REO Speedwagon honored at city hall

It was a surprise family reunion of sorts, as the lead singer revealed he and Enumclaw’s mayor are related by marriage.

By Alex Bruell • July 15, 2022 10:15 am

Tags: Enumclaw

REO Speedwagon is back on the road again, after being presented with the key to Enumclaw and a performance at the White River Ampitheatre.

True to form for rock stars, the band was fashionably late to the 3:15 City Hall ceremony on July 12, showing up more than a half hour after the scheduled celebration time. Lead singer Kevin Cronin showed up first to meet and greet fans, followed by the rest of the band.

Mayor Jan Molinaro read a proclamation during the visit marking the day as “REO Speedwagon Day” in Enumclaw, citing the band’s prolific touring history and philanthropic efforts to raise money for tornado, shooting and fire victims through benefit concerts.

Hailing from Champagne, Illinois in 1967, REO Speedwagon didn’t have any immediately apparent connection to the Enumclaw area; Molinaro initially said the band was just one of his favorites growing up, and them being in the area for a performance gave him the opportunity to honor their efforts for helping people enjoy life better around the country.

But Cronin revealed a personal connection to the mayor – Cronin’s wife’s grandmother and Molinaro’s grandmother are sisters, making the singer and the mayor second cousins-in-law.

“They married two brothers, so the family is a mess,” Cronin joked.

Molinaro then presented the band with a “key” to the city – a large (non-working) duplicate in the shape of an electric guitar.

“That’s a first,” members of the band replied with smiles.

The key itself cost the city about $500 to have it be made, as well as the guitar case it came in, Molinaro confirmed in a later email; the band received no other compensation to attend the event.

However, REO Speedwagon is expected to make two donations to Plateau Outreach Ministries and the Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation, according to Molinaro and Erik Stein of Scoop Marketing, the band’s public relations firm; Stein said the amounts are being “kept private”.

Attendees of the event were also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to POM and RFWF.

Best friends Shona Yaws, a local, and Jessi Farman, who came down from Seattle, were excited to see the members of the band ahead of their show.

Yaws, an Enumclaw high school graduate, said she’s excited to see ’80s arena rock showcased in Enumclaw.

And as far as the band getting a key to the city: “I’m glad they didn’t give it to Styx,” Farman said.

REO joins several locals (and non-local) as recipients of the key to Enumclaw, including rapper Macklemore (2016), Edward Saylor (2013), Charles Berg (2010), Bob Charlo (2009), Linda Petchnick (2008), the Olympic Kennel Club (2008), Brian Scalbrine (2007), and Kasey Kahne (2005).

Editor Ray Miller-Still contributed to this report.