One of contemporary music's most distinctive voices for over three decades, superstar singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins has released his latest solo album, How About Now, on February 27. The disc is among the inaugural slate of titles debuting on that date as part of the launch of the Spotlight Music Series, an innovative line of adult contemporary music from 180 Music that's available nationwide exclusively through the retail chain Target. The Series' primaryfocus is new music from legendary artists.
How About Now, recorded in Ojai, CA and Nashville, TN, finds the GRAMMY(R)-winning, Oscar-nominated Loggins in peak form, his warm, expressive singing as instantly recognizable as ever. The album also firmly anchors him in the soulful singer-songwriter tradition that's underscored every phase of his career, and is the pure essence of how it began. Kenny commented, "Recently, I finally went on the road with Jimmy Messina again, we did a 30 year reunion tour. During that time, I rediscovered a kind of music I was making as a kid, music that had acoustic guitar at the center, and a certain level of joy and simplicity to it. I started to think, if I was making my half of a Loggins & Messina record today, what would it sound like? That's what I aimed for."
Spinning off that thought, one of How About Now's highlights is a stripped-down, updated version of the Loggins-penned 1973 Loggins & Messina gem A Love Song. "I thought, here's a song I've been playing for over thirty years," says Kenny, "how can I come up with a new way to do it?" Loggins re-imagined it with a group of young Southern California-based musicians -- "It helped to have the eyes and ears of players in their 20s in the mix," says Loggins, "it gave the song a whole different sensibility." The only track not specifically written for the new album, A Love Song still brims with the sweet melodies and authentic emotions that's made it a timeless favorite.
Another stand-out is the title track How About Now, a prime example of Loggins' ability to powerfully connect to listeners with songs defined by unvarnished emotion. "I feel like that song is the emotional center of the record," says Kenny. "You can have a great day, a great life -- what
about today? I titled the album after it because, overall, it's a record about healing, growing, moving on, and a vision of where I want to be. I've always felt that my best songs -- Celebrate Me Home, Danny's Song, House At Pooh Corner -- were, like this one, about what mattered to me most, things that touched my heart." In all, How About Now features twelve original songs -- eleven new compositions plus A Love Song -- co-written with Richard Marx, Mike Reid, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Rachel Proctor, Gary Burrand and other collaborators.
180 Music's CEO & Founder Jim Brandmeier commented, "The heart of Kenny Loggins' timeless artistry is that of a master singer-songwriter filled with soul, depth & emotion. That is captured brilliantly on Kenny's new CD, How About Now, which personifies 180 Music's philosophy, "Do a 180, Lets Get Back to Music!" Real music! Real art! Done by a master! We are honored to shine the 'spotlight' on Kenny Loggins and feature his gigantic talent as part of the Spotlight Music Series, exclusively at Target." Leading up to How About Now, Kenny Loggins has generated hits spanning three decades and over twelve albums exceeding platinum status. A 2X GRAMMY(R) winner, Loggins was honored with the 1980 Best Male Pop Vocal award for his smash This Is It. His stellar songwriting was honored with 1979's Song Of The Year GRAMMY for What A Fool Believes, the Doobie Brothers classic he co-composed with longtime friend and fellow artist Michael McDonald. Loggins' solo hits also include Whenever I Call You 'Friend, I'm Alright and Footloose, the last an Academy Award-nominated song.
On March 7, Kenny Loggins will be honored with an induction into Hollywood's RockWalk(R), the Sunset Strip's renowned museum and walk of handprints that's world famous for "Celebrating the greatest names in rock 'n roll." The following day, March 8, Kenny and his band will play live at the celebrated Los Angeles venue Troubadour, as he continues to perform live throughout 2007. Many of Loggins' earliest live performances were at the historic club, when Loggins & Messina played there often during their initial rise to fame. For more info on Kenny Loggins, log on to http://www.kennyloggins.com
KENNY LOGGINS TOUR DATES
Feb 17th - Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Stateline, NV
Feb 18th - Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Stateline, NV
Mar 3rd - One World Theatre, Austin, TX
Mar 8th – Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
Mar 11th - Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI
Mar 19th - B.B. King Blues Club, New York, NY
Mar 22nd - North Folk Theatre @ Westbury, Westbury, NY
Mar 23rd - Community Theater, Morristown, NJ
Apr 11th - Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL
Apr 12th - Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach, FL
Apr 13th - Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL
Apr 15th - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota, FL
Apr 24th - Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX
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