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This duo featured Kenny Loggins
and Jim Messina (b. 5 December 1947, Maywood, California,
USA).
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Following his premature departure
from Poco, Messina intended to resume his career
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as a record producer, a role he
had previously carried out by producing the final Buffalo Springfield
album,
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Last Time Around. Songwriter
Loggins, who had recently experienced success when the Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band
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took his whimsical song 'House At
Pooh Corner' into the US charts, was signed by CBS
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and was introduced to Messina who
was now a staff producer.
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This started a partnership that
lasted six years and produced numerous gold albums.
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By combining country rock with
hints of Latin, Mexican and R&B, the duo hit upon a strong
formula.
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All nine albums reached high US
chart positions and spawned a number of hit singles
including
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'Your Mama Don't Dance' and 'My
Music'. As seasoned performers, their regular tours of North
America
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made them a major attraction
during the first half of the 70s. Following an amicable
split,
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Loggins embarked on a solo career.
Messina, following three moderately successful albums, instigated the
reformation
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of the much-loved Poco in 1989 to
considerable acclaim and a successful album Legacy.
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A surprisingly fresh album was
issued in 1996 covering Messina's entire career.
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Reworkings and new recordings of
his back catalogue demonstrated a relaxed
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and mature voice, that has clearly
improved with age.
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Loggins and Messina on the last
night of their last tour together.
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Photography by John Robert
Rowlands
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