Lou Gramm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lou Gramm
Gramm performing in 1979
Background information
Birth name	Louis Andrew Grammatico
Born	(1950-05-02) May 2, 1950 (age 75) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Genres	Rock hard rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1974–present

Lou Gramm (born Louis Andrew Grammatico on May 2, 1950) is a famous American singer and songwriter. He is best known as the original lead singer of the rock band Foreigner. He helped start the band and sang on many of their biggest hits.

Gramm's powerful voice made him one of the most recognized rock singers of his time. He wrote most of Foreigner's songs with his bandmate Mick Jones. For their amazing work, they were added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2024, Gramm and the other members of Foreigner were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Early Life and First Bands

Lou Gramm was born in Rochester, New York. His mother was a singer, and his father was a band leader and trumpet player, so music was always a big part of his life. After high school, he went to Monroe Community College.

In the early 1970s, Gramm was the lead singer for a band called Black Sheep. They were the first American band to sign with the Chrysalis record label. The band released two albums and even opened for the famous band Kiss.

One day, Gramm gave a copy of his band's album to Mick Jones, who was in a band called Spooky Tooth. Later, Jones was looking for a singer for a new band he was forming. He remembered Gramm's voice and invited him to audition in New York.

The Rise of Foreigner

Gramm got the job and became the lead singer of the new band. They first called themselves "Trigger" but soon changed their name to Foreigner. With Gramm as the frontman, Foreigner became a huge success in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Lou Gramm performing with Foreigner on November 25, 1979

The band's first eight singles all made it into the Billboard Top 20 chart. This was a huge achievement that hadn't been done since The Beatles. Gramm's voice is on all of Foreigner's classic hits, including "Urgent" and "Juke Box Hero".

He also co-wrote some of the band's most famous songs. These include the power ballad "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and the worldwide number-one hit "I Want to Know What Love Is".

Over time, Gramm and Jones started to have different ideas about the band's music. Gramm wanted to stick to rock and roll, while Jones wanted to use more synthesizers, which were popular in the 1980s. This led to some disagreements between them.

Solo Career and Reunions

In 1987, Gramm released his first solo album, Ready or Not. It was a big hit, and the single "Midnight Blue" became very popular. He also recorded a song for the movie The Lost Boys. He released a second solo album, Long Hard Look, in 1989.

Gramm left Foreigner in 1990 to focus on his own music. He formed a new band called Shadow King. However, he rejoined Foreigner in 1992. The band released a new album, Mr. Moonlight, in 1994.

In 2003, Gramm left Foreigner for the final time. He continued to make music, releasing a Christian rock album in 2009 with the Lou Gramm Band.

Health and Later Years

In 1997, Gramm was diagnosed with a type of benign (non-cancerous) brain tumor. He had surgery to remove it, which was successful. The recovery was long, but he was back on tour with Foreigner by 1998.

In 2018, Gramm announced he was retiring from touring. However, he still performs at special events and continues to write and record new music. In 2019, he toured with the band Asia Featuring John Payne.

Gramm in 2009

Gramm has said he is working on releasing new solo songs. He also plans to release a collection of his greatest hits from his solo career. In 2024, a previously unreleased Foreigner song called "Turning Back the Time," with Gramm on vocals, was released to celebrate the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

Legacy

Lou Gramm is often called one of the greatest rock singers ever. His powerful and clear voice has been praised by fans and other musicians. Ian Anderson of the band Jethro Tull once said that Gramm was "head and shoulders above all rock singers."

Today, Gramm is still active in music. He tours with his band, the Lou Gramm All Stars, and enjoys spending time with his five children.

Discography

Solo albums

Solo singles

With Black Sheep

• 1974: Stick Around / Cruisin' (For Your Love) – 45 single
• 1975: Broken Promises – 45 single
• 1975: Black Sheep
• 1975: Encouraging Words

With Foreigner

With Shadow King

• 1991: Shadow King

Lou Gramm All Stars members

• Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion (2003–present)
• Ben Gramm – drums (2003–2016, 2018, 2023–present)
• Michael Staertow – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012–2018, 2024–present)
• Scott Gilman – saxophone, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2016–2018, 2023–present)
• Jeff Jacobs – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2018, 2023–present)
• Tony Franklin – bass (2023–present)
• Carol-Lyn Liddle – backing vocals (2023–present)

Timeline

See also

In Spanish: Lou Gramm para niños