Reo Speedwagon

Although many old-school rock bands had a rough time adjusting to the 1981 emergence of MTV, REO Speedwagon navigated the video age with flying colors.

Chalk it up to good timing: From day one, MTV embraced the group’s engaging live performance videos and the pop-leaning vibe of their LPs, especially 1980’s Hi Infidelity, which featured the smoldering power ballads “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run.” REO Speedwagon initially formed in a more analog time—the late 1960s, in Champaign, IL—and cut their teeth playing at bars and frat parties before debuting with a self-titled album in 1971.

After a series of personnel shifts, the band’s lineup eventually settled to include songwriters/guitarists Gary Richrath and Kevin Cronin, who split lead-vocal duties until the latter took over full time in the late ’70s.