St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 21

VV -I King Of The Road Singer-songwriter Roger Miller, whose songs "King of the Road," "Dang Me" and "Engine Engine 9 launched his career 22 years ago, will open Tuesday for a six-day run at the Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard. See Music, Page 3. It's How You Look At It Comedian Michael Floorwax, who is to open at the Funny Bone Wednesday, talks about how he moved from being a steady drinker to a comic on the club circuit in Dick Richmond's Spfnoffs. See Spinoffs, Page 3 In Country Tradition Singer Randy Travis, who has been called one of country music's "new traditionalists," is scheduled to perform in certs at 4 and 7 p.m. Sun- day at Six Flags Over Mid-America.

See This Week- end, Page 2. Kevin ManningPost-Dispatch I iv.Vi r- -x. -V: f-B (T 23 SECTION VUv 7 IV if i 2Z i ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 11 A 10-Day Guide To St. Louis Events July 10-19 r1 1 REO Speedwagon Still Rolling After 19 Years to vy' '-'is: 1' JM tea im ii'-rsprn 1 By Doug Carroll Oi the Post-Dispatch Staff After 19 years, 14 record albums, two No.

1 singles and more California comforts than they could have imagined, one obvious question for REO Speedwagon is: Why keep working? "What has always kept me going is the feeling that this is something I have to do," said Kevin Cronin, the rock group's lead singer and songwriter, about his career. "You can't just say, 'OK, I'm going to quit and do something It becomes more a matter of working hard to please yourself." REO's current album, "Life As We Know It," won't approach the megasuccess of "Hi Infidelity" the No. 1 -selling album of 1981 but it's all gravy to Cronin, 35, a Chicago native who has been the Speedwagon's engine for more than a decade. "Most of the goals we set we've achieved," he said. "We headlined Madison Square Garden.

We had a No. 1 record. I never even had a goal we'd sell millions of copies of an album. "I'm living every day as if it could be my last. I used to think REO Speedwagon would go on forever.

Now, I think it won't, but I'm going to give it my best. This could be our last tour and album, or it could not be. It means everything to me right now, and because of that I'm able to give more of myself to the band and the show." Even though REO relocated to the West Coast several years ago, a solid Midwestern following has remained its bread and butter. The former bar band from Champaign, 111., made its first appearance as a headline act at Kiel Auditorium 13'j years ago, and Cronin and lead guitarist Gary Richrath used to wonder why big Dennis Miller (left), Kevin Neaton and Dana Carvey 'Saturday Night Live' Comedians To Appear Alan Gratzer, and Bruce Hall. The band is appearing at Kiel Neal Doughty Auditorium July 18.

REO Speedwagon (from left): Gary Richrath, Kevin Cronin, crowds at Kiel didn't translate to national success. Then came REO's breakthrough, a live album in 1977, part of which was recorded at Kiel. The record was the band's first try at self-production. "At the time," Cronin said, "we felt like, 'We definitely have to make this He remembers getting on the phone and calling "hundreds" of radio stations around the country, saying, "This is REO Speedwagon. Just please give us a chance." The album became the band's By Terry Perkins During its glory years, the "Saturday Night Live" comedy show was undoubtedly the highlight of the television week (or many viewers.

Talented performers such as Chevy Chase, John Belu-shi, Dan Ackroyd and Bill Murray kept a good number of us in front of the tube instead of out on the town Saturday evenings. But the show lost some of its magic when those performers moved on to movie careers, and there were many who wrote off "Saturday Night Live" as a show that had outlived its audience. Over the past season, however, all that has changed with the infusion of some exciting new talent into the show. Comedians such as Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon have again caused many viewers to plan their Saturday evenings around the show. Next Wednesday, SL Louisa ns will have the chance to see Carvey, Miller and Nealon in person when the three appear at the Westport Playhouse for two shows See LIVE, Page 2 to see something that lasts.

We've been together longer than most people who get married stay together. Loyalty isn't what it used to be; that has become a part of our. society. "We just refuse to go away," he quipped. The band takes its work seriously enough that several of the members and crew went on the "Eat to Win" diet, popularized by tennis star Martina Navratilova, before touring in: 1984.

But busi- See REO, Page 2 first gold record (more than 500,000 sold), and its success came at a pivotal time. That same year, REO parted with its manager, Irving Azoff, and made Bruce Hall its bass guitar player. The band, which also Includes keyboardist Neal Doughty of Belleville and drummer Alan Gratzer, has consisted of the same five musicians ever since. To what does Cronin attribute REO's enduring popularity? "People like our songs," he said, "but past that, I think people like ill i I a It's A Mystery: Tom O'Connor (left) as the title character in the Goldenrod Showboat's production of "Sherlock Holmes" strikes a pose with Suzzette Sutton as Irene Adler and Darryl Maximilian Robinson as Prof. Moriarty at the theater on the riverfront.

Through SepL 6. See Theater, Page 3. A Salute To Women: Ann Brown (left), Julia Kiley (center) and Hope Wurdack Forsyth in Theater Factory SL Louis' production of 'A, My Name Is a musical revue celebrating modern womanhood, at Country Day School, 425 North War-son Road. Opening July 1 5 at 8 p.m. See Theater, Page 3.

-4 rr 17 I L.T. SpencePost-Dispatch gram of his greatest hits at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Queeny Park's Greens-felder Recreation Center, 550 Weidman Road. Information: 534-1700. search, p.m., National Bowling Hall of Fame, across the street from Busch Stadium.

Those attending will receive tickets for the Cardinals-Giants game that evening. Information: 553-1 5693 (days) or 351-0668 (nights). 4 la JAZZ EXPLOSION '87 Three of music's hottest jazz performers Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carne and Stanley Turren-tjne will perform in concert at 8 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard. Information: 534-1 111.

IRLENE MANDRELL AND RIC BOYER The country music performers will appear at the Firefighter's Union Local 73 Country Crock Flapjack Breakfast a.m., Firefighter's Hall, 5856 Christy Avenue. The show will benefit the Barnes Hospital Burn Unit and the Tom Tracy Memorial Fund. Information: Bruce Williams. 352-8340 or Daisy She-phard, 362-5290. DOLL AND TOY FAIR The fifth annual event takes place 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Illinois routes 13 and 159, Belleville.

Food will be available. Information: Kay, (618) 233-0940. Theater events just opening and those continuing beyond the weekend are fisted on Page 3. CATS' The acclaimed musical continues at 8:30 nightly through Sunday at the Municipal Opera in Forest Park- Information: 231 -1 234. SCAPINO' The comedy continues at 8:15 p.m.

Friday-Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday in the Communications Building Theater, Southern Illinois University-Ed-wardsville. Information: (61 8) 692-2773. ARCHON Trie 11th annual SL Louis Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention will take place Friday-Sunday at Henry VIII Inn Lodge. 469 North Lindbergh Boulevard.

The guest of honor will be St Louis author Glen C. Cook. Information: Betsey, 862-7114. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POOL More than 60 teams will compete in the $100,000 Busch Pool League National Championship, Friday-Sunday. Stouffer Concourse Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Road.

Opening round elimination wilL" begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and resume at 10 am Saturday. The final rounds will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday. Information: Jeff Davis.

v- SECOND ANNUAL WAITERS' RACE The second annual race to benefit the Leukemia Society will be at 1 p.m. on the parking lot of Brio, Page and Schuett roads. More than 100 waiters and waitresses will compete for prizes erred obstacle courses. Irrfor- mation: 997-4433W See 13 WEEKEND, Pag DRAG BOAT RACES The annual Midwest championships will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday at Creve Coeur Lake, Crave Coetir County Park, Marine Avenue and Creve Coeur 1 Mill Road.

Information; 889-1 990. BASEBALL TALK Former Cardinal second baseman Ted Sizemore will be the guest speaker at the fourth annual meeting of the Bob Broeg' chapter of the Society for American Baseball Re- HENRY MANCINI The Academy Award-winning composer will conduct the SL Louis Symphony In a pops pro-, 8 3 Movie Directory Outdoors .......6 SpsceweeK 87.... Soulard BasUlle WtmH wilii.Hlt Active Aging Art Dining Out Everything Else Ffim Series Lectures ....4 ....2 ....8 .3 ..10 a 9 Nightlife Night Sounds.