Loggins to appear at Artpark

Kenny Loggins (photo by Carl Studna)

Preview by Joshua Maloni Niagara Frontier Publications, July 26, 2007 Kenny Loggins is a modest man. Despite 12 platinum albums and a string of hits (including “Whenever I Call You Friend,” “This Is It” and “Nobody’s Fool”), the singer songwriter says his appeal these days is due to songs of his that have appeared in memorable films from the 1980s. “I think maybe the movies have helped a lot,” Loggins says. “ ‘Footloose,’ ‘Danger Zone’ and ‘I’m Alright’ from ‘Caddyshack’ have hung in there; the movies have hung in as big rented movies.” Loggins is correct in saying his work for film catapulted his star. Yet, his contributions to movie soundtracks don’t diminish his other achievements. Prior to becoming a solo artist, he wrote four songs for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – including the hit single “House at Pooh Corner” – and the Grammy-winning “What a Fool Believes” for the Doobie Brothers. From there, Loggins teamed with Jim Messina to form one of the ‘70s most prolific duos. Their eponymous “Loggins and Messina” went gold and the pair followed that up with three Top 10 albums (“Full Sail,” Mother Lode” and “On Stage”).

Loggins concedes his song crafting ability resonates with listeners.

“I try to write what’s real for me, and what’s going on for me at any one given time, because I assume that that’s going to be the most universal style,” Loggins says. “Whenever I can describe what’s happening for me emotionally, it’s probably happening for a whole lot of other people in their lives, because we’re all basically the same; we’re all looking for the same thing.

“I consider my job to be one where I try to describe the human condition as best as I can.”

In the ‘80s, Loggins music was featured in both “Caddyshack” movies and Tom Cruise’s star-making vehicle “Top Gun.” While all three films scored with audiences, it was the 1984 release “Footloose” that made Loggins – and star Kevin Bacon – a household name.

The No.1 single, and the movie that inspired it, remains firmly entrenched in pop culture 23 years later.

“ ‘Footloose’ was among the Top 10 rented movies in Rolling Stone, so, you know, it goes on and on,” Loggins says “Plus, ‘Footloose’ was made into a play, and there’s a high school book on it now, so it just keeps going.”

Loggins will headline a free concert at Artpark, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston, on Tuesday, Aug. 7. He will perform his catalog of hits and songs from his current release “How About Now.”

For this show, a local choir, under the direction of Harold N. Harden, will join him on stage for four songs.

“It’s a lot of fun for me to have the extra voices for ‘Celebrate Me Home,’ for ‘Conviction of the Heart,’ for a song on the new album called, ‘That’s When I Find You,’ which is a gospel hymn – it just lifts everything up and it’s a lot of fun for the audience,” Loggins says. “It gives me something to look forward to; you know I have a different choir every night, so I never know what I’m headed for.

“Some nights, they’re fantastic, and it’s just an extra shot of adrenaline for me.”

Loggins’ show will be an extra shot of adrenaline for the venue, as well. Artpark President George Osborne says attendance is down this summer at “Tuesday in the Park,” partly due to the weather, and partly because more popular acts, like Loggins, are stockpiled for August.

Osborne, who says he’s been trying to book Loggins for three years, says the artist’s music and family appeal “is just perfect for what we’re trying to do here.”

For more information on the event, visit www.artpark.net.