Adam Duritz

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Adam Duritz
Adam Duritz 2015.jpg
Duritz with Counting Crows in 2015
Background information
Birth nameAdam Fredric Duritz
Born (1964-08-01) August 1, 1964 (age 59)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres Folk rock, alternative rock, pop rock
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1990–present
Member of
Formerly of
Website countingcrows.com

Adam Fredric Duritz (born August 1, 1964) is an American singer, best known as the frontman for the rock band Counting Crows, [1] for which he serves as a founding member and principal composer. [2] Since its founding in 1991, Counting Crows has sold over 20 million records, [3] released seven studio albums that have been certified gold or platinum, and been nominated for two Grammy Awards and an Academy Award. [4] [5]

Contents

Duritz has recorded solo material of his own and has collaborated with other musical acts. He has also founded two record labels, E Pluribus Unum and Tyrannosaurus Records. His work scoring music for film earned an award from BMI for co-writing the song "Accidentally in Love" for the movie Shrek 2 .

Career

Duritz and producer/guitarist David Bryson formed Counting Crows in San Francisco in 1991. [6] [7] When Gary Gersh of Geffen Records heard the band's demo tape, he was "blown away". A bidding war between nine different record labels broke out in February 1992. In April, the band—which, by that time, included other members—"signed a deal with Gersh and Geffen believed to be so lucrative that industry wags dubbed them Accounting Crows". [8]

The band's first album, August and Everything After , charted within the top five of the Billboard 200, [9] and the single "Mr. Jones" (1993) was a number-one hit in Canada. [10] [11] After the band performed as the music guest on Saturday Night Live , "Mr. Jones" jumped 40 spots in the charts. [12] The album has been certified 7× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. [13] Six of the band's albums have charted on the Billboard 200 [9] and four have been certified gold or platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. [13] Counting Crows was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1994. [14] The band also received a 2004 Academy Award nomination for the song "Accidentally in Love", which was included in the film Shrek 2 . [4] [5] [15]

Duritz has collaborated with The Wallflowers (led by Jakob Dylan) on the album Bringing Down the Horse on the track "6th Avenue Heartache"; with Ryan Adams on Gold and the song "Butterfly in Reverse" from Hard Candy ; with Peter Stuart on Propeller and Daisy ; with Live on V ;, [16] with Dashboard Confessional on the track "So Long, So Long" from Dusk and Summer , [17] with Maria Taylor on the song "Waiting In Line", [18] and with Nanci Griffith on the song "Going Back to Georgia" on her album Flyer. [19]

Duritz also contributed the songs "Spin Around", "You Don't See Me", and "You're a Star" to the Josie and the Pussycats soundtrack that was performed by the film's fictional title band. Along with bandmates Dan Vickrey, Bryson, and Immerglück, Duritz co-wrote the song "Accidentally in Love" for the soundtrack of the movie Shrek 2 , winning them each an award from BMI. [20] [ better source needed ]

Duritz's lyrics have been described as "morose" and "tortured" [21] and as "wordy introspection", [22] while his vocals have been called "expressive". [21]

In October 2018, Duritz co-founded the Underwater Sunshine Music Festival. [23]

Duritz co-founded the record label E Pluribus Unum in 1997. [24] [25] Before the label was purchased by new ownership, [24] [25] Duritz had signed Joe 90, Gigolo Aunts, and Neilson Hubbard. [26] In 2007, Duritz launched a record label called Tyrannosaurus Records. [25] Debut artists on the label included Notar and Blacktop Mourning. [25] As of 2015, the label was defunct. [27]

Duritz was executive producer for the film The Locusts [28] [29] and produced the ensemble comedy film Freeloaders . [30] He appeared in the 2007 mockumentary film Farce of the Penguins . [31]

Personal life

He is the son of Gilbert and Linda Duritz, both physicians. Duritz has a younger sister, Nicole. [32] Duritz is Jewish. [33]

Duritz has dissociative mental health issues. [34] [35] He disclosed this mental health issue publicly in 2008. [36] [37]

In the summer of 2009, he briefly dated Emmy Rossum. The pair broke up in 2010.

In August 2019, Duritz—who had "rocked voluminous dreadlocks" since Counting Crows was formed—traveled to London to shave them. [38] He had previously revealed that the dreadlocks were extensions. [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Counting Crows</span> American rock band

Counting Crows is an American rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Formed in 1991, the band consists of guitarist David Bryson, drummer Jim Bogios, vocalist Adam Duritz, keyboardist Charlie Gillingham, multi-instrumentalist David Immerglück, bass guitarist Millard Powers, and guitarist Dan Vickrey. Past members include the drummers Steve Bowman (1991–1994) and Ben Mize (1994–2002), and bass guitarist Matt Malley (1991–2005).

<i>This Desert Life</i> 1999 studio album by Counting Crows

This Desert Life is the third studio album from American rock band Counting Crows. The cover art is by noted comic book artist Dave McKean, best known for his work with Neil Gaiman, and was adapted from the cover art McKean did for Gaiman's picture book The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish. The album had sold more than 2 million copies worldwide by February 2002. The song "Hanginaround" was the first of three singles released from the album, and the highest-charting single off the album, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart and number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as top ten in Canada and top 50 in a number of other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gigolo Aunts</span> American power pop band

Gigolo Aunts are an American power pop band, who formed in 1981.

<i>Recovering the Satellites</i> 1996 studio album by Counting Crows

Recovering the Satellites is the second studio album by American rock band Counting Crows, released on October 15, 1996, in the United States. Released three years after their debut album, it reached No. 1 in the United States and was a top seller in Australia, Canada, and the UK as well. The album featured founding Counting Crows members Adam Duritz, David Bryson (guitar), Charlie Gillingham (keyboards), Matt Malley (bass), as well as new additions Ben Mize (drums) and Dan Vickrey (guitars). Multi-instrumentalist David Immerglück played on the album as a session musician as well. Counting Crows brought in producer Gil Norton for Recovering the Satellites. Three singles were released from the album, with "A Long December" being the best charting, reaching number 6 on the US Radio Songs chart and number 1 in Canada. The album itself peaked on the top spot of the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and has been certified double-platinum in both the US and Canada.

<i>Hard Candy</i> (Counting Crows album) 2002 studio album by Counting Crows

Hard Candy is the fourth studio album by American rock band Counting Crows, released in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2002, and the following day in the United States.

<i>Across a Wire: Live in New York City</i> 1998 live album by Counting Crows

Across a Wire: Live in New York City is the third album released by American rock band Counting Crows, released on July 14, 1998. It is a double-live album, featuring songs from their first two albums, August and Everything After (1993) and Recovering the Satellites (1996). Because the album contained two discs, the release was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over 500,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accidentally in Love (song)</span> 2004 single by Counting Crows

"Accidentally in Love" is a song by American rock band Counting Crows. The song was written for the opening scene of the 2004 DreamWorks animated film Shrek 2 and appears on the movie's soundtrack as the opening track. It was released as a single on May 3, 2004, two weeks before the movie premiered in theaters. "Accidentally in Love" was commercially successful, peaking within the top 40 on several music charts, including the Irish Singles Chart, where it reached number three and spent 10 weeks in the top 50. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 77th Academy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Jones (Counting Crows song)</span> 1993 single by Counting Crows

"Mr. Jones" is the debut single of American rock band Counting Crows. It was released in December 1993 by Geffen as the lead single from the band's debut album, August and Everything After (1993). The song was the band's first radio hit and has been described as their breakout single. "Mr. Jones" reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay charts. Internationally, the song peaked at number one in Canada and number seven in France. In April 2022, American Songwriter ranked the song at number four on their list of "The Top 10 Counting Crows Songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe 90 (band)</span>

Joe 90 is an alternative rock band, which was formed from the group Gods Child, based in New York City, and was later relocated to Los Angeles. Band members include Chris Seefried, Gary DeRosa, Craig Ruda, and Adam Hamilton.

<i>New Amsterdam: Live at Heineken Music Hall February 4–6, 2003</i> 2006 live album by Counting Crows

New Amsterdam - Live at Heineken Music Hall is the second live album by American rock band Counting Crows, released by Geffen Records on June 19, 2006, in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States. The live performance was recorded in the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, The Netherlands between February 4–6, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Gillingham</span> Musical artist

Charles Thomas Gillingham is an American keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his performance on the Hammond B-3 organ, accordion, piano, and keyboards for the band Counting Crows. He has also played the bass guitar in live shows during certain songs such as "Holiday in Spain".

"Einstein on the Beach (For an Eggman)" is a song recorded by Counting Crows from the album DGC Rarities Vol. 1. It was included on the band's best-of compilation, Films About Ghosts (The Best Of...). The title of the song was inspired by the Philip Glass opera Einstein on the Beach. The song became the band's first number one song on the Modern Rock Tracks, beating their previous highest-charting single, "Mr. Jones" which reached number two. However, "Mr. Jones" stayed longer on the Modern Rock chart and became an enduring pop hit, whereas "Einstein" failed to achieve the same success.

<i>Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings</i> 2008 studio album by Counting Crows

Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is the fifth studio album by American rock band Counting Crows, released in the United States on March 25, 2008. It is thematically divided into two sides: the rock music of Saturday Nights and the more country-influenced Sunday Mornings. Vocalist and lyricist Adam Duritz states that the album "is about really wanting to mean something and failing to do it. You want your life to mean something. You want to be somebody and then what you turn out to be is so much less than what you thought you were going to be."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Seefried</span> American singer-songwriter

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Dave Janusko is an American songwriter, musician, producer, DJ, and remixer. He lives in San Francisco, California, United States.

<i>August and Everything After: Live at Town Hall</i> 2011 live album by Counting Crows

August and Everything After: Live at Town Hall is a live album and video by Counting Crows. The DVD and Blu-ray Disc versions represent the first official live concert video release of the band's career.

<i>Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow</i> Live album by Counting Crows

Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow is a 2013 live album from American alternative rock band Counting Crows, released on Cooking Vinyl. The album was made available by the band through digital distributors, physical media, and pre-orders for tickets to their co-headlining tour with The Wallflowers.

<i>Somewhere Under Wonderland</i> 2014 studio album by Counting Crows

Somewhere Under Wonderland is the seventh studio album by American rock band Counting Crows, released on September 2, 2014 by Capitol Records. The album is the band's first album of original material in six years since 2008's Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings and is their first release on Capitol. The release has received positive reviews from critics.

"Palisades Park" is a 2014 song released by Counting Crows on Capitol Records as the lead single from the album Somewhere Under Wonderland.

<i>Butter Miracle, Suite One</i> 2021 EP by Counting Crows

Butter Miracle is an EP by Counting Crows. "Elevator Boots" was released as the first single for the four-track EP in April 2021. The full EP, titled Butter Miracle, Suite One, was released on May 21, 2021. A second EP, Butter Miracle, Suite Two, will be released and together form a full album.

References

  1. ↑ Greene, Andy (January 25, 2019). "Counting Crows Finally Record Title Track to 'August and Everything After'". Rolling Stone .
  2. ↑ "Adam Duritz of Counting Crows readies for band's 25th anniversary tour". Las Vegas Review Journal. July 7, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Counting Crows Sign With Capitol Records for New Studio Album". The Hollywood Reporter. May 19, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Counting Crows following a logical path in recordings". Canada.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Bio". Official Counting Crows website. Live Grey Bird Foundation. 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  6. ↑ "When Fame Glows Bright, It's Hard to Be Tortured". The New York Times. December 1, 1996.
  7. ↑ "Toledo Blade – Google News Archive Search" . Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  8. ↑ Rubinstein, Julian (May 14, 1994). "CROWS FLY HIGH". The Washington Post.
  9. 1 2 "Counting Crows Chart History". Billboard.
  10. ↑ "Data" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  11. ↑ "Counting Crows – Mr. Jones". Powerpop.blog. August 31, 2018.
  12. ↑ Dan Kening (July 10, 1994). "Counting Crows Concert is short, sweet, bewildering". Chicago Tribune.
  13. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
  14. ↑ "Counting Crows". GRAMMY.com. February 15, 2019.
  15. ↑ Kaufman, Gil. Jamie Foxx Gets Two Oscar Nods, 'Aviator' Leads Pack. MTV.com. January 5, 2005.
  16. ↑ vanHorn, Teri (July 12, 2001). "Tricky, Adam Duritz Guest on Fifth Live Album, V". MTV.com. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  17. ↑ Moss, Corey (January 19, 2006). "Dashboard Confessional Singer Records Duet With Adam Duritz". MTV.com. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  18. ↑ Dean Brandt (October 24, 2019). "FLOOD | PREMIERE: Maria Taylor Enlists Counting Crows' Adam Duritz for "Waiting in Line"". Floodmagazine.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  19. ↑ Morse, Steve. "Nanci Griffith: Lots of Friends and Some Fun". U2Songs (originally published by The Boston Globe. U2Songs. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Dan Vickrey : Awards". IMDb. Retrieved January 19, 2015.[ better source needed ]
  21. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2005). "Counting Crows biography". VH1.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
  22. ↑ Kot, Greg (2004). "Counting Crows: Biography". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved March 1, 2007.
  23. ↑ "Adam Duritz's Indie Music Underwater Sunshine Festival Reveals 2019 Line-up". Noise11. April 4, 2019.
  24. 1 2 Graff, Gary (July 5, 2009). "Counting Crows spread their wings". The Oakland Press.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Counting Crows' Duritz Sets Up New Record Label". Uncut. February 19, 2007.
  26. ↑ Magazine, Downtown (June 30, 2016). "Adam Duritz talks Counting Crows tour with Rob Thomas, Jul. 31 show in New York, Alex Chilton and more".
  27. ↑ Coplen, Katherine (December 12, 2014). "Counting Crows' Adam Duritz on Bootlegs, Failed Labels, Nana Grizol". NUVO .
  28. ↑ "The Locusts (1997)". IMDb. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  29. ↑ Rooney, David (September 16, 1997). "Review: 'The Locusts'". Variety. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  30. ↑ Siegle, Tatiana (November 11, 2008). "Adam Duritz, Broken Lizard making film". Variety. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  31. ↑ "Farce of the Penguins – Cast & Crew". MTV.com. 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  32. ↑ "Rolling Stone Article -June 30, 1994". monmouth.com. June 30, 1994. Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  33. ↑ Brinn, David (July 11, 2022). "Counting Crows coming to the Holy Land". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  34. ↑ Furness, Dyllan (July 28, 2015). "Counting Crows' Adam Duritz Discusses Mental Health and Metaphors". Miami New Times.
  35. ↑ "Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz struggling with 'severe mental illness' and weaning himself off medication, he says". Entertainment Weekly. June 28, 2011.
  36. ↑ Duritz, Adam (April 17, 2008). "The Lonely Disease". Men's Health.
  37. ↑ Porter, Christopher (September 2, 2009). "The Disconnected Ringleader: Adam Duritz & Counting Crows". The Washington Post.
  38. ↑ "Counting Crows Singer Adam Duritz Shaves Off His Signature Dreadlocks". Peoplemag. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Q&A: Counting crows frontman adam duritz". Independent.ie. April 30, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
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