBC Sports used the song to end its 1980 Coverage of The NCAA Tournament.

Solo career

	This Is It "This Is It", written and sung together with Michael McDonald.
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Over the next decade, Loggins recorded many hit songs for movie soundtracks. This began with "I'm Alright" (peaked at #7 in the U.S.), "Mr. Night" and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack. Hits followed with "Footloose" and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)" from Footloose, "Meet Me Halfway" from Over the Top, "Danger Zone" and "Playing With the Boys" from Top Gun. Loggins also performed "Nobody's Fool" from the unsuccessful movie Caddyshack II. He also performed as a member of USA for Africa on the famine-relief fundraising single "We Are the World."

In the 1990s, Loggins continued his album career, including the popular 1994 children's album Return to Pooh Corner, which included the title single, a reworking of "House at Pooh Corner" written for his newborn son Luke.

In 1991, Loggins recorded and produced Leap of Faith, which included the single "Conviction of the Heart." Former vice president Al Gore billed this song as "the unofficial anthem of the environmental movement." On Earth Day in 1995, Loggins performed at The National Mall in Washington, D.C. for a live audience of 500,000.

In 1997, Loggins released the album "The Unimaginable Life" based on his book which was co-written by Loggins's wife Julia. Tracks include "Now That I Know Love," "The Art of Letting Go," and "One Chance at a Time." The album was produced by Loggins and Randy Jackson, and with background vocals by Skyler Jett, Lamont VanHook and Howard Smith.

In 1998, Loggins later recorded a version of the popular Sesame Street song "One Small Voice" for the ABC television special, Elmopalooza.

Recent years

In recent years Loggins has continued to record and produce within the Adult Contemporary genre and scored a No. 1 single on the Billboard AC chart in 1997 with "For The First Time" (the Oscar-nominated song from One Fine Day). His last movie song to date was The Tigger Movie song "Your Heart Will Lead You Home", which he co-wrote with Richard and Robert Sherman.

Kenny Loggins performing at Interlochen Fine Arts Camp on August 5, 2009

In 2005, Loggins reconnected with Messina. The two decided to hit the road again; the result was a successful nationwide tour that resulted in the CD and DVD Loggins and Messina Sittin' In Again.

After a gap of nearly four years, 2007 saw Loggins joined start-up label 180 Music for the release of his How About Now album. It also saw him inducted into Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard RockWalk.²

On July 31, 2008, Loggins appeared on the TV program Don't Forget the Lyrics! and performed "I'm Alright" and "Footloose".

In 2009 Loggins issued a new children's album entitledAll Join In but it was delayed due to his summer tour with Jim Messina. A single off that album, with covers of Donovan's "There is a Mountain" and The Beatles' "Two of Us", was released by Walt Disney Records which also issued the album.

Personal life

Loggins was first married to Eva Ein from 1978-1990; they had three children together. The oldest, Crosby Loggins, cut his first CD in 2007 entitled We All Go Home. In 2008, Crosby Loggins was voted the winner of the MTV reality show Rock the Cradle.

Loggins married for a second time to Julia Cooper in 1992. The couple had two children, but divorced in 2004. During their marriage, they wrote a book called The Unimaginable Life about their relationship.

Loggins has a cousin, singer-songwriter Dave Loggins.

Discography

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kenny Loggins

• Official website