Those who listened to the radio in the 1970s may know Kenny Loggins as one half of Loggins and Messina, singers of such hits as "Danny's Song" and "Your Mama Don't Dance."
Those who grew up in the '80s may know him as the guy who sang on the soundtracks of some of the decade's biggest movies.
Others may know him as the soft-rock/folk singer who released very personal albums in the '90s, such as "Leap of Faith" and "Unimaginable Life."
Loggins, who has never been content to pigeonhole himself in one musical genre, will bring his many hats to Deer Valley Resort Monday as part of the "Big Stars, Bright Nights" summer-concert series.
With his latest release, "It's About Time," his first album of new material in six years, Loggins uses a little bit of all his musical styles.
The autobiographical "Alive 'N' Kickin'," which he wrote with country star Clint Black, is like the early recordings with Jim Messina, Loggins said by phone from his home in Santa Barbara, Calif., during a recent pre-tour interview. The title track includes longtime friend and ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald and has a gospel feel in the way of "This Is It" and the Doobies' classic "What a Fool Believes," which Loggins co-wrote.
Loggins, who started writing songs at 18, is a two-time Grammy winner. In 1972, he began releasing albums with former Buffalo Springfield member/producer Messina. The two hit it big with songs such as "Angry Eyes." Then, Loggins' success continued with a strong of solo albums in the late '70s that included hits such as "Celebrate Me Home."
But as the music scene started turning to disco in the late '70s and early '80s, the folk-pop-rock singer found himself on the outside looking in.
Enter Hollywood. "The movies came through to save my butt," Loggins said. "My movie-soundtrack thing got me through the '80s. I got lucky."
First, Loggins laid down the vocals for "I'm Alright," the theme for the Bill Murray/Chevy Chase classic "Caddyshack," In 1984, he recorded the title track for "Footloose." Two years later, Loggins' movie success continued with "Danger Zone" from the Tom Cruise movie "Top Gun."
"Danger Zone" was a fluke and more of being in the right place at the right time, Loggins said. Originally it was written for Toto, which had to cancel at the last minute. "They had a song, no singer and needed it yesterday." Loggins happened to be next door recording another track for the movie.
Part of the success of those songs was due to the then-new MTV era. "No one had written rock 'n' roll for movies," Loggins said. "It was a good marriage of the times and the movies."
In addition to his music, Loggins may also be known simply as the singer with the beard, something he said he grew as soon as he was old enough. Loggins shaved his trademark bushy beard in 1997 to coincide with the release of his deeply personal book and album, "Unimaginable Life." The move was more symbolic than vain to show he didn't have to hide anymore. He grew the beard originally because of his own insecurities.
For awhile, the clean-shaven Loggins could walk anywhere in the world, "including my own home," and not be recognized. But the change didn't come without challenges. "When you start a career with a beard, you can never shave it off. But if you start your career without one, you can grow it."
Today, Loggins has a neatly trimmed goatee, simply because keeping up with the shaving became "a pain in the (butt)."
If you go. . .
What: Kenny Loggins
Where: Deer Valley Resort
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $28-$50
Phone: 355-2787 or 1-800-451-2787
Web:www.arttix.org
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com