Lou Gramm of Foreigner coming to The Dell Diamond

On July 2, 2011, the Round Rock Express will continue their post-game concert series presented by St. David's Healthcare. With Asleep at the Wheel and Jack Ingram already gracing the Express centerfield stage, Lou Gramm, known for being the voice of Foreigner, is next up to perform some of his chart-topping hits at The Dell Diamond. Foreigner sold over 70 million records with Gramm as the frontman.

"Foreigner is one of the great bands of all-time, and Lou Gramm was their lead singer during the hey day," Vice President of Ryan Sanders Entertainment JJ Gottsch said. "I can't wait to hear him sing all the great songs I grew up listening to along with my older brothers. It should be a real treat for any rock-n-roll fan."

With a fanatical following, Foreigner released hits that went straight to the top. Songs like "feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Urgent," "Double Vision" and "Juke Box Hero." Gramm co-wrote most of the band's music including "Waiting for a Girl Like You," a song that spent 10 weeks at No. 2 on the American Hot 100.

Maybe Foreigner's most famous hit, "I Want to Know What Love Is," was a No. 1 international hit reaching the top of charts in the U.S. as well as the United Kingdom.

Louis Andrew Grammatico, now known as Lou Gramm, was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y. Graduating high school in 1968, Gramm as a part of many local bands in northern New York. St. James Infirmary, later known as the Infirmary, and PHFFT were some of the local acts that Gramm carried with his vocal talents.

The band Black Sheep, the first American band signed to the Chrysalis label, convinced Gramm to be their lead man on vocals. They released two albums - S/T in 1974 and Encouraging Words in 1975. After spending 1975 as the opening act for KISS, Black Sheep could not financially support their albums with live performances, and had to go split-up and go their own way.

Gramm met Mick Jones, then performing with his band Spooky Tooth in Rochester, in 1974. Jones reached out to Gramm in 1976 looking to fill the lead vocal spot in a new band he was assembling. First named Trigger, then later changed to Foreigner, Jones, Gramm and the rest of their band became one of the most successful rock bands in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Altogether Foreigner released 19 albums over a 31-year stretch. They had seven of their albums reach the top 15 on the U.S. charts - Foreigner, Double Vision, Head Games, 4, Records, Agent Provocateur and Inside Information.

Gramm released a solo album, riding the success he had achieved through Foreigner. In 1987 Gramm released Ready or Not, a well-received album containing the top five hit "Midnight Blue."

Gramm's second solo endeavor, Long Hard Look, included two top 10 hits - "Just Between You and Me" and "True Blue Love." The album reached the Top 40.

After leaving Foreigner, Gramm started another band called Shadow King with former Black Sheep bassist Bruce Turgon.

Gramm returned to Foreigner in 1992, bringing along close friend and bassist Turgon to join the group. The band released a few more albums and toured off-and-on until 2002, finally calling it quits.

Not finishing there, Gramm started the Lou Gramm Band. With friend Turgon on the bass, Gramm welcomed his two brothers, Bennie and Nikki Grammatico, to the band. Fulfilling a dream of their parents, all three brothers were in the same band and working together to make music.

The Lou Gramm Band has been touring since 2004, and will soon take to The Dell Diamond and grace central-Texas with originals as well as some of Foreigner's biggest hits.

The Round Rock Express take on the Nashville Sounds that Saturday night and Lou Gramm will take the stage immediately following the game. Just like the past two concerts, fans will be able to take the field after the players leave and settle in to hear music that has played on radios for several decades.

For tickets to the game and concert visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call 512.255.2255.