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REO Speedwagon is a  (Material consisting of the aggregate of minerals like those making up the Earth's crust) rock band which grew in popularity in the Midwestern  (North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776) United States during the  (The decade from 1970 to 1979) 1970s. The band reached international stardom in the early  (The decade from 1980 to 1989) 1980s, and continues to record and perform. The band had number one hits with Keep On Loving You and Can’t Fight This Feeling. Both songs are  (Click link for more info and facts about power ballad) power ballads, the former being prototypical of the genre and appearing on the group’s most commercially successful album, Hi Infidelity. Earlier REO songs Ridin’ The Storm Out, Golden Country, Roll With The Changes, and Time For Me To Fly enjoy continuous rotation on  (Click link for more info and facts about classic rock) classic rock radio stations.

REO Speedwagon took its name from the  (Click link for more info and facts about Reo Speed-Wagon) Reo Speed-Wagon, a  (An automotive vehicle suitable for hauling) truck manufactured by the  (Click link for more info and facts about REO) REO automobile company. ("REO" are initials the company’s founder,  (Click link for more info and facts about Ransom Eli Olds) Ransom Eli Olds, who also lent his name to the Oldsmobile division of  (Click link for more info and facts about General Motors) General Motors.) The name was suggested to fellow bandmates by keyboard player Neal Doughty, who was enrolled as an engineering student at the  (Click link for more info and facts about University of Illinois) University of Illinois in  (Click link for more info and facts about Champaign, Illinois) Champaign, Illinois, and who learned about the truck in a history of transportation class.

REO Speedwagon was formed in the fall of 1967 by Doughty and dormmate drummer, Alan Gratzer to play  (Click link for more info and facts about cover tunes) cover tunes in campus bars. Numerous early personnel changes eventually resulted in Gary Richrath joining the band. Richrath was a  (Click link for more info and facts about Peoria, Illinois) Peoria, Illinois-based guitar player and prolific songwriter who brought original material to the band. With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. The midwestern United States remains an REO fan stronghold and has its roots in this period of the band's history.

Paul Leka, an east coast-based record producer, brought the band to a recording studio where they recorded original material for their first album. The line-up on the first album was Doughty on keyboards, Gratzer on drums, Richrath on guitar, Gregg Philbin on bass, and singer Terry Luttrell.

The band's debut album was self-titled and released on  (Click link for more info and facts about Epic Records) Epic Records in 1971. One of the most popular tracks on this record was 157 Riverside Avenue. The title refers to the  (Click link for more info and facts about Westport, Connecticut) Westport, Connecticut address where the band stayed while in the studio, and remains an in-concert favorite with fans to this day.

Although the rest of the band's line-up remained stable, REO switched lead vocalists three times for their first three albums. Luttrell left the band shortly after recording its debut album, and was replaced with singer/songwriter/guitarist Kevin Cronin. Cronin recorded one album with the band, 1972’s REO/TWO, but was fired shortly thereafter over missed rehearsals and creative disagreements. Ridin’ The Storm Out was the band’s third release with as many singers; this time Mike Murphy.

Murphy stayed on for two more albums before Cronin returned to the fold in 1976.

REO Speedwagon’s first live album, You Get What You Play For, proved to be the first real commercial success and was certified platinum. The band was always dissatisfied with the producers on their studio albums because they continually failed to capture on tape the same quality as the band’s energetic and ever-popular live show. The live album, which was self-produced, changed that. Indeed, all subsequent albums would have band members participating as producers.

Philbin was replaced with Bruce Hall in 1978 in time to record You Can Tune A Piano But You Can’t Tuna Fish. The album contained the first of many of the band’s Top-40 hits, Roll With The Changes.

The lineup was now set for the band’s most popular period. In 1980, REO Speedwagon released Hi Infidelity, which represented a change in the music from hard rock to more pop-oriented material. Hi Infidelity spawned several hit singles, and remained atop the charts for 65 weeks, 32 of which were spent in the top ten.

Good Trouble (1982) and Wheels Are Turnin (1984) were follow-up albums which also did well commercially. In addition, the band performed at 1985's Live AID.

However, by the end of the 1980s, the band’s popularity waned and the group began to disintegrate. By 1988, the future was uncertain as Gratzer retired and Richrath was asked to leave. A 1990 release with Bryan Hitt on drums and Dave Amato on guitar was a commercial disappointment. These line-up changes were a stinging blow to many fans, especially those of the band’s harder-edged material from the 1970s, which was dominated by Richrath’s unique style on the guitar.

Shortly after Richrath's departure, he assembled former members of the midwestern band, Vancouver, to form a namesake band, 'Richrath'. After touring for several years, the Richrath band released "Only the Strong Survive" in 1992 on the Crescendo label. Richrath continued to perform for several years before disbanding in the late 1990's.

In the meantime, REO Speedwagon lost their recording contract with Epic, releasing "Building the Bridge" (1996) on the Priority/Rhythm Safari label. When that label went bankrupt, the album was released on ill-fated Castle Records, which also experienced financial troubles. REO ultimately self-financed this disappointing effort, which failed to chart.

The commercial failure of the band's newer material with its revised line-up demanded a change in marketing strategy. As a consequence, the band began re-releasing recordings from older albums with updated artwork and design.

From 1995 to the present, the band unleashed over a dozen compilation albums featuring their greatest hits, including 1999's "Ballads." The following year, the band re-recorded many of the same songs from 1977's "Live: You Get What You Play For," and distributed this live concert under four separate titles including 2000's "Arch Allies."

REO Speedwagon continues to play its older hits with a new line-up, performing at county and state fairs, casinos, clubs and cruises, and occasionally touring with other venerable classic rock bands such as  (A person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country) Foreigner,  ((Greek mythology) a river in Hades across which Charon carried dead souls) Styx,  (The act of traveling from one place to another) Journey, and  (Click link for more info and facts about Fleetwood Mac) Fleetwood Mac.