In "Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades In Rock 'N' Roll", due out May 1 from Triumph Books, Gramm details his rise from humble, working-class roots in Rochester, New York to become one of rock 'n' roll's most distinctive and popular voices.
Throughout the bio, Gramm poignantly recounts how he realized his dream. Sadly, though, like many of his contemporaries, the singer would succumb to the trappings of wealth and fame. Foreigner's remarkable success was due in large part to the songwriting synergy between Gramm and the band's founder, Mick Jones. However, creative clashes between the two would become more frequent and the tension would result in Gramm's departure, not once but twice, the second time for good.
But the singer's recounting of his life is also is a story of redemption. In the early 1990s, he finally confronted his demons and checked into a drug rehabilitation center for a month. He came out a changed man and has remained sober ever since.
Several years later, Gramm faced an even bigger challenge when diagnosed with an egg-sized brain tumor. After being given a death sentence by several physicians, he learned of a then-revolutionary laser surgery being done by a doctor in Boston. Gramm underwent a life-saving operation to remove the tumor and then courageously battled through radiation treatments and several harrowing years of rehab.
Other "Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades In Rock 'N' Roll" highlights include:
* Gramm's difficult, courageous comeback from brain surgery. Just several months after his operation, he was contractually required to tour with Foreigner and dealt with memory problems that forced him to keep written lyrics at his feet — lyrics from songs he had helped write and had sung thousands of times before.
* The musical influence of Gramm's father, a trumpeter who ran a big band, and his mother, who was a vocalist in the band.
* How much the music industry has changed and how difficult it is for heritage rockers to get their new material out there.
Lou left Foreigner in 1990, rejoining them between 1999 and 2003; these days, the band continue to record and perform with Gramm sound-alike Kelly Hansen on lead vocals.
Gramm and Jones will reunite this June to perform at their induction into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. They’ll be joined by fellow honorees Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Holly Knight, JD Souther and Tony Hatch at the organization’s 44th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner June 13 in New York City.
Foreigner See also:
Foreigner: Mick Jones & Lou Gramm to reunite at Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry to be inducted into Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Foreigner guitarist recovering from heart surgery
Foreigner: Original singer says current lineup is misleading fans
Foreigner to release 3-disc set next month
