LITTLE RIVER BAND @ Paramount

ARTIST BIO

 

The Eagles founding member, the late Glenn Frey, knew what he was saying when he dubbed Little River Band “the best singing band in the world.” The current lineup of LRB takes that accolade to heart each and every time they perform.

 

Through the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, LRB enjoyed huge chart success with multi-platinum albums and chart topping hits like: “Reminiscing,”  “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,”  “Take It Easy On Me,”  “Help Is on Its Way,”  “Happy Anniversary,”   “We Two,”  “Man On Your Mind,”  “The Other Guy,”  and “It’s A Long Way There.”

 

Worldwide album and CD sales now top 30 million. And in 1982 LRB set a record for having had Top 10 hits for 6 consecutive years – In fact, they were the very first band to achieve that remarkable plateau! According to BMI, “Reminiscing” has garnered rare status with over 5 million air plays on American radio, and “Lady” is close behind with over 4 million air plays.

 

Bassist/vocalist Wayne Nelson joined the band in 1980, and worked alongside founding members with some of the most distinctive harmonies and vocal abilities, creating the unique LRB sound. In 1981, Nelson was recognized by world renowned Beatles producer Sir George Martin whom, while producing ‘Time Exposure’, chose Nelson to record lead vocals on two of the band’s biggest hits, “The Night Owls” and “Take It Easy On Me.” Later that same year, guitarist extraordinaire Stephen Housden joined LRB bringing a rock element into the band’s sound and helped contribute to their string of Top 10 hits. As band members departed one by one, Housden and Nelson worked together to bring LRB into the new millennium.  

 

To date, Nelson’s vocal and bass guitar talents are included on 23 Little River Band Albums/CD’s.  Although Housden has retired from touring, LRB continues to perform to sold out audiences, and Stephen continues to write and participate in all things Little River Band.

 

In 2004 LRB was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards. And in September 2015, the band was awarded Casino Entertainer of the Year at the G2E Gaming Expo in Las Vegas Nevada.

 

Turning the page brings us to the current lineup of Little River Band…

 

Keyboardist Chris Marion is a Dove Award winning producer. Chris is the creator of all the orchestral arrangements and charts on The Big Box. It is amazing to watch him play, sing, and conduct from his riser!

 

Lead Guitarist Rich Herring is a highly skilled player, singer, and producer of many Nashville artists…not to mention a great songwriter. He and Wayne have co-produced every LRB project since he joined the band.

 

Drummer Ryan Ricks has locked down the rhythm section, and rounds out the vocals with his incredible range. Great singing drummers are rare…and LRB is lucky to have Ryan as part of that all-important vocal blend.

 

Nashville Guitarist Colin Whinnery plays rhythm and lead guitar, and shares lead vocal duties with Wayne. He brings a brand new voice and a fresh outlook to the rhythm section.

 

Early 2014 saw the release of Little River Band’s, ‘Cuts Like a Diamond,’ on Frontiers Records.  “What If You’re Wrong,” went to #1 and stayed there for 3 weeks says Jim Shoe of CLASSX Radio.  “Forever You, Forever Me,” and “You Dream, I’ll Drive,” both climbed into the station’s TOP 3. 

 

In November of 2016, LRB released, ‘The Hits…Revisited,’ on Wurld Records –  a CD consisting of 9 re-recorded hits along with 2 new songs, written by Wayne, Chris, and Rich.   Kris Kristofferson attended one of their concerts in California. He came backstage after the concert and he told LRB that their harmonies are “better than the Beatles.”

 

May of 2017 brought the release of ‘The Big Box’ –  a box set consisting of 6 disc’s and featuring a DVD with live footage from their 40th Anniversary Tour.

 

In 2020, lead singer and bass player Wayne Nelson will be celebrating a personal milestone of being a member of Little River Band for 40 years.

 

Bringing their vocal and musical energy along with great arrangements to their timeless classic hits, each show creates new memories for the audience.  The band enjoys watching their fans fall in love with the songs all over again as they are swept up by the show’s powerful performance and the volume of hits from LRB’s history.

 

With over 80 dates scheduled for their 2020 tour, Little River Band is hotter than ever – selling out shows and making music from coast to coast – continuing their legacy of being “the best singing band in the world.”