Rich Krueger complements his day job as a neonatologist with his side gig, as a singer-songwriter who’s won acclaim for the healing power of his music.
At a bar in the Chicago suburbs early last year, before the pandemic, Rich Krueger and his band rocked the house. «You seemed to be having a blast up there,» said CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. «I love being on stage. I love playing music,» Krueger said. In 2018, Krueger independently released two albums of original songs: «NOWThen» and «Life Ain’t That Long.» Since then, he’s won some high-profile fans who say this little-known musician is the real deal. She sings of loneliness like it’s something she invented She’s kicking at my head from the inside She shatters my illusions that I just might one day be happy Then she leaves smiling before I can drink up all I can’t hide But friend if you’re me friend you’d think you’d tell me But I’m too drunk to listen and the night’s torn me apart There ain’t nobody sober gonna talk to me tonight ‘Cause they’ve all heard this one already about me and the girl bar singer And a stoopid broken heart From «A Stoopid Broken Heart» Pioneering rock critic Robert Christgau, who has written for The Village Voice and Rolling Stone magazine during a career that has spanned over 50 years, called Krueger «one of the greatest songwriters ever to make long-playing records. It’s as simple as that. I don’t mean he’s a Randy Newman or Lennon/McCartney or a Jagger/Richard. But just below that, yes; he is that good.» LaPook asked, «You heard his music, and it said something to you?» «I’m sorry, I think it’s more than that,» Christgau said.
