Join us in a toast to Bob Seger as he starts another year, Still Runnin' Against The Wind.

The son of a musical Ford Motor Company employee who played a number of instruments, Bob was introduced to a lot of music at a young age. But there was little harmony between his parents and his father deserted the family when Bob was just 10.

 

At 16, Seger became the lead singer, keyboard player and guitarist in a trio of fellow Ann Arbor High School members playing as the Decibels before moving into a quartet known as the Town Criers and then to Doug Brown & The Omens before forming his own group, Bob Seger and the Last Heard late in 1965. The group name shifted to the Bob Seger System after landing a contact with Capitol Records in 1968. Their breakout single was Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, which became the title song for the band's 1969 album. The following year's album, Mongrel, failed to build interest and the System disbanded, after which Seger hooked up briefly with a duo known as Teegarden & Van Winkle for the album Smokin' O.P.'s in 1972. Bob put together another group to record the 1973 album Back In '72.

 

Things finally gelled musically for Seger with the formation of the SIlver Bullet Band in 1974. That year's album, Seven, included Get Out Of Denver. Capitol Records was impressed enough by it to give Seger another shot. 1975's Beautiful Loser album solidified Bob with the regional Rock fans to the point he could book back-to-back nights at the Cobo Arena by the fall of '75 and record Live Bullet, the 1975 double album that earned Seger and his band big time national recognition.

 

Even though he's retired from touring, Seger's vocal prowess remains as impressive as ever. Thanks for all the great years, songs and albums, Bob!

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on May 6 include...

 

1973 Paul Simon opens first solo tour, Boston.

1977 Boomtown Rats do their first concert in London.

1992 Bruce Springsteen plays invitation only show at Bottom Line in New York.

1993 David Crosby guests on Simpsons.

1994 Pearl Jam files a ticketing monopoly complaint against Ticketmaster with the Justice Department.

1995 Berklee School of Music awards James Taylor an honorary degree.

1997 CSN&Y, Buffalo Springfield, Rascals and Joni Mitchell inducted by Rock Hall Of Fame.

1998 Canada names Bryan Adams an Officer of the Order of Canada.

2000 John Mellencamp delivers the commencement address at Indiana University.

2006 Memorial to Bon Scott of AC/DC unveiled in Scottish hometown.

2006 Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ean Evans dies of cancer.

2022 Timothy B. Schmit releases Day By Day, the Eagles member's 6th solo album...