Robert Seger (born May 6, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has retired from performing. He began his career as a successful local artist in the Detroit area, performing and recording with groups such as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and the Bob Seger System during the 1960s. His first album, Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, released in 1969, included his first national hit of the same name. By the early 1970s, he removed "System" from his band's name and continued to work with other groups to achieve greater success. In 1973, he formed The Silver Bullet Band with musicians from Detroit. This group helped him achieve national fame with the 1976 album Live Bullet, which was recorded live in 1975 at Cobo Hall. In 1976, he released the studio album Night Moves, which marked his major national success. Seger also frequently collaborated with the Alabama-based Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, who contributed to several of his popular songs and albums.
Seger is known as a roots rock musician with a strong, distinctive voice. He is one of the most famous artists in the heartland rock genre, which often features themes about love, relationships, and working-class life. Some of his most popular songs include "Night Moves," "Turn the Page," "Mainstreet," "Still the Same," "Hollywood Nights," "Against the Wind," "You'll Accomp'ny Me," "Shame on the Moon," "Roll Me Away," "Like a Rock," and "Shakedown." The song "Shakedown" was written for the 1987 movie Beverly Hills Cop II and reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His version of "Old Time Rock and Roll" was named one of the Songs of the Century in 2001. He also co-wrote the Eagles' hit song "Heartache Tonight," which reached number one on the charts.
Over six decades, Seger has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists in history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2015, he was honored as Billboard's Legend of Live at the Billboard Touring Conference & Awards. His final tour took place in 2018 and 2019.
Early years
Seger was born at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, as the child of Charlotte and Stewart Seger. At age five, he moved with his family to Ann Arbor. He had an older brother named George.
Seger’s father worked as a medical technician for Ford Motor Company and played several musical instruments. Seger was introduced to music early in life. However, frequent arguments between his parents often caused noise that disturbed the neighborhood at night. In 1956, when Seger was 10 years old, his father left the family and moved to California. After this, the family lost their comfortable middle-class lifestyle and faced financial difficulties.
Seger attended Tappan Junior High School, now called Tappan Middle School, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1963; the school is now known as Pioneer High School. During high school, he participated in track and field events. For a time, he also attended Lincoln Park High School.
About his early musical influences, Seger said, “Little Richard was the first one that really got to me. Little Richard and, of course, Elvis Presley.” The first record he purchased was “Come Go with Me” by The Del-Vikings, a popular song in 1957.
Regional favorite and first national hit: 1961–1976
Bob Seger began his music career in Detroit in 1961 as the leader of a three-member band named the Decibels. The band included Seger on guitar, piano, keyboards, and vocals, Pete Stanger on guitar, and R.B. Hunter on drums. All members attended Ann Arbor High School. The Decibels recorded an acetate demo of their song "The Lonely One" at Del Shannon's studio in 1961. This was Seger's first original song and the first to be played on the radio, airing once on an Ann Arbor station. In 2021, a recording of "The Lonely One" was found again and played twice on WCSX-FM in Detroit with Seger's permission.
After the Decibels ended, Seger joined the Town Criers, a four-member band where he sang lead vocals. The band included John Flis on bass, Pep Perrine on drums, and Larry Mason on lead guitar. The Town Criers performed songs like "Louie Louie" and gained a following. At the same time, Seger listened to James Brown and said that Live at the Apollo, released in 1963, was his favorite record. He was also influenced by The Beatles after they arrived in the United States in 1964. Seger and local musicians, such as Glenn Frey (later of the Eagles), believed that success in the 1960s music scene depended on having songs played on the radio. He later recalled thinking, "You're nobody if you can't get on the radio."
As the Town Criers performed more shows, Seger met Doug Brown, who led The Omens. Seger joined The Omens because they were more established than the Town Criers. While Brown sang lead on most songs, Seger performed some R&B numbers and appeared on an officially released recording in 1965. The single "TGIF" (with "First Girl") was credited to Doug Brown and The Omens. Seger later sang on a parody of Barry Sadler's song "Ballad of the Green Berets," titled "Ballad of the Yellow Beret," which mocked draft evaders. After the song was released, Sadler and his label threatened Brown and his band with a lawsuit, and the recording was removed.
While with The Omens, Seger met his future manager, Edward "Punch" Andrews, who worked with Dave Leone to run the Hideout franchise. Hideout included four clubs and a small record label where local musicians could perform. Seger began writing and producing songs for other acts managed by Punch, such as the Mama Cats and the Mushrooms (with Glenn Frey). Punch and Leone later asked Seger and Brown to write a song for the Underdogs, a local band that had a hit with "Man in the Glass." Seger wrote a song called "East Side Story," which was not successful.
Seger decided to record "East Side Story" and left The Omens (though he kept Brown as a producer). As Bob Seger and the Last Heard, Seger released his version of the song on Hideout Records in 1966. It became his first big hit in Detroit. The single sold 50,000 copies locally and led to a contract with Cameo-Parkway Records. The name "The Last Heard" originally referred to the group of musicians who recorded "East Side Story" with Seger, but it soon became the name of Seger's band. The band included Pep Perrine on drums, Carl Lagassa on guitar, and Dan Honaker on bass. After "East Side Story," the group released four more singles: "Sock It to Me Santa," "Persecution Smith," "Vagrant Winter," and "Heavy Music" in 1967. "Heavy Music" sold more copies than "East Side Story" and reached No. 82 on Canada's RPM charts. It narrowly missed the U.S. Hot 100, peaking at No. 103. The song remained part of Seger's live performances for many years.
After Cameo-Parkway closed, Seger and Punch searched for a new record label. In 1968, Bob Seger & the Last Heard signed with Capitol Records, choosing it over Motown Records, which offered more money. Seger believed Capitol was better suited for his music style.
Capitol changed the band's name to The Bob Seger System. During the label change, guitarist Carl Lagassa left, and keyboardist Bob Schultz joined. The System's first single, "2 + 2 = ?," was an anti-war song and reflected a shift in Seger's political views. It was a hit in Detroit and reached No. 1 in Buffalo, New York, and Orlando, Florida, but failed to chart nationally. It reached No. 79 on Canada's national charts.
The second single, "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man," was a major hit in Michigan and Seger's first nationwide success, peaking at No. 17. Its success led to the release of an album in 1969. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man reached No. 62 on the Billboard pop albums chart. Glenn Frey had his first studio role on the song, singing backup and playing guitar.
Seger struggled to follow up this success. For the next album, singer-songwriter Tom Neme joined The System and wrote most of the songs, which led to criticism. The album Noah (1969) failed to chart, and Seger briefly left music to attend college. He returned in 1970 and released the System's final album, Mongrel, without Neme. Bob Schultz also left and was replaced by Dan Watson. Mongrel, featuring the single "Lucifer," was praised by critics and fans but did not sell well. The Bob Seger System was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2006.
After Mongrel did not match the success of Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, The System disbanded. For a short time, Seger tried performing as a solo artist. In 1971, he released a solo album, Brand New Morning, which was not commercially successful and led to his departure from Capitol.
Seger then worked with the duo Teegarden & Van Winkle, who had a hit with "God, Love, and Rock & Roll" in 1970. Together, they released Smokin' O.P.'s (1972) on Punch Andrews' Palladium Records. The album included covers, such as a version of Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter," which reached No. 76 on the U.S. charts. It also included a new Seger song, "Someday," and a
Peak of success: 1976–1987
In October 1976, Bob Seger released his album Night Moves, which marked a major success in his career. The title song was widely praised and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It also received frequent radio play on AOR stations. Another song from the album, "Mainstreet," reached No. 24 on the charts and highlighted Seger's rock style and the guitar work of Pete Carr. The song "Rock and Roll Never Forgets" peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Night Moves was Seger's first album to reach the top ten on the Billboard album chart. By 2006, it had sold 6 million copies in the United States, making it his best-selling studio album. The success of Night Moves also helped increase sales of Seger's earlier albums. His 1975 album Beautiful Loser eventually sold 2 million copies, and his 1976 album Live Bullet sold 6 million copies in the U.S.
In February 1977, Charlie Allen Martin, the drummer of the Silver Bullet Band, was seriously injured in a car accident and could no longer walk. David Teegarden, who had previously played drums for Seger on his 1972 album Smokin' O.P.'s, took his place.
Seger's 1978 album Stranger in Town was successful. The first single, "Still the Same," reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Hollywood Nights" reached No. 12, and the ballad "We've Got Tonight" reached No. 13. Later, in 1983, Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton covered "We've Got Tonight," and it topped Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 6 on the Hot 100. Another song from the album, "Old Time Rock and Roll," reached No. 28 on the Hot 100. It became more popular after being featured in the movie Risky Business, where Tom Cruise danced in his underwear to the song. The song was later named one of the Songs of the Century in 2001. Seger later said he regretted not taking full credit for writing the song, as it cost him money.
Seger also co-wrote the Eagles' No. 1 hit "Heartache Tonight" from their 1979 album The Long Run. The song was about Seger's and Glenn Frey's shared early lives in Detroit.
In 1980, Seger released Against the Wind, which became his first and only No. 1 album on the Billboard chart. The first single, "Fire Lake," reached No. 6 on the Hot 100, and the title song "Against the Wind" reached No. 5. It also entered the Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The third single, "You'll Accompany Me," reached No. 14. Against the Wind won two Grammy Awards. By 2006, both Stranger in Town and Against the Wind had sold over 5 million copies in the U.S.
The 1981 live album Nine Tonight marked the peak of Seger's commercial success. His version of "Tryin' to Live My Life Without You" became a Top 5 hit from the album, and Nine Tonight sold 4 million copies.
In December 1982, Seger released The Distance, which was critically praised for its versatility. During recording, guitarist Drew Abbott left the band due to frustration with Seger's use of session musicians and was replaced by Dawayne Bailey. After the album's release, drummer David Teegarden also left and was replaced by Don Brewer. The song "Shame on the Moon," written by Rodney Crowell, was the biggest hit from the album, reaching No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 2 on the Hot 100. It also reached No. 15 on the Country Singles chart. Other songs, like "Even Now" and "Roll Me Away," had moderate success. The music video for "Making Thunderbirds," a song from the album, was filmed in Detroit and aired on MTV. The Distance sold 1.9 million copies in the U.S. and reached No. 5 on the charts. It was later released on 8-track tape at Seger's request, even though Capitol Records had no plans to do so.
In 1984, Seger wrote and recorded the song "Understanding" for the movie Teachers. It became a Top 20 hit. In 1986, he wrote and recorded "Living Inside My Heart" for the movie About Last Night….
Seger was less active in the late 1980s, and it was several years before his next studio album, Like a Rock, was released in 1986. The song "American Storm" was a Top 20 hit, helped by a popular music video featuring Lesley Ann Warren. The title track reached No. 12 on the Hot 100. Later, the song was used in a long-running Chevrolet ad campaign to support American auto workers in Detroit. Seger's 1986–1987 American Storm Tour included 105 shows and sold nearly 1.5 million tickets. Like a Rock reached No. 3 on the charts and sold over 3 million copies, though it was never certified above platinum.
On March 13, 1987, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contributions to music. The star is located at 1750 Vine Street.
In 1987, Seger recorded "Shakedown" for the movie Beverly Hills Cop II. The synth-driven pop-rock song was his first and only No. 1 hit on the pop singles chart. It was originally intended for Glenn Frey, but Frey lost his voice before the recording and asked Seger to take his place. Seger changed the verses but kept the chorus. He was nominated for an Oscar as co-writer of the song in 1988.
Later years: 1988–present
In 1991, Seger released an album called The Fire Inside. At that time, genres like glam metal, grunge, and alternative rock were very popular. His new music had little success on the radio or elsewhere. The same was true for his 1995 album It's a Mystery, although it received a gold certification, meaning it sold 500,000 copies. In 1994, Seger released a compilation album called Greatest Hits. This was his best-selling record, selling nearly 10 million copies in the United States by 2010. In 1996, Seger went on a tour that sold the fourth-largest number of tickets for any North American tour that year.
From 1997 to 2005, Seger took a break from music to spend time with his family. In 2001 and 2002, he won the prestigious Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race on his 52-foot sailboat Lightning. In 2004, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fellow musician Kid Rock gave the induction speech, and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm declared March 15 as Bob Seger Day. In 2005, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. Seger also sang on a song called Landing in London from 3 Doors Down’s Seventeen Days album.
In 2006, Seger released his first new album in 11 years, Face the Promise. In its first 45 days, it sold over 400,000 copies and reached 1.2 million total sales, earning Seger a platinum status. The album stayed on the Billboard chart for several months. The supporting tour was highly anticipated, with many shows selling out quickly. For example, all 10,834 tickets for his first show at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena sold out in under five minutes, and three additional shows were added.
In 2009, Seger released a compilation album called Early Seger Vol. 1, which included music from the 1970s and 1980s, some re-recorded and some previously unreleased. The album was first sold only at Meijer stores and later made available for download on his website.
Seger contributed piano and vocals to Kid Rock’s 2010 album Born Free and toured successfully in 2011, releasing a two-CD compilation called Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets. In 2011, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder declared May 28 as Bob Seger Day, honoring his more than 50 years of musical contributions. In 2012, Seger was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The next year, he sang a duet of Who’ll Stop the Rain with John Fogerty on Fogerty’s album Wrote a Song for Everyone.
In 2014, Seger released his 17th studio album, Ride Out, and toured the United States and Canada. In 2016, Seger performed Heartache Tonight at the Kennedy Center during an event honoring the Eagles. A few weeks later, he released a single called Glenn Song as a tribute to Glenn Frey, a founding member of the Eagles. That summer, Seger toured the United States, including a show at The Palace of Auburn Hills, which was the last event held at that venue. He also released a cover of Lou Reed’s Busload of Faith as the first single from his album I Knew You When. Because of a sudden medical problem with his spine, all concerts starting September 30 were postponed. Of the 32 scheduled tour dates, Seger completed 13 and postponed 19.
In 2018, Seger announced his final tour, called Travelin’ Man, which included postponed dates from the 2017 tour. The tour began in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and ended on November 1, 2019, after which Seger retired.
In 2023, Seger briefly returned to perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville for the induction of Patty Loveless. He played Loveless’s song She Drew a Broken Heart and performed a duet with her on The Answer’s in the Question from his album Face the Promise.
In 2017, the city of Lincoln Park declared November 17 as Bob Seger Day. Mayor Thomas Karnes called Seger the voice of the city for their generation. Seger attended school there and performed at the city’s bandshell in the 1960s. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Seger at number 181 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Personal life
Seger married Renee Andrietti in 1968, but their marriage lasted about 11 months. He was in a long-term relationship with Jan Dinsdale from 1972 to 1983. In 1987, he married actress Annette Sinclair, and they divorced the following year. In 1993, he married Juanita Dorricott in a private ceremony at The Village Club in Bloomfield Hills. The couple has two children together.
Politically, Seger describes himself as a centrist, meaning he believes he is in the middle of the political spectrum. He supported Democrat Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. In his early songs, such as "2 + 2 = ?" (1968) and "U.M.C. (Upper Middle Class)" (1974), he addressed antiestablishment themes, as noted by Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press. On his 2014 album Ride Out, he discussed issues like gun violence and climate change. He wrote the song "It's Your World" to highlight climate change, stating, "Many people contribute to climate change, and everyone is responsible, including me. No one is exempt. We must change our habits quickly."
Seger considers President Barack Obama to be his favorite president. He met Obama at the 2016 Kennedy Center Honors and praised him for his "wisdom and dignity."
Discography
- Live Bullet (1976)
- Nine Tonight (1981)
- Best Songs (1994)
- Best Songs 2 (2003)
- Early Songs Volume 1 (2009)
- Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets (2011)
- Heavy Music: All Songs from Cameo 1966–1967 (2017)