An Underrated Pioneer
Footloose and Alright: Kenny Loggins earned his three nights with the HoustonSymphony
You've probably heard someone utter the saying, "That music was the soundtrack of my youth ..." or some variation of it. In almost every case it is a metaphor or figure of speech suggesting that the music being referenced took that person back to memories of their first slow dance or early attempts at copping a feel.
In the case of Kenny Loggins, however, I can honestly say that he literally was the soundtrack of my adolescence. And, my guess is, there are many people in their thirties and forties who feel the same way who will be attending his performances Friday through Sunday with the Houston Symphony Pops at Jones Hall as a result.
Beginning in 1980 when his early solo hit "I'm Alright" made Bill Murray's gopher nemesis slide into dance, Loggins could be heard singing in more movies over the next decade than Kevin Bacon or Tom Cruise played the pouty and dreamy leading men in combined. In fact, his former chart-topping title tracks for Bacon's Footloose ('84) and Cruises' Top Gun ("Danger Zone" went to No. 2 in '86) were almost as prominent as the actors' respective sultry gazes.
What many forget is that, prior to becoming the go-to-guy for hooky pop anthems that stick to the roof of the mouth Like Tangy Taffy, Loggins was very successful as one-half of the duo, Loggins & Messina. In the first half of the 1970s this pair took the baton from Simon & Garfunkel and paved the way for Hall & Oates and more recent power duos like The White Stripes and The Black Keys.
Think that's a stretch for a couple of post-dated hippies like Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina? Well then you explain how, on the strength of weepers like "Danny's Song" (And don't tell me you don't sing the line, "And even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with you, honeeey..." every time you run across it on the FM dial in the car) and the juke joint stomp of "Your Mama Don't Dance," sold 16 million albums in a four-year span.
Even by today's mass-consumer standards and quickee digital download culture, that's impressive. And they did it when people actually had to travel to record stores, travel home, and put a vinyl disc onto a spinning platter and under a needle before the music could be heard.
Couple that success with a few million copies of Loggins' solo records and soundtrack hits sold over the last 30-plus years and its no wonder Loggins was chosen to play with Houston Symphony for a very rare three-night engagement.
The only real surprise is that Grammy — or maybe it should be Oscar — hasn't been recreated in his likeness.
Kenny Loggins (with the Houston Symphony Pops), 8:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
Tickets: $55-$116
