The Untold Truth Of Creedence Clearwater Revival

May 2024 ยท 2 minute read

Creedence Clearwater Revival was almost entirely a vehicle for the singing, songwriting, and guitar-playing of John Fogerty, but the band can trace its origins to groups formed by a different member of the family: John's older brother, Tom Fogerty. In the 1950s, high schooler Tom Fogerty formed a band called Spider Webb & the Insects. According to AllMusic, the group signed a deal with Del-Fi Records but never actually recorded anything and broke up in 1959. 

Meanwhile, John Fogerty had formed his own group, the Blue Velvets, along with bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford. While still fronting Spider Webb & the Insects, Tom Fogerty would occasionally play gigs with the Blue Velvets, but after his primary band split, the Blue Velvets officially absorbed Tom Fogerty, and he became the lead singer of the band, rebranded Tommy Fogerty & the Blue Velvets. This iteration recorded a handful of singles in 1961 and 1962, printed in very small runs and which didn't bring the band any success. By the mid-1960s, and after changing its name once more to the Golliwogs, the foursome of two Fogertys, Cook, and Clifford had released six singles, all of them co-written by John and Tom, who also split vocal duties. By the time the group would reach its final stage, as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Fogerty's vocal and songwriting contributions had diminished to the point of virtual nonexistence.

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