History of John Fogerty in Timeline
John Fogerty is an American musician best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter for the band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). He formed CCR with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty. CCR achieved significant success between 1968 and 1972, releasing nine top-10 singles and eight gold albums. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, solidifying Fogerty's impact on rock music.
May 28, 1945: John Fogerty Born
On May 28, 1945, John Cameron Fogerty was born. He later co-founded Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR).
1959: Formation of The Blue Velvets
In 1959, while in junior high school, John Fogerty formed a cover band called The Blue Velvets with Stu Cook and Doug Clifford.
February 7, 1960: Birth of Julie Lebiedzinski
Julie Lebiedzinski, who would later marry John Fogerty, was born on February 7, 1960, in Elkhart, Indiana.
1964: Signing with Fantasy Records
In 1964, The Blue Velvets signed with Fantasy Records, which changed the band's name to The Golliwogs without their approval. The Golliwogs recorded seven singles that weren't commercially successful.
1965: Marriage to Martha Paiz
In 1965, John Fogerty married Martha Paiz. They had three children together before divorcing in the mid-1970s.
1966: Draft Notice and Army Reserve Enlistment
In 1966, John Fogerty received his draft notice for military service during the Vietnam War and enlisted in the United States Army Reserve.
July 1967: Completion of Active Duty Service
In July 1967, John Fogerty completed his six months of active duty service in the Army Reserve.
1968: CCR Success
In 1968, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) began their successful run, achieving nine top-10 singles and eight gold albums.
1968: Formation of Creedence Clearwater Revival
In 1968, after Fogerty's active duty ended, The Golliwogs changed their name to Creedence Clearwater Revival, with John Fogerty as lead singer. They released their debut album and their first hit single, "Susie Q".
1968: Early Discharge from the Army Reserve
In mid-1968, John Fogerty received an early discharge from the Army Reserve after attempting to sabotage his fitness for duty.
January 1971: Tom Fogerty Leaves CCR
In January 1971, Tom Fogerty left Creedence Clearwater Revival due to internal rifts within the band.
April 1972: Release of 'Mardi Gras' and Disbandment of CCR
In April 1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival released their final album, 'Mardi Gras'. The group disbanded shortly after, despite the album's commercial success.
1972: Last Large Audience CCR Performance
Before his performance on July 4, 1987, the last time John Fogerty had performed any Creedence Clearwater Revival songs for a large audience was in 1972.
1972: CCR's Successful Run End
By 1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) had achieved nine top-10 singles and eight gold albums, marking the end of their initial successful run together.
1972: Fogerty's Solo Career Begins
In 1972, after Creedence Clearwater Revival parted ways, John Fogerty began a successful solo career.
1973: Release of 'The Blue Ridge Rangers'
In 1973, John Fogerty released 'The Blue Ridge Rangers', which featured the hit song "Jambalaya".
1974: Release of "Comin' Down The Road"
In early 1974, John Fogerty released "Comin' Down The Road" with the instrumental "Ricochet" as a B-side.
1975: Release of First Solo Album
In 1975, John Fogerty released his first official solo album, 'John Fogerty'. It had slim sales initially, but yielded the song "Rockin' All Over the World".
1976: Rejection of the 'Hoodoo' Album
In 1976, John Fogerty finished an album called 'Hoodoo', but it was rejected by Asylum Records due to not meeting his standards, and Fogerty had the master tapes destroyed in the 1980s.
1977: Status Quo Records "Rockin' All Over the World"
In 1977, Status Quo recorded their version of John Fogerty's "Rockin' All Over the World", which became a major hit in the UK and other countries.
1980: CCR Reunion at Tom Fogerty's Wedding
In 1980, the only reunion of all four original members of Creedence Clearwater Revival occurred at Tom Fogerty's wedding.
1983: CCR Reunion at High School Reunion
In 1983, John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook reunited for a 45-minute set at their 20th high school class reunion.
May 31, 1985: Filming of 'John Fogerty's All-Stars' for Showtime
On May 31, 1985, John Fogerty filmed a music and interview special for Showtime called 'John Fogerty's All-Stars', which featured rhythm and blues tunes, material from the 'Centerfield' LP, and the song "No Love in You".
1985: Release of 'Centerfield'
In 1985, John Fogerty's solo career re-emerged with 'Centerfield', his first album for Warner Bros. Records. The album went to the top of the charts and included the hit song "The Old Man Down the Road".
1985: Status Quo Plays at Live Aid
In 1985, Status Quo played "Rockin' All Over the World" at the opening of the Live Aid concert.
1986: Meeting Julie Lebiedzinski
In 1986, John Fogerty met Julie Lebiedzinski while on tour in Indianapolis, Indiana.
1986: Release of 'Eye of the Zombie'
In 1986, John Fogerty released 'Eye of the Zombie', a less successful follow-up album to 'Centerfield'. He toured, but initially refused to play CCR material.
1986: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Appearance
In 1986, prior to his performance for Vietnam veterans, John Fogerty made a guest appearance at the Palomino and a performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, marking the first time he had performed any Creedence Clearwater Revival songs for a large audience since 1972.
May 27, 1989: Concert Against AIDS at Oakland Coliseum
On May 27, 1989, John Fogerty played a set of Creedence Clearwater Revival material at Oakland Coliseum for the Concert Against AIDS, backed by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Randy Jackson, and Steve Jordan.
1990: Mississippi Inspiration Trip
In 1990, John Fogerty traveled to Mississippi for inspiration, visited Robert Johnson's gravesite, and decided to perform his old CCR material again. He also funded headstones for blues musicians.
1990: Death of Tom Fogerty
In 1990, John Fogerty's brother, Tom Fogerty, died at the age of 48 from complications of AIDS.
April 20, 1991: Marriage to Julie Lebiedzinski
On April 20, 1991, John Fogerty married Julie Lebiedzinski in Elkhart, Indiana. They have two sons and a daughter together.
1993: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 1993, Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. John Fogerty did not perform with former bandmates. He performed three songs with Bruce Springsteen and Robbie Robertson at the ceremony.
1993: Creedence Clearwater Revival's Hall of Fame Induction
In 1993, Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. John Fogerty refused to perform with former bandmates and performed with Bruce Springsteen and Robbie Robertson instead.
October 1, 1998: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
On October 1, 1998, John Fogerty received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
October 2004: Appearance on Vote for Change tour
In October 2004, John Fogerty appeared on the Vote for Change tour, playing seven of the concerts in U.S. swing states. He also appeared in a Christmas special video produced by the Australian children's group The Wiggles.
2004: Participation in Vote for Change Tour
In 2004, John Fogerty participated in the Vote for Change tour in support of John Kerry's presidential bid against George W. Bush.
2004: Sale of Fantasy Records
In 2004, the sale of Fantasy Records to Concord Records ended the 30-year estrangement between John Fogerty and his former label, as the new owners took steps to restore royalty rights Fogerty had given up to be released from his contract in the mid-1970s.
September 2005: Return to Fantasy Records
In September 2005, John Fogerty returned to Fantasy Records, after DreamWorks Records' noncountry-music unit was absorbed by Geffen Records, which dropped Fogerty but continued to distribute his earlier solo albums.
November 2005: Release of "The Long Road Home"
In November 2005, John Fogerty released "The Long Road Home", a compilation CD combining his CCR hits with solo material, under the new Fantasy contract.
2005: Receiving the Golden Plate Award
In 2005, John Fogerty received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, which was presented by Awards Council member B.B. King.
2005: Touring with John Mellencamp
In 2005, John Fogerty toured with John Mellencamp during the summer.
2005: Induction into Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2005, John Fogerty was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
June 29, 2006: First Headlining British Concert Since 1972
On June 29, 2006, John Fogerty played his first headlining British concert since 1972 at the Hammersmith Apollo theater in London, as part of the European leg of his tour. During that leg, he also performed in Sundsvall, Sweden, where 25,000 people came to see him.
June 23, 2007: Performance at Glastonbury Festival
On June 23, 2007, John Fogerty appeared at Glastonbury Festival, performing an hour-long set of 17 songs, mainly CCR classics. During the performance, he introduced "Who'll Stop the Rain", stating that he wrote the song inspired by Woodstock.
October 2, 2007: Release of Revival
On October 2, 2007, John Fogerty's album "Revival" was released. The album debuted at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with sales of about 65,000 copies in its first week.
2007: Sons Perform with John Fogerty
Since 2007, John Fogerty's sons Shane and Tyler have performed with their father in concert.
February 10, 2008: Grammy Awards Performance
On February 10, 2008, John Fogerty appeared with Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard on the Grammy Awards show. He played his 1973 single "Comin' Down The Road", leading into Lewis and Richard's performances.
March 16, 2008: Kicking Off Australian Tour
On March 16, 2008, John Fogerty kicked off an Australian tour.
June 24, 2008: Return to Royal Albert Hall
On June 24, 2008, John Fogerty made a return to the Royal Albert Hall, a venue he last played with CCR in 1971. It was the last concert on his 2008 European tour. This concert was filmed.
2008: Grammy Nomination for Revival
In 2008, John Fogerty's album "Revival" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, but it lost to the Foo Fighters.
April 16, 2009: Performance at Yankee Stadium Opening Day
On April 16, 2009, John Fogerty performed his hit "Centerfield" from center field of the new Yankee Stadium at its opening-day festivities.
August 31, 2009: Release of "The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again"
On August 31, 2009, John Fogerty released "The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again", a sequel to his 1973 solo debut "The Blue Ridge Rangers". The album features duets with Bruce Springsteen and collaborations with Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit of Eagles.
October 29, 2009: Appearance at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert
On October 29, 2009, John Fogerty appeared at Madison Square Garden for the first night of the celebratory 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts, where he played three songs with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
November 3, 2009: Release of Royal Albert Hall DVD
On November 3, 2009, John Fogerty released the Royal Albert Hall DVD entitled "Comin' Down The Road", named after his 1973 single.
November 29, 2009: HBO Special Airing
On November 29, 2009, the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts, featuring John Fogerty's performance with Bruce Springsteen, aired as a four-hour special on HBO.
2009: Re-recording of "Change in the Weather"
In 2009, John Fogerty included "Change in the Weather" from the album Eye of the Zombie in his tour setlist and re-recorded it for the album 'The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again'.
2009: Performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
In 2009, John Fogerty performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl on July 2, 3, and 4, which were sold out shows.
May 18, 2010: Honored as BMI Icon
On May 18, 2010, John Fogerty was honored as a Broadcast Music Incorporated Icon at the 58th annual BMI Pop Awards for his songwriting achievements.
2010: Grammy Nomination
In 2010, John Fogerty was nominated for the Best Rock Solo Vocal Performance Grammy for the song "Change in the Weather", which he recorded for "The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again".
November 17, 2011: Performance on Late Show with David Letterman
On November 17, 2011, John Fogerty performed on the Late Show with David Letterman.
January 2012: Song Debut and Guest Star Appearance on 'The Finder'
In January 2012, John Fogerty's new song "Swamp Water" debuted over the opening credits of the new Fox TV series "The Finder". Fogerty wrote the song for the show and guest-starred in its debut episode.
November 12, 2012: Announcement of Memoirs
On November 12, 2012, John Fogerty announced that he was writing his memoirs, with the book expected to be released in 2015.
May 28, 2013: Release of 'Wrote a Song for Everyone'
On May 28, 2013, his 68th birthday, John Fogerty's album "Wrote a Song for Everyone" was released on Vanguard Records. The album is a collection of classics and tracks from his canon of hits performed with other artists, and includes two new Fogerty-penned songs.
2014: Performance at 'Salute to the Troops'
During the 2014 Veterans Days celebration, "Salute to the Troops" at the White House, John Fogerty performed for many veterans.
February 21, 2015: Performance at NHL Stadium Series Game
On February 21, 2015, John Fogerty was a featured artist for the National Hockey League stadium series game between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
October 2015: Publication of Autobiography
In October 2015, John Fogerty published his autobiography, "Fortunate Son" (Little, Brown & Co.).
2015: Support for Hillary Clinton
In 2015, John Fogerty expressed his support for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
September 2017: New Recording Contract with BMG Rights Management
In September 2017, John Fogerty signed a new recording contract with BMG Rights Management, which will cover an upcoming album and his solo catalogue.
November 2019: Appearance on PBS pledge week with "John Fogerty: My 50 Year Trip"
In November 2019, John Fogerty appeared on Public Broadcasting Station pledge week with "John Fogerty: My 50 Year Trip", a taped performance from Red Rocks Amphitheater, Colorado.
December 31, 2019: Performance at the Winstar
On December 31, 2019, John Fogerty performed at the Winstar in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The remaining performances of his current tour "My 50 Year Trip" have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 28, 2020: Release of "Fogerty's Factory" EP
On May 28, 2020, coinciding with John Fogerty's 75th birthday, the "Fogerty's Factory" EP was released, collecting seven songs from the remote performances during the pandemic lockdown. He was accompanied by his children, Shane, Tyler and Kelsey.
October 19, 2020: Backing Vocals on Hearty Har's 'Scream and Shout'
On October 19, 2020, John Fogerty performed backing vocals on "Scream and Shout", a single by his sons' band Hearty Har.
2020: Living in Thousand Oaks, California
As of 2020, John Fogerty and his wife, Julie Lebiedzinski, live in Thousand Oaks, California.
2020: Cease-and-Desist Letter to Trump
In 2020, John Fogerty issued a cease-and-desist letter to Donald Trump after Trump frequently used "Fortunate Son" during his reelection campaign.
January 6, 2021: Release of 'Weeping in the Promised Land'
On January 6, 2021, John Fogerty released "Weeping in the Promised Land", a gospel-styled single featuring sociopolitical commentary on Black Lives Matter, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Donald Trump.
January 13, 2023: Ownership of CCR Global Catalog
On January 13, 2023, John Fogerty announced on Twitter that he now owned the rights to the CCR global catalog after a 50-year legal battle.
2023: Purchase of Hidden Hills Estate
In 2023, John Fogerty bought a Hidden Hills estate from Sylvester Stallone for $17 million.
August 22, 2025: Album Release: Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years
On August 22, 2025 John Fogerty released an album of re-recorded Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, titled Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years.
January 16, 2026: NPR Tiny Desk Concert
On January 16, 2026, John Fogerty performed a concert with his band on NPR's Tiny Desk.
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