LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-MAY 6, 2020…BOB SEGER WAS BORN IN DETROIT MICHIGAN ON THIS DATE IN 1945. HIS FATHER WAS A BANDLEADER AND MUSICIAN WHO WORKED IN AN AUTOPLANT TO SUPPORT HIS WIFE AND 2 KIDS. IN 1955, HIS FATHER ABANDONED THE FAMILY, LEAVING FOR CALIFORNIA IN SEARCH OF SUCCESS. FROM THAT POINT ON, IT WAS NEVER EASY FOR BOB SEGER.
IN THE 11TH GRADE HE FORMED A BAND AND WAS WORKING 3 NIGHTS A WEEK IN THE BARS WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL. HE TOILED ON THE ROAD FOR YEARS. HIS WORK ETHIC BECAME LEGEND PLAYING 260 DATES A YEAR. HE WAS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING ONTO THE NATIONAL CHARTS IN 1967 WHEN THE RECORD COMPANY PROMOTING HIS SINGLE WENT BANKRUPT.
SEGER WAS THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN ROCK AND ROLL. HE JUST KEPT ON PLUGGING AWAY. HIS BREAKTHROUGH CAME IN 1976 WITH THE SINGLE AND ALBUM ‘NIGHT MOVES’. WHEN SEGER FINALLY BROKE THROUGH, HE DID SO WITH A VENGEANCE WITH A STRING OF MULTI-PLATINUM ALBUMS FROM 1975-1986. ONLY HIS SEMI RETIREMENT TO RAISE HIS FAMILY KEPT HIM FROM THE SPOTLIGHT. BOB SEGER HAS SOLD NEARLY 50 MILLION ALBUMS, INCLUDING 10 CONSECUTIVE MILLION SELLING ALBUMS BETWEEN 1975 AND 1995. HIS MUSIC DIDN’T APPEAR ON STREAMING SERVICES LIKE SPOTIFY UNTIL 2017. ANY REVENUE HE LOST FROM HOLDING OUT WAS MORE THAN COMPENSATED BY HUGE CATALOGUE SALES. HIS GREATEST HITS ALBUM SOLD 5 MILLION COPIES IN THE USA AS OF 2017. BOB SEGER LAST YEAR WRAPPED UP HIS “FAREWELL TOUR”. IT WAS THE THIRD BEST GROSSING TOUR OF 2019 GROSSING 97 MILLION DOLLARS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 75TH BOB SEGER. HERE’S CONCERT FOOTAGE FROM SEGER CIRCA 1978
photo-https://www.facebook.com/bobseger/