John Fogerty

John Fogerty (born May 28, 1946) is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his time with the southern rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. John and his brother, Tom Fogerty, formed the band in the late 1950s as the Golliwogs. Between 1969 and 1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival released nine Top Ten singles including "Fortunate Son", "Proud Mary" and "Bad Moon Rising".

Fogerty began a solo career, originally under the name the Blue Ridge Rangers for his 1973 debut, on which he played all of the instruments and covered others' hits, such as "Jambalaya" (which was a Top 40 hit). John Fogerty was released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). Sales were slim and legal problems delayed a follow-up. Creedence Clearwater Revival's former management filed suit against Fogerty, claiming that his new, solo compositions sounded too much like his former work as songwriter for Creedence. His solo career emerged in full force with 1984's Centerfield, which went to the top of the charts and included "The Old Man Down The Road", a Top Ten hit. But that album was also without its legal snags...two songs on the album, "Zanz Can't Dance" and "Mr. Greed", were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, which forced Fogerty to issue a revised version of "Zanz Can't Dance" (changing the lead character's name to Vanz). Another lawsuit claimed that "The Old Man Down The Road" shared the same chorus as "Run Through The Jungle" (a song from Fogerty's days with Creedence). Fogerty ultimately won his case when he proved that the two songs were whole, separate and distinct compositions.

The follow-up was The Eye of the Zombie in 1986, which was less successful. In 1993, his group Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but Fogerty refused to perform with the group, claiming his revenge against his bandmates for their dirty dealings with Fantasy Records. He retired until returning with 1997's Blue Moon Swamp.