John Fogerty (b. 1945)

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Biography

John Cameron Fogerty is an American musician. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty, he founded the swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), for which he was the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter. CCR had nine top-10 singles and eight gold albums between 1968 and 1972, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

In Their Own Words (5)

Well, take me back down where cool water flow, yeh Let me remember things I love Stoppin' at the log where catfish bite, Walkin' along the river road at night, Barefoot girls dancin' in the moonlight. I can hear the bull frog callin' me Wonder if my rope's still hangin' to the tree Love to kick my feet way down the shallow water, Shoe fly, dragon fly, get back t your mother Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River.

Green River", "Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River (Official Lyric Video)" , 1969

Whoa, thought it was a nightmare, low, it's all so true.They told me, don't go walking slow, the devil's on the loose.Better run through the jungle.Better run through the jungle.Better run through the jungle.Don't look back to see.

"Run Through the Jungle" , 1970

Left a good job in the city, Workin' for the man ev'ry night and day. And I never lost one minute of sleepin' Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been. Big wheel keep on turnin', Proud Mary keep on burnin'. Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.

"Proud Mary" (1969) · "Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary Live (1969) , 1969

Now, when I was just a little boy,Standin' to my Daddy's knee,My papa said, "Son, don't let the man get youAn' do what he done to me."Because he'll get you.Because he'll get you now, now.An' I can remember the fourth o' July,Runnin' through the backwood bare.An' I can still hear my ol' hound dog barkin',Chasin' down a hoodoo there.Chasin' down a hoodoo there.Born on the Bayou.Born on the Bayou.

"Born on the Bayou" , 1969

As long as I remember, The rain's been comin' down. Clouds of mystery pourin', Confusion on the ground. Good men through the ages Tryin' to find the sun. And I wonder, still I wonder Who'll stop the rain?

"Who'll Stop the Rain", "Who'll Stop the Rain - CCR's lyrics" , 1970

Timeline

The story of John Fogerty, told in moments.

1969 Event

Creedence Clearwater Revival released three albums in one year. "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," and "Fortunate Son" all became classics. Fogerty wrote, sang, played lead guitar, and produced everything.

How do you write, sing, play lead guitar, and produce three albums in one year? Was controlling everything a strength or a flaw? Which of those 1969 songs means the most to you?

1972 Life

CCR broke up after Fogerty's controlling style drove the others away. His brother Tom never spoke to him again. Fantasy Records owned the rights to every song. Fogerty spent decades in legal battles to reclaim his own music.

Do you regret driving your bandmates away? Did your brother's silence hurt more than the lawsuits? What does it cost to own everything in a band?

1985 Event

Sued by Fantasy Records for plagiarizing himself. They claimed his solo hit "The Old Man Down the Road" sounded too much like his own CCR song "Run Through the Jungle." The Supreme Court ruled in Fogerty's favor.

How does it feel to be sued for plagiarizing yourself? Did the Supreme Court victory taste like justice? Would you write 'Run Through the Jungle' differently knowing what came after?