Marshall Crenshaw

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 68.52.32.42 (talk) at 16:25, 20 February 2015 (deleted inaccurate entry in the section covering cover versions of Crenshaw's songs: "Some Hearts" was written by Diane Warren, not by Marshall Crenshaw, who covered Warren's song on his 1989 "Good Evening" album; Carrie Underwood covered in 2005.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Marshall Crenshaw
Background information
Birth nameMarshall Howard Crenshaw
Born (1953-11-11) November 11, 1953 (age 70)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1981–present
LabelsWarner Bros., Razor and Tie, Red River
Websitemarshallcrenshaw.com

Marshall Howard Crenshaw (born November 11, 1953) is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known for his song "Someday, Someway", a Top 40 hit in 1982.

His music has roots in classic soul music, British Invasion songcraft, Burt Bacharach and Buddy Holly—the latter to whom Crenshaw was often compared in the early days of his career, and whom he portrayed in the 1987 film La Bamba. Crenshaw is also a noted guitarist who uses offbeat chord progressions (almost verging towards jazz) and concise solos. A quote from Trouser Press summed up Marshall Crenshaw’s early career: “Although he was seen as a latter-day Buddy Holly at the outset, he soon proved too talented and original to be anyone but himself.” AllMusic Guide described Crenshaw’s style: “He writes songs that are melodic, hooky and emotionally true, and he sings and plays them with an honesty and force that still finds room for humor without venom.” [1]

Biography

Born in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in the northern suburb of Berkley, Michigan. Crenshaw graduated from Berkley High School in June 1971. Crenshaw began playing guitar at age ten. During and after High School he led the band Astigafa (an acronym for "a splendid time is guaranteed for all", a lyric from The Beatles' "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite"). He got his first break in 1978, playing John Lennon in the musical Beatlemania, first as an understudy in New York, then in the West Coast company, then in a national touring company. He left the show in February, 1980.[2]

After launching a trio in New York (with brother Robert Crenshaw on drums, Chris Donato on bass), he recorded a single, "Something's Gonna Happen", for Alan Betrock's Shake Records, after which he was signed to Warner Bros. Records. Retro rocker Robert Gordon took Crenshaw's "Someday, Someway" to #76 in 1981, and Crenshaw's own version made #36 the next year; it would be his only solo Billboard Top 40 'Pop' hit. On the Cash Box magazine chart the song fared slightly better, reaching #31. Its biggest reception was at AOR (Album Oriented Rock) radio, reaching #25 on Billboard's Rock Tracks chart. The song, "Til I Hear It from You", sung by the Gin Blossoms and co-written by Crenshaw, reached #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1996.

Throughout the rest of the decade Marshall enjoyed considerable airplay on AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) stations nationwide with many tracks and became very well known in his native Michigan.

Crenshaw's eponymous first album included the U.S. hit, Someday, Someway. His second album, Field Day, released in June 1983, sported a somewhat heavier sound, as evidenced on "Whenever You're On My Mind," that reportedly displeased a few listeners, but which is regarded by many critics as Crenshaw's best,[3] and one of the classic power pop statements, although Crenshaw's work, somewhat like the late Alex Chilton's, transcends the genre. "Some of the stuff I've done you could call power pop," he told an interviewer, "but the term does have sort of a dodgy connotation." Although the song did not reach the Top 40 on Billboard's Pop Charts, "Whenever You're On My Mind" reached # 23 on Billboard's Rock Tracks chart.[4]

In 1989, he compiled a collection of Capitol Records country performers of the 1950s and '60s called Hillbilly Music...Thank God, Vol. 1, which was extremely well received. In 1993, he made an appearance in the cult TV show The Adventures of Pete and Pete, in the role of a guitar-playing meter reader, and in 1994, he published a book, Hollywood Rock: A Guide to Rock 'n' Roll in the Movies.

He continued to record in the 1990s and 2000s. "Better Back Off", a song from the album "Life's Too Short," reached # 17 on Billboard's Alternative Songs Chart. In 1999, Crenshaw released the critically acclaimed #447.[2][3] In the 2000s, Crenshaw played guitar as a special guest with the reunited members of the MC5. Crenshaw continued to perform at about 40-50 concerts a year, most of them within driving distance of his family home.[5] Crenshaw himself has dubbed these shows part of “the NPR singer-songwriter circuit.” [1]

Crenshaw penned the title track from the 2007 film Walk Hard[2] starring John C. Reilly; the song, as sung by Reilly, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.[6]

Jaggedland, was released in June 2009 on his new record label 429 Records.

In 2011 Crenshaw began hosting a radio show called The Bottomless Pit on WFUV in New York, featuring his vast collection of recorded music.

Kickstarter Campaign

In April 2012, Crenshaw posted a Kickstarter in order to fund a project to bring Marshall Crenshaw's vision for a two-year, 6 Extended Play (EP) "subscription series" released as 10" picture sleeve vinyls and digital downloads. Each EP was to feature a brand new Marshall Crenshaw track written and recorded exclusively for the series, a cover song and a previously released Marshall Crenshaw song which was to be re-recorded. The EPs were to be released every four months over the course of the subsequent two years.[7]

Covers

Many notable artists have recorded cover versions of Crenshaw's songs, including:[8]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Marshall Crenshaw (1982)
  • Field Day (1983)
  • Downtown (1985)
  • Mary Jean & 9 Others (1987)
  • Good Evening (1989)
  • Life's Too Short (1991)
  • Miracle of Science (1996)
  • #447 (1999)
  • What's In The Bag? (2003)
  • Jaggedland (2009)

EPs

  • I Don't See You Laughing Now (2012)
  • Stranger And Stranger (2013)
  • Drivin' and Dreamin' (2013)
  • Red Wine (2014)
  • Move Now (2014)

Live albums

  • WRIF LIVE At Hart Plaza - Rare Detroit radio station Promo (vinyl only) - Performed "Soldier Of Love", an Arthur Alexander song
  • Live...My Truck Is My Home (1994)
  • I've Suffered For My Art...Now It's Your Turn (2001)
  • Live From the Stone Pony (2003) - Six song Bonus Audio Disc from the King Biscuit DVD of the same name

Compilations

  • A Collection [Promo Only Release] (1991)
  • The 9 Volt Years: Battery Powered Home Demos & Curios (1998)
  • The Best Of Marshall Crenshaw: This Is Easy (2000)
  • Bug Music Presents: 14 High Class Tunes (2001)
  • Marshall Crenshaw: Greatest Hits Acoustic (2002 BMG Special Products)
  • The Definitive Pop Collection (2006)

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.429records.com/sites/429records/429news/marshallcrewnshaw1.asp
  2. ^ a b c Koda, Cub. "Marshall Crenshaw / MTV". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  3. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Marshall Crenshaw". Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  4. ^ http://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Marshall+Crenshaw&tab=songaswriterchartstab
  5. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/25/marshall.crenshaw/index.html?iref=newssearch
  6. ^ Marshall Crenshaw Writes Title Track for Walk Hard, a New Movie from Kasdan and Apatow
  7. ^ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/788819149/marshall-crenshaw-ep-subscription-series
  8. ^ "The Cover Project, "Marshall Crenshaw"".

External links

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