Creedence Clearwater Revival – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Creedence Clearwater Revival Biography

The members of the American rock group Creedence Clearwater Revival, also known as Creedence or CCR, included lead singer, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty, as well as his brother Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar, bassist Stu Cook, and drummer Doug Clifford.

The musical genres represented by CCR included roots rock, swamp rock, blues rock, country rock, and blue-eyed soul. Contrary to their East Bay, California, roots, the band frequently played in a Southern rock vein, with lyrics that referenced Mississippi River, catfish, bayous, and other Southern American iconography. The band avoided writing songs about romantic love in favor of politically and socially minded lyrics concerning issues like the Vietnam War. The band was the first major artist signed to perform at the Upstate New York Woodstock event in 1969.

Since 1959, these individuals have performed as The Blue Velvets and The Golliwogs, respectively. The roots rock, swamp rock, and blues rock genres were all represented in their music. Despite being from the San Francisco Bay Area, they played in a Southern rock style and included politically and socially conscious lyrics about the Vietnam War in addition to lyrics about Mississippi River imagery like catfish and bayous. The band played at the Upstate New York Woodstock Festival in 1969.

After four years of top-charting success, the group split up amicably in the latter half of 1972. The band’s former members filed successive lawsuits after Tom Fogerty officially quit the next year and his brother John got into a fight with the others over issues of financial and artistic control. In 1993, when CCR was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John Fogerty declined to perform with the two other remaining members due to his ongoing conflicts with Fantasy Records’ owner Saul Zaentz.

The music of Creedence Clearwater Revival is still frequently played on US radio stations; the group has sold 26 million CDs in the country alone. On their list of the 100 greatest artists ever, Rolling Stone rated them 82nd.

At the Portola Junior High School in El Cerrito, California, Stu Cook, Doug Clifford, and John Fogerty got to know one another. The group took on the moniker “Blue Velvets” and started performing instrumentals and “juke box standards” in addition to supporting Tom Fogerty, the eldest brother, both live and in the studio.

Tom quickly joined the group, and in 1964 they signed with Fantasy Records, a San Francisco-based independent jazz label that had already published jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi’s smash tune Cast Your Fate To The Wind. A National Educational Television feature on the success of the album led aspiring songwriter John Fogerty to get in touch with the record company. Max Weiss, a co-owner of Fantasy, changed the band’s name for its debut album to the Golliwogs in honor of the fictional kid figure Golliwogg.

During this time, band members’ responsibilities and the instruments they played altered. John joined the group as the lead singer and main songwriter after Stu Cook transitioned from the piano to the bass guitar and Tom Fogerty from the lead vocals to the rhythm guitar. “I could sing, but John had a sound,” said Tom Fogerty.

Creedence Clearwater Revival Discography

Mardi GrasSpotifyAppleYouTube
PendulumSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Cosmo’s FactorySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Willy and the Poor BoysSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Green RiverSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Bayou CountrySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Creedence Clearwater RevivalSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

Top Videos

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Creedence Clearwater Revival’S Biggest Hit?

Although Creedence Clearwater Revival had many popular songs, their biggest hit was “Proud Mary.” The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is one of the band’s best-known songs.

What Style Is Creedence Clearwater Revival?

Rock, country rock, swamp rock, roots rock, and blues rock.

How Many Albums Did Creedence Clearwater Put Out?

Creedence Clearwater released seven studio albums and one live album during their active years from 1968 to 1972. The band’s discography includes some of the most important and influential albums of the rock era, including three that topped the Billboard 200 chart.

What Was Creedence Clearwater’S Last Song?

The last song that Creedence Clearwater Revival ever recorded was “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” The song was recorded in the summer of 1972 and released as a single in October of that year. It would go on to become one of the band’s most iconic songs, and would help propel them to even greater success. Though the band would ultimately disband in 1973, their music continues to live on and influence new generations of artists.

What Was Creedence Clearwater Revival’S Best Selling Album?

The best-selling album by Creedence Clearwater Revival is “Cosmo’s Factory.” The album was released in 1970 and reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. It has been certified five times platinum by the RIAA.

Most Searched For Creedence Clearwater Revival Songs

Fortunate SonSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Have You Ever Seen The RainSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I Put A Spell On YouSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Bad Moon RisingSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Run Through The JungleSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Green River SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Proud MarySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Born On The BayouSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Lookin’ Out My Back DoorSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Down On The CornerSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon