Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 54

Kenny Loggins lets loose with big hits Who: Kenny Loggins When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17-18 Where: Harrah's Lake Tahoe, South Shore Room Cost: $77.50 Details: 800-427-7247 Web: harrahs.com the adult contemporary genre. In 1994, he released a children's album, "Return to Pooh Corner," and a sequel, "More Songs From Pooh Corner," in 2000. His 2004 album "It's About Time" is a collection of diverse songs.

"I decided to go as eclectic as possible," Loggins told United Press International. "I've covered so much territory in over 25 years that I felt like I had to decide which persona I wanted to be. I finally decided that it doesn't matter. Just go where the music wants to go." In 2005, Loggins Messina reunited for a summer tour to support the duo's release "Sittin' in Again," a greatest hits album. "Loggins Messina created a mystique and a following that has lasted all these years," Loggins said to the Advocate.

"Jimmy came back into my life (in 2005) when we did our reunion concert. Neither of us anticipated it. I was getting over a divorce and looking for something to immerse myself into. It was the right thing at the right time." Kenny Loggins seemed to be everywhere during the late 70s and the '80s. If you didn't hear his hits on the radio, then you heard them at the movies.

He'll bring back those songs, including "This Is It," "Footloose" and "I'm Alright," when he performs Feb. 17-18 at Harrah's Lake Tahoe. Now, Loggins, 59, is ready with more songs when he releases his new album "How About Now" on Feb. 25. But let's take you back back to the days when he was making SI 00 a week working as a staff songwriter in Los Angeles, according to the singer's Web site.

Loggins achieved success when four of his songs, including "House at Pooh Corner," made it onto the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1970 album. He caught the interest of former Buffalo Springfield and Poco member Jim Messina, who agreed to produce Loggins first album. Instead of a solo album, it turned into a duo effort called "Kenny Loggins with Jimmy Messina Sittin' In." As Loggins Messina, they recorded a string of hits, Publicity photo Kenny Loggins including "Danny's Song" and "Your Mama Don't Dance." By 1976, Loggins Messina parted ways. "Like most things, it ran its course," Loggins told the Advocate. "I was headed in a completely different direction, as you can hear in 'Celebrate Me Home' (his first solo album).

"Jimmy had a lot of creative control. I'd come together with Jimmy to make my own record, and I'd never been able to do it. It was always 50-50, or something like that. So I was really ready by the time we broke up to make my own record," he said. Loggins forged ahead with a solo career, releasing albums CM 00 00 0 6 Alright" from the 1980 film "Footloose" from the 1984 movie of the same name; "Danger Zone" from the 1986 film "Top and "Nobody's Fool" from the 1988 II." Loggins' music in the late '80s and '90s leaned toward including 1978's "Nightwatch" with the hit "Whenever I Call You Friend," a duet with Stevie Nicks, and 1979's "Keep the Fire" with "This Is It." He also provided songs for a number of movie soundtracks, several of which hit the Top 10.

Those included "I'm Peter Cetera 's soft rock songs get orchestra treatment Who: Peter Cetera When: 8 p.m. Feb. 17 Where: John Ascuaga's Nugget, Rose Ballroom Cost: $55 and $60 Details: 356-3300 or 80O648-1 1 77 Web: janugget.com 00 CO 00 03 d) 5 2 Peter Cetera was the familiar voice behind Chicago's soft rock hits, including "Baby, What a Big Surprise," "If You Leave Me Now" and "You're the Inspiration." He also had solo hits with "The Next Time I Fall" and "The Glory of Love." With a 36-piece orchestra filling out those and other songs, Cetera performs Feb. 17 at John Ascuaga's Nugget. This isn't the first time Cetera has worked with an orchestra.

In 2002, he performed at the Concert for World Children's Day backed by an orchestra. That performance led to Cetera playing with orchestras in different cities during 2003, with his stops in Chicago taped for an episode of "Soundstage" for PBS and later released on DVD. For the past two years, he's invited local svmphony orchestras to join him on tour dates. "It gives me a chance to do something a little different with the hits I wrote and recorded, solo and with Chicago," he said to the Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin. "I can do them in a little different context without having to sound like the record." With his tenor and face becoming more and more the identity of Chicago, Cetera wanted to capitalize on that and pursue a solo career, according to Wikipedia.com.

He previously had recorded a self-titled solo debut in 1981 while still with Chicago. When he offered to stay with the band while he recorded another solo album, the band declined. In 1985, he left Chicago for good. It didn't take him long to find solo success. "The Glory of Love," the first single from his 1986 album "Solitude Solitaire," was a No.

1 hit and it also became the theme song to the film "The Karate Kid Part II," according to All Music Guide. That album produced another hit with "The Next Time I Fall," a duet with Amy Grant. Over the years, he's had hits with "Save Me," the opening theme for the TV show "Baywatch" and "After All," a duet with Cher. His other studio albums included "One More Story" (1988), "World Falling Down" (1992), "One Clear Voice" (1995), "Another Perfect World" (2001 and "You Just Gotta Love Christmas" (2004). Born in Chicago in 1944, the singer started his musical career as a bassist in a band called the Exceptions.

In 1967, Cetera was recruited by another local band called the Big Thing, later renamed the Chicago Transit Authority and then simply Chicago, according to All Music Guide. Chicago enjoyed popularity in the '70s and '80s with its signature sound of rock, pop and jazz enhanced by horns. The group had a string of Top 10 singles, including those either written andor sung by Cetera: "Baby, What a Big Surprise," "25 or 6 to 4," "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," "Hard Habit to Break," "If You Leave Publicity photo Peter Cetera ng You Were Here," Sorry" and "You're Me Now," "Wishi "Hard to Say I'm the Inspiration.".