Lou Gramm

Lou Gramm (born Louis Andrew Grammatico; May 2, 1950) is an American rock singer-songwriter, best known for being the original lead singer of the rock band Foreigner.

Louis Andrew Grammatico was born on May 2, 1950, in Rochester, New York, the son of Nikki (nee Masetta), a singer, and Bennie Grammatico, a band leader and trumpeter. He attended Gates-Chili High School in Rochester, graduating with the class of 1968.

1970s

Gramm became front man for the band Black Sheep. Black Sheep was the first American band signed to the Chrysalis label, which released their first single, "Stick Around" (1974). Soon after this initial bit of success, Black Sheep signed with Capitol Records, releasing two albums in succession: Black Sheep (1975) and Encouraging Words (late 1975). They were the opening act for Kiss when an icy accident with their equipment truck on the New York State Thruway suddenly ended the band's tour on Christmas Eve, 1975. Unable to support its albums with live performances, Black Sheep disbanded.

A year earlier, Gramm met his future bandmate Mick Jones. Jones was in Rochester performing with the band Spooky Tooth, and Gramm had given Jones a copy of Black Sheep's first album (S/T). It was early in 1976, not long after Black Sheep's truck accident, when Jones, in search of a lead singer for a new band he was assembling, expressed his interest in Gramm and invited him to audition.

Gramm traveled to New York to audition and got the job. Lou Grammatico then became Lou Gramm. The band, which was initially known as "Trigger," was later renamed Foreigner. With Foreigner, Gramm became one of the most successful rock vocalists of the late 1970s and 1980s.

1980s

Foreigner's first eight singles cracked the Billboard Top 20, making them the first band since The Beatles to achieve this milestone. Gramm performed vocals on all of Foreigner's hits including "Urgent", "Juke Box Hero", "Break It Up", "Say You Will", and "I Don't Want to Live Without You". He co-wrote most of the band's songs, including the hit ballads "Waiting for a Girl Like You", which spent ten weeks at #2 on the 1981/82 American Hot 100, and "I Want to Know What Love Is", which was a number one hit in eight countries.

Gramm and Jones had a volatile chemistry. Gramm wanted the band to remain true to its purer rock origins, favoring music with a solid drum and guitar structure, whereas Jones embraced the 1980s style of synthesizer ballads. Gramm has called the 4 album (1981) the high point of his work with Foreigner. Foreigner's next album, Agent Provocateur (1984), took three years to release due to the ongoing creative differences between Jones and Gramm. The band released Inside Information in 1987.

Gramm released his first solo album, Ready or Not, in January 1987 to critical acclaim. The single "Midnight Blue" reached the top five.

Also in 1987, Gramm contributed the song "Lost in the Shadows" to the soundtrack for the comedy horror film The Lost Boys.

A second solo effort, Long Hard Look (October 1989), that included the top ten hit "Just Between You and Me" as well as "True Blue Love", reached the Top 40. The album also included "Hangin' on My Hip", which was featured in the 1990 film Navy SEALs.

1990s

Gramm announced his departure from Foreigner in May 1990 due to differences with Jones, and to focus on his solo career.

Gramm went on to form the short-lived band Shadow King, which put out one self-titled album on Atlantic in October 1991. Also in 1991, Gramm contributed the song "One Dream" to the movie Highlander II: The Quickening.

Gramm rejoined Foreigner in May 1992 after working out his differences with Jones during the Los Angeles riots. In 1995, Foreigner released the album Mr. Moonlight on the Rhythm Safari label which, although relatively successful in Europe, was not as widely marketed or distributed in the U.S. Still, "Until the End of Time" made inroads at adult contemporary radio.

In 1996, Jones invited Gramm to perform backing vocals on a cover version of "I Want to Know What Love Is" he was producing for the Australian singer Tina Arena. The song went on to become a major hit again throughout Europe.

In 1997, Gramm provided vocals for Christian rock band Petra's album entitled Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus.

In April 1997, on the eve of a Japan tour, Gramm was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and underwent surgery.He continued to work with Jones throughout his illness. By 1998, Gramm was back touring with Foreigner.

2000s to present

In early 2003, Gramm once again departed from Foreigner.

The Lou Gramm Band released a Christian rock album in 2009.

Gramm was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 13, 2013. On July 20, 2017, Gramm joined Foreigner for three songs during an encore at Jones Beach Theatre in Long Island, New York. On December 29, 2018, Gramm announced on stage in Schenectady, New York that he was retiring from touring. However, he stated that he would continue to release studio music and perform occasional live shows including The Lopen,, a celebrity concert produced by Howard Perl Entertainment to benefit children at Akron Children's Hospital.

In 2019, Gramm toured on a bill with Asia Featuring John Payne, where they also acted as his back-up group. Gramm performed lead vocals on the track "Sometimes" on the 2019 album The Secret by Alan Parsons.

In 1992, Gramm, after having completed a stint in drug rehabilitation, became a born again Christian.

In April 1997, Gramm was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called a craniopharyngioma. Although the tumor was benign, the resulting surgery damaged his pituitary gland. In addition, the recovery program had caused Gramm to gain weight, and likewise affected his stamina and voice.

As of 2017, Gramm is married to Robyn Grammatico. They have a daughter. He also has four children from previous marriages.

Solo albums

Solo singles

With Black Sheep

• 1974Stick Around/Cruisin (For Your Love) 45 single.
• 1975: Black Sheep
• 1975: Encouraging Words

With Foreigner

With Poor Heart

• 1988: Foreigner in a Strange Land
• 1993: The Best of the Early Years

(Note: These are actually releases of much older recordings.)

With Shadow King

• 1991: Shadow King

With Liberty N' Justice

• 2004: Welcome To The Revolution

• Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion
• Ben Gramm – drums
• AD Zimmer – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Michael Staertow – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Scott Gilman – saxophone, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Jeff Jacobs – keyboards, backing vocals

Timeline