John Fogerty tour launches in May, autobiography due this fall

Rocker John Fogerty has been sharing his thoughts about society, politics and life through song for nearly half a century, and come this fall he’ll walk readers through the key points of his life in his autobiography, “Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music,” set for publication Oct. 6.

First as lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival and then through a long (if sporadic) solo career, Fogerty has been one of rock’s most acclaimed figures. In a statement he said, “You’re going to hear where it all started, my passion to become the best musician I could be. You’ll travel down some rough roads, but that road leads to something beautiful. My book won’t be sugar coated. It’s all in there.”

The composer and singer of “Proud Mary,” “Born on the Bayou,” “Green River,” “Fortunate Son,” and more than a dozen other Top 40 singles has had his share of drama throughout his career, having once been sued by his record label for plagiarizing himself — a lawsuit that was decided in Fogerty’s favor.

He’s also been at odds with the surviving members of Creedence — bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford — as he has continued touring with Creedence songs and those from his post-Creedence recordings. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, but Fogerty famously refused to allow Cook and Clifford to perform alongside him.

Last year he toured through Canada, focusing on material from the three studio albums Creedence released in 1969: “Bayou Country,” “Green River” and “Willie and the Poor Boys.” He is schedueld to embark on a U.S. leg of the same tour beginning May 2 in Memphis, Tenn., and reaching the Hollywood Bowl on July 15.

His most recent album, “Wrote a Song For Everyone,” came out in 2013 and was built around all-star duet versions of many of his best-known songs. Guests included rockers Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, Bob Seger and Kid Rock, country stars Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban and Alan Jackson, young indie-rock groups My Morning Jacket and Dawes and R&B-pop star Jennifer Hudson.

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