Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The Lou Gramm Band.- Contributed

Throughout the '70s and '80s the group Foreigner was universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts across the world. Leading the trail from the group was powerhouse vocalist and songwriter, Lou Gramm.

Among the most distinctive and powerful voices to emerge from rock, Gramm was the lead vocalist and co-writer of the multi-platinum band, Foreigner, before pursuing his solo career after the band broke up it reunited more than once. As a member of Foreigner, Gramm sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and exploded on to the international scene with the chart topper, Feel Like the First Time. As a solo artiste, Lou had success with songs such as Midnight Blue.

Gramm will be appearing on the 2008 Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival on Friday, January 25, at the Aqueduct in Rosehall, Montego Bay. Ahead of his second time in the island in over 10 years, Gramm is excited about performing for his Jamaican fans once again. He told The Sunday Gleaner, "It's a wonderful opportunity and I can't wait to come. I'm expecting to perform and to hear quality music to be heard and to see persons I'd love to hear."

Gramm developed a love for music from a tender age, having started on the drums from eight years old. While he started his own band it was when Gramm interviewed for the rock group Foreigner that his career hit big. He said, "I happen to be at a place Mick Jones (from Foreigner) was playing at and he asked me to audition for the band. I did and it's been history since."

Nearly three decades after the debut of Foreigner and chart-topping success as a solo artist, Lou Gramm returns to the stage with dynamic new material. According to Gramm, he is in the process of recording a Christian rock record. The album is yet to be entitled. However, Christian rock is a new avenue for the multi-talented artiste and also a personal one.

He said, "I feel strongly about Christian rock. I'm a born again Christian. My religion helped me get over a very close brush with death. I had a brain tumour which I overcame."

With his faith and his stellar songs under his belt, Gramm is ready to rock the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues stage at the Aqueduct, in Montego Bay. "I'm gonna be doing a number of songs from my 25 years in Foreigner as well as things from my solo career. I'm gonna do some old cover songs as well. It's gonna be fun, I can guarantee you that," he said.