“Be original. That's my best advice. You're going to find that there's something that you do well, and try to do it with as much originality as you can, and don't skimp on the words. Work on the words.”
– Bob Seger
Born in Detroit on this date in 1945, Seger is the
quintecential guitarist, pianist and singer-songwriter. The son
of a Ford autoworker, he reflects the American story, self-teaching himself the music that would ultimately lead to his
success, and enduring many years of ups and downs before settling in as one of
music’s icons.
His also is the story of
perserverance, just “knowing” that the songs he was writing eventually would catch
on. That finally happened in 1973 with the hit
song “Night Moves,” recorded by Seger's Silver Bullet Band.
Seger wrote
songs recorded by many artists, perhaps the most important was for
his friend Glenn Frey of the Eagles, the number one hit “Heartache
Tonight” from their award-winning album The
Long Run. That collaboration grew
out of the pair’s friendship dating back to the 1960s when both were literally
starving and struggling musicians on the Detroit scene.
That successful song with The Eagles
led to a massive hit for Seger and the Silver Bullet Band Band, “Against the Wind,”
anchor song on their number one album by the same name.
To hear some of Seger’s all-time
best songs, check out his 2011 double disc "Greatest Hits," which not
only includes those mentioned above but “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and the terrific
“Like A Rock.” Seger has written hundreds of
songs over the years and has lyrics for dozens more. “I write a lot of songs people don’t hear,” he said. “I finish ‘em all. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of
difference between the bad ones and the good ones. I really just enjoy the writing process.”
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