Jonathan, REO Speedwagon, & Me
I have always been an REO fan. The first time to see them 'live' was 1996 in San Antonio. Jonathan, his 'Uncle Jay,' and me drove out to Six Flags for a sold out show. Jonathan was able to sneak down in front of the stage and almost yanked Kevin Cronin off the stage, shaking his hand, and pulling a black elastic stretch wrist band off Kevin's wrist in the process. After the show, we wanted to meet the band and go back for a meet and greet backstage. Unfortunately, we did not know anybody and it didn't happen. Jonathan was disappointed.
Since then, we have seen them over 35 times and had 4 guitars autographed by them.
Here are some photos of Jonathan backstage at another sold out show in Kansas. (He is wearing the gold guitar pick that Gram's dad, Randy made for him). While, the whole band liked Jonathan, Bruce Hall (blonde bass player) is the one that would spend the most time talking to him about music.
Jonathan and Brian
Jonathan and Dave
Jonathan and Neil
Jonathan and Bruce
Jonathan and Kevin
Jonathan played a custom 19992 Special Edition Ovation. He liked Ovation because that is the type of guitar Kevin Cronin plays. I missed the Tickfaw 200 last year. I was in Oklahoma getting a Fender Telecaster signed by the band. We auctioned it off last year to help with expenses. Mine (and Jonathan's) friend Jim Templet (Templet Marine, French Settlement) has the guitar and this is where it should be. It was at that show last year in Oklahoma that I told Bruce about Jonathan being gone. Nothing really was said, but I kind of think they and I knew that was the last time I would be seeing them. Here is Jim's guitar.
One of our most fun times was driving out to Reno, NV for the New Year's Eve Show in 1998. We saw both shows (front row, center stage) and Jonathan got his first guitar autographed by them. To say that REO was a big influence on Jonathan would be an understatement.
Here is Jonathan intro to one of his favorite REO Songs (from "An Evening With Jonathan") {The volume is a tad low}.
"Take It On The Run" (with Jonathan changing the opening part)