Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival
(sometimes shortened to Creedence or CCR)
Was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early
1970swith a number of successful singles drawn from various albums.

Formed:

1967 (San Francisco, CA)

Genres:

Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, Swamp-rock, Country, Psychedelic rock, Soul

Members:

John Fogerty (b. May 28, 1945, Berkeley, CA): vocals, guitar
Tom Fogerty (b. November 9, 1941, Berkeley, CA; d. September 6, 1990, Scottsdale, AZ): rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Stu Cook (b. April 25, 1945, Oakland, CA): bass guitar
Doug Clifford (b. April 24, 1945, Palo Alto, CA): drums

Contributions to music:

• The most commercially successful American rock band of their time, and arguably the best American rock band of all time
• Practically invented the genre known as "swamp-rock"
• Brought a psychedelic generation back to roots rock and roll
• John Fogerty is considered one of rock's all-time greatest songwriters
• Adept at merging Americana with extended, often psychedelic workouts, making them in effect one of the world's first "jam bands"

Early years:

Although they'd end up in CCR together, in the late '50s, both Fogerty brothers headed up different bands in and around El Cerrito, CA. By 1961, Tom had joined John's outfit, The Blue Velvets, as lead singer, and by 1964, they'd signed with local Fantasy Records as the Golliwogs. Although they attracted some notice, three years went by without a true hit, until Saul Zaentz bought out Fantasy, renamed the band, and gave them a new image more in line with the burgeoning San Francisco underground.

Success:

Immediately, local freeform FM station KMPX began playing their extended jam on Dale Hawkins' classic "Suzie Q." It eventually broke nationally, but it was the followup, "Proud Mary," an instant classic, that established the sound of Creedence, who now featured a more confident John on lead vocals. Six albums and endless hit singles followed over just the next two-and-a-half years, but John's insistance on controlling the band led Tom to leave in 1971. The group broke up just one year later.

Later years:

John's complete dominance of CCR as singer, songwriter and producer has led him to carry the torch for the band, resulting in sporadic solo releases. Bitter disputes with Zaentz caused Fogerty to stop performing CCR songs in concert for many years, though the Fantasy catalogue is now in different hands. The two remaining living members formed Creedence Clearwater Revisited; Fogerty has never reconciled with them or brother Tom, who died in 1990 from AIDS contracted through a blood transfusion.

Other facts:

• The CCR name came from Tom's friend Credence Nuball, Clearwater beer, and the desire to revive the band's fortunes
• Despite 13 Top Ten entries, the band has never made it past #2 on the charts
• John Fogerty wrote "Proud Mary" in a fit of joy at having been rejected for service in Vietnam
• Fogerty was sued for plagiarizing himself in 1985, when Zaentz claimed John's solo hit "The Old Man Down The Road" was a rewrite of CCR's "Run Through The Jungle" (Fogerty represented himself, and won)

Awards/Honors:

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1993)
• GRAMMY Hall of Fame (1998)

John Fogerty:

• Songwriters Hall of Fame (2005)
• Hollywood Walk of Fame (7000 Hollywood Blvd.)

Recorded work:

Top 10 hits:
Pop:

• "Proud Mary" (1969)
• "Bad Moon Rising" (1969)
• "Green River" (1969)
• "Down On The Corner" (1969)
• "Travelin' Band" (1970)
• "Who'll Stop The Rain" (1970)
• "Up Around The Bend" (1970)
• "Run Through The Jungle" (1970)
• "Lookin' Out My Back Door" (1970)
• "Long As I Can See The Light" (1970)
• "Hey Tonight" (1971)
• "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" (1971)
• "Sweet Hitch-Hiker" (1971)

#1 albums:
Pop:

• Green River (1969)
• Cosmo's Factory (1970)

Top 10 albums:
Pop:

• Bayou Country (1969)
• Willy and the Poorboys (1970)
• Pendulum (1971)

Other important recordings: "Porterville," "Suzie Q (Parts 1 and 2)," "Walk On The Water," "Born On The Bayou," "Bootleg," "Keep On Chooglin'," "Commotion," "Wrote A Song For Everyone," "Tombstone Shadow," "Lodi," "It Came Out Of The Sky," "Cotton Fields," "Don't Look Now (It Ain't You Or Me)," "The Midnight Special," "Ramble Tamble," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Pagan Baby," "It's Just A Thought," "Molina," "Lookin' For A Reason"

Appears in the movies: "Creedence Clearwater Revival Live in London" (1970), "Maverick (1994)" (John Fogerty only)