Springfield brings his hits — and that famous riff — to Tiffin

It always starts with that guitar riff.It's catchy, it's recognizable.It's a big hit at weddings, even 45 years after it's original release.The song is "Jessie's Girl," it always gets a big reaction.It certainly will next Saturday, when Rick Springfield comes to the Ritz Theatre in Tiffin for a 7:30 p.m. performance.Springfield was a big star in the 1980s, when the Australian not only had hit songs and a top-selling album in "Working Class Dog," but was also a soap opera star.Springfield played the doctor Noah Drake on "General Hospital" from 1981-83 In many ways, Springfield was the perfect star for the 80s, perfecting a power pop sound, with a face that was perfect for the MTV era.Springfield took full advantage. He has made 11 music videos in his career. But he was a force, even playing at the original Live Aid in 1985.For a while in the '80s, he was so popular that he began to be parodied. Professional wrestling manager Jimmy Hart — himself a musician who was a member of the Gentrys in the 1960s — wrote a song called "Eat Your Heart Out, Rick Springfield."When pro wrestling is parodying you, you know you've made it, and have created an image for yourself.But it was the music that made Springfield. He had four top-10 hits, and 18 of his songs reached the top 40.While many know Springfield for his work in the 80s, he had a number of hits in Australia before that. His career actually started in the early 70s, a decade before he hit it big in the USA.And while "Jessie's Girl" was his biggest smash, Springfield's songs like "Don't Talk to Strangers" and "I've Done Everything for You" were top 10 hits and still get play on classic pop stations.The bulk of Springfield's hit songs came in the 80s, but he has continued to release albums, and continued to tour.He also has shown an impressive ability to be self deprecating.In the 2000s, he did a commercial for AT&T where two mothers and their young daughters were at a county fair, and the moms excitedly attended his show.As Rick is jamming to "Jessie's Girl," the moms in the audience are going crazy as the teenage daughters look on, completely unmoved as an older woman calls a friend to tell her where they are."Go back in time," the voice over guy in the commercial says, "there's no reason not to."The flaw in the commercial, though, was that the young kids didn't enjoy the show.Once, at my friend's wedding reception in Missouri, some 15 years ago, "Jessie's Girl" came on. Everyone — no matter the age — ran to the dance floor and sang along.Springfield not only still performs, but he has a weekly radio show on the Sirius XM radio channel.There, he's just having fun, playing '80s records and telling some stories about his career.Once, during a July 4 weekend, he played patriotic songs, and told the audience how much pride he took in becoming an American citizen.He's been playing music for more than 50 years, with no sign of stopping.Springfield will be in Tiffin next week, where he's sure to play his hits.And that famous guitar riff. Zach Baker is sports editor of The Courier.