Hometown Hit Man Gramm here July 26

Lou Gramm will sign copies of his new book, Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'N' Roll, and will sing the National Anthem before the Red Wings game at Frontier Field on Friday night, July 26. An interesting aside: Gramm sang the National Anthem at the first Red Wings game played at Frontier Field, back on April 11, 1997.

Gramm, accomplished musician, song writer and lead singer of the iconic band Foreigner, and Red Wings fan, launched his new autobiography, Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'N' Roll, at the Monroe Community College Theatre on May 4. Gramm is a 1971 graduate of MCC and a charter member of the college's alumni hall of fame.

Gramm is one of rock 'n' roll's most distinctive and popular voices. As lead vocalist and co-songwriter for Foreigner and his own band, Gramm helped churn out seven multi-platinum albums and sell more than 70 million records. He contributed to 20 Top 40 singles, including "Cold As Ice," "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Urgent," "Midnight Blue" and "Juke Box Hero." Rolling Stone Magazine called him "the Pavarotti of the power-rock ballad." Nils Lofgren, the lead guitarist for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, says "Lou Gramm is one of the great vocalists of our time."

Gramm was inducted into the the Rochester Music Hall of Fame April 28, and will be inducted into the Song Writers Hall of Fame June 13 in New York City.

Pitoniak spent 25 years as a nationally recognized sports columnist for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and is the author of 16 books. He will be inducted into the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame this August.

 

Excerpt from Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'N' Roll
Click here to read an excerpt from the new book Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'N' Roll, from the 2013 Red Wings Yearbook. Lou talks about his lifelong love of baseball, and his strategy for performing - and enjoying - the National Anthem at high profile sports events.

Official websites:
Lou-Gramm.com
Scott Pitoniak.com