By Ed Condran
John Fogerty is up there with Ray Davies of The Kinks and The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn as the most underrated musicians in rock history. Fogerty has written hits as leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a solo artist, but the recording artist who was born in Berkeley, not the bayou, is relatively under the radar.
While some of Fogerty’s peers are headlining stadiums and arenas, the roots rocker primarily plays theaters and sheds. Regardless, Fogerty, 79, is well worth catching. Fogerty, who performs Jan. 22 and 24-25, at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, is a seminal fixture who has enjoyed a storied career.
The anthemic “Proud Mary,” the fiery “Fortunate Son” and the swampy “Green River” were hits for CCR. And then there are the solo smashes, such as the muscular “Old Man Down the Road” and the clever paean to baseball “Centerfield.”
Fogerty’s salute to Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and other iconic baseball players was his first chart-topper. CCR had nine Top 10 hits from 1968 to 1972, five of them peaking at No. 2, and eight gold albums. Fogerty’s tip of the cap to an innocent age and his favorite game still resonates today and is heard at ballparks throughout America.
“That’s a funny thing when something like that happens,” Fogerty said. “You never know when that’s going to happen, but I’ve had a few songs that have stuck around.”
That’s an understatement. There are several CCR originals (“Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Bad Moon Rising”), covers with unique arrangements (“Suzie Q” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”) and solo material (“Rock and Roll Girls,” “Gunslinger”) that stand the test of time.
Fogerty continues to be productive. During lockdown in 2020, a family project was crafted. “Fogerty’s Factory,” which dropped in November 2020, features Fogerty and his three youngest children, Kelsy, Shane and Tyler, jamming on CCR favorites, solo hits, deep cuts and classic covers.
“I still make and record music because I love it,” Fogerty said. “There’s nothing I would rather do than write, record and tour.”
It’s been evident over recent years that Fogerty is enjoying live performance. While experiencing Fogerty perform with The Sound City Players during the last of the supergroup’s eight shows in 2013 at South By Southwest in Austin, Fogerty performed seven of his songs.
“That was the greatest playing with (Sound City documentarian and Foo Fighter) Dave (Grohl),” Fogerty said. “I get such great joy from shows like that and my shows. Why should I stop doing it?”
If You Go
8 p.m. Jan. 22 and 24-25. 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 770-7000; WynnLasVegas.com
