Little River Band was formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975. It was originally a blend of musicians who had enjoyed success in other Australian acts. Their new focus was to get airplay on American radio, and they achieved that goal with good songwriting, powerful vocals, and guitar harmonies. They immediately claimed their place as one of the great vocal bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Between 1976 and 1983, chart success in America included the following singles: It’s a Long Way There, Help Is on Its Way, Happy Anniversary, Reminiscing, Lady, Cool Change, Lonesome Loser, The Night Owls, Take It Easy On Me, Man On Your Mind, We Two, and The Other Guy.
Worldwide album and CD sales now top 30 million. LRB also set a Billboard record in 1982 for having Top 10 US hits for 6 consecutive years…the first band ever to achieve that mark. According to BMI, Reminiscing has garnered rare status with over 5 million airplays on America radio…and Lady is close behind with over 4 million airplays. LRB was rightfully inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. In 2015 the band received the award for Musical Entertainer of the Year from the G2E group…an international panel of judges that ranks casino entertainment.
2025 brings LRB to it’s 50th Anniversary. The calendar is filling up fast, with 75 shows booked…including a trip to New Zealand where, per capita, the band has sold more albums and CDs than any other territory. The Happy Anniversary Tour will go coast to coast in the US and Canada from Jan to Dec.
Current band membership is anchored by bassist and lead singer Wayne Nelson…a 45-year LRB veteran. He is joined on stage by keyboardist and Dove Award winning producer Chris Marion, drummer Ryan Ricks, and guitarists Colin Whinnery and Bruce Wallace. These great musicians have writing, touring, and recording credits that include legendary artists like Jim Messina, Kenny Loggins, Glenn Frey, Christopher Cross, Warren Zevon, America, Lonestar, Loretta Lynn, Wynona Judd, Sir George Martin, David Gates, Garth Brooks, Oak Ridge Boys, Steven Curtis Chapman, Randy Houser, Joe Diffie, Kim Carnes, Shane McAnally, Dierks Bentley, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, and Gretchen Wilson. All five are accomplished singers and deliver the signature LRB lead vocals and harmonies at every show.
This lineup brings fresh energy and arrangements to the classic hits, making new memories for the audience out of each live performance. It’s always fun to watch as people are swept up by the show’s vitality and the volume of hits from LRB’s history. You’ll see plenty of people mouthing the words…”I love this song…I forgot it was one of Little River Band’s hits!” When you pair that with dynamic new songs being created by the band, audiences feel the power of an act with a rich history and a fantastic corps of songwriters making new music.
Eagles founding member, the late Glenn Frey, joined with LRB as a guest artist in 1988 for 2 Australian tours…culminating with a live TV performance at Expo ’88. He spoke from the heart at that last show when he dubbed Little River Band “the best singing band in the world” in front of 125,000 concert goers. The current lineup of LRB takes that accolade to heart each and every time they perform.