Mitchell Froom

Last updated

Mitchell Froom
Born (1953-06-29) June 29, 1953 (age 71)
OriginUnited States
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer
InstrumentKeyboards
Years active1982–present
Labels Slash/Warner Bros.
Kontextrecords

Mitchell Froom (born June 29, 1953) is an American musician and record producer. He was a member of the bands Gamma and Latin Playboys, and is currently the keyboardist for Crowded House. He has produced albums for several artists, including Richard Thompson, Los Lobos, Suzanne Vega, and Vonda Shepard.

Contents

Career

Froom began his career as a keyboard player in Sonoma County, California. The band Crossfire featured two keyboard players; Mitchell on one side of the stage and brother David on the other with Gary Pihl on guitar. He also played keyboards on the Ronnie Montrose-led group Gamma's third album Gamma 3 , as well as It's a Beautiful Day's David LaFlamme's solo albums White Bird (1976) and Inside Out (1978).

He produced the first three Crowded House albums, which led to more production jobs with Richard Thompson, Los Lobos, American Music Club, Suzanne Vega and Paul McCartney. In 1982, Froom scored the adult film Café Flesh ; his soundtrack was later released as the album Key of Cool. In the late 1980s, Crowded House leader Neil Finn invited Froom to join the band as an official member, but Froom declined due to his producing career. [1]

In 1987 he produced and wrote incidental music for the neo-noir film Slam Dance .

Between 1992 and 2002 Froom formed a full-time partnership with engineer Tchad Blake. Production credits include albums from American Music Club, Stevie Ann, Tasmin Archer, The Bangles, Peter Case, The Corrs, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Crowded House, The Ditty Bops, Tim Finn, Missy Higgins, Indigo Girls, Los Lobos, Robin Gibb, Maria McKee, Pat McLaughlin, Randy Newman, Nerina Pallot, Pearl Jam, Phantom Planet, Bonnie Pink, Daniel Powter, Bonnie Raitt, Ron Sexsmith, The Del Fuegos, Richard Thompson, and Suzanne Vega. Froom and Blake joined with David Hidalgo and Louie Perez of Los Lobos to form the experimental roots collaboration Latin Playboys.

Froom has produced over 60 albums [2] and has composed and produced music for numerous films. [3] He has been nominated for several Grammys including for Record of the Year for La Bamba by Los Lobos (1988) and Producer of the Year in 1993 for both Kiko by Los Lobos and 99.9F° by Suzanne Vega. [4] He was also nominated for the 1998 Golden Globe Award and the 1999 Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for co-writing with Sheryl Crow the James Bond movie title song "Tomorrow Never Dies". [5]

As a musician, Froom has released two solo albums, Dopamine (1998) and A Thousand Days (2005). The song "Noodletown" from "Dopamine" won an Emmy when it was used as the theme for PBS' Sessions at West 54th. [6]

Froom was a judge for the 2nd annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers. [7]

In December 2019 Froom was announced as a member of the new lineup of Crowded House. The first album with this lineup, Dreamers Are Waiting , was released on June 4, 2021. [8]

Personal life

Froom is of Romanian ancestry. [9] His brother is David Froom, a classical composer and Department Chair of the Music Department at St. Mary's College of Maryland. [10]

His first wife was Connie Jester, with whom he had a daughter Charlotte Froom (born 1986). Charlotte was the bassist in The Like.

Froom married Suzanne Vega in 1995; they separated and divorced in 1998. Soul Coughing's 1994 album, Ruby Vroom , was named after their daughter, Ruby Froom (born July 8, 1994).

He married Vonda Shepard in 2004. They have a son, Jack Froom (April 15, 2006), named for Froom's late father, a physician and educator.[ citation needed ]

Discography

With Crowded House

With Vonda Shepard

With Bob Dylan

With Bonnie Raitt

With Boris Grebenshchikov

With Daniel Powter

With Rita Coolidge

With Rufus Wainwright

With Indigo Girls

With Susanna Hoffs

With Tasmin Archer

With Randy Newman

With Maria McKee

With Tracy Chapman

With Marshall Crenshaw

With Roy Orbison

With Eddie Money

With Sheryl Crow

With Neil Finn

With Tracy Bonham

With Tim Finn

With Finn Brothers

With Paul McCartney

With Peter Gabriel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowded House</span> New Zealand / Australian / American pop rock band

Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were New Zealander Neil Finn and Australians Paul Hester (drums) and Nick Seymour (bass). Later band members included Finn's brother Tim, who was in their former band Split Enz; sons Liam and Elroy; as well as Americans Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod,. Neil Finn and Seymour are the sole constant members.

<i>Sheryl Crow</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow, released on September 24, 1996, by A&M Records. Unlike its predecessor Tuesday Night Music Club, which was written by a casual collective formed by Crow and several other musicians, Sheryl Crow was entirely produced by Crow, who wrote most of the songs alone or with only one or two collaborators. Most of the album was recorded at Kingsway Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana. The album covers topics of American life, relationship breakups, and moral and ethical issues, while encompassing a variety of music genres such as rock, blues, alternative rock, country, and folk.

<i>Woodface</i> 1991 studio album by Crowded House

Woodface is the third studio album by Crowded House. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and Neil Finn and was released by Capitol Records in July 1991. It features five singles: "Chocolate Cake", "Fall at Your Feet", "It's Only Natural", "Weather with You", and "Four Seasons in One Day". Woodface was a major hit in Australia and New Zealand as well as giving the band their first top ten hit album in the UK. It was listed at No. 3 in the book 100 Best Australian Albums in October 2010. It was voted number 80 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Thomas (drummer)</span> British musician

Peter Michael Thomas is an English rock drummer best known for his collaboration with singer Elvis Costello, both as a member of his band the Attractions and with Costello as a solo artist. Besides his lengthy career as a studio musician and touring drummer, he has been a member of the band Squeeze during the 1990s and a member of the supergroup Works Progress Administration during the early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Zanes</span> American musician

Daniel Edgerly Zanes is an American former member of the 1980s band the Del Fuegos and is now the frontman of the group Dan Zanes and Friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomorrow Never Dies (song)</span> Theme of the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies

"Tomorrow Never Dies" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow that serves as the theme song to the 1997 James Bond film of the same name and its video game adaptation. The song was co-written by Crow and the song's producer Mitchell Froom, and became her fifth UK top-20 hit, peaking at No. 12 in December 1997.

Tchad Blake is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixer and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gamma (band)</span> American rock band

Gamma was an American hard rock band formed by guitarist Ronnie Montrose and singer Davey Pattison in San Francisco in 1979. They released four albums: Gamma 1 (1979), Gamma 2 (1980), Gamma 3 (1982) and Gamma 4 (2000). Their biggest hit was 1982's "Right the First Time", which was a minor chart entry in the US, but a top 40 hit in Canada. Some of their other best known songs include "Fight to the Finish" from their first album, and "Meanstreak" and "Voyager" from the second album.

<i>Mirror Blue</i> 1994 studio album by Richard Thompson

Mirror Blue is the eighth studio album by Richard Thompson, released in 1994.

<i>Temple of Low Men</i> 1988 studio album by Crowded House

Temple of Low Men is the second studio album by New Zealand-Australian rock band Crowded House, released by Capitol Records on 5 July 1988. The three band members, Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and Paul Hester, recorded the album in Melbourne and Los Angeles with Mitchell Froom as producer. Finn had written all ten tracks during the two years since their self-titled debut. Temple of Low Men peaked at number one in Australia, number two in New Zealand, number ten in Canada and number 40 on the US Billboard 200.

<i>Crowded House</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Crowded House

Crowded House is the debut album by New Zealand-Australian band Crowded House. Produced by Mitchell Froom, it was released in August 1986 and was certified platinum in four countries. The album includes the hit singles "Don't Dream It's Over", "Something So Strong", "Mean to Me", "World Where You Live" and "Now We're Getting Somewhere".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davey Faragher</span> American musician

David Allen "Davey" Faragher is an American bass guitarist from Redlands, California. Faragher's career took off and received critical notice as a founding member of the nineties band Cracker, and his subsequent work with John Hiatt's band, and The Imposters, the backing band for Elvis Costello since 2001. In 2015, Faragher joined Richard Thompson's Electric Trio for Thompson's Still album and US tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday Is a Winding Road</span> 1996 single by Sheryl Crow

"Everyday Is a Winding Road" is the second single from American singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow's 1996 eponymous album. Neil Finn, lead singer of Crowded House, provides backing vocals. Paul Hester, another member of Crowded House, was the inspiration for the song. The single was issued in the United Kingdom in November 1996 and was released in the United States the following year.

<i>One Nil</i> 2001 studio album by Neil Finn

One Nil, released in 2001, is the second solo album by New Zealand singer-songwriter, Neil Finn. When released in the United States the following year, the album had a slightly different track listing and was issued under the name One All.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Marotta</span> American drummer (born 1956)

Jerome David Marotta is an American drummer who resides in Woodstock, New York. He is the younger brother of Rick Marotta; Rick is also a drummer and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something So Strong</span> 1987 single by Crowded House

"Something So Strong" is a rock song written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom and performed by Crowded House for their eponymous debut album. The track was released as the album's fifth and final single in April 1987. The single peaked at No. 18 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, No. 3 in New Zealand, No. 7 in the United States Billboard Hot 100, and No. 10 on the Canadian RPM 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Where You Live</span> 1986 single by Crowded House

"World Where You Live" is a song by Australian-New Zealand rock band Crowded House. It was the second single from the group's debut album Crowded House. Though it was the second single, "World Where You Live" was the first internationally released single, as the first single "Mean to Me" was only released in Australia. It was released a month after the album Crowded House was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Come</span> 1988 single by Crowded House

"When You Come" is a song by rock group Crowded House and was released in August 1988 on Capitol Records as the second Australian single from their second album Temple of Low Men. The song peaked at #27 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Both B sides, "Something So Strong" and "Better Be Home Soon" were previously released as singles. All songs were written by band leader Neil Finn except "Something So Strong" by Finn and record producer, Mitchell Froom. In UK and European markets, "Sister Madly" was released as the second single from Temple of Low Men, also in August.

<i>By 7:30</i> 1999 studio album by Vonda Shepard

By 7:30 is the fifth album by Vonda Shepard, released on 20 April 1999. The album reached number 39 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>The Very Very Best of Crowded House</i> 2010 greatest hits album by Crowded House

The Very Very Best of Crowded House is a compilation album featuring 19 singles from the period spanning Crowded House's first five studio albums. A CD and DVD box set is available, which includes a DVD of 25 of the band's music videos. The album is also available as a 'Deluxe Digital Version' which features 32 tracks including a rare 1987 live recording of the band's cover version of the Hunters & Collectors song "Throw Your Arms Around Me".

References

  1. "Finn's Mac experience leads to reconstituted Crowded House". AP NEWS. June 4, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  2. "Kontextrecords". Archived from the original on August 29, 2011.
  3. "Mitchell Froom". IMDb.
  4. "Rock On The Net: 35th Annual Grammy Awards - 1993". www.rockonthenet.com.
  5. "Rock On The Net: 41st Annual Grammy Awards - 1999". www.rockonthenet.com.
  6. Damn Fine Day Archived July 24, 2012, at archive.today
  7. "Independent Music Awards – Past Judges". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  8. "Crowded House". Neil Finn. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  9. Vonda Shepard "My husband's grandparents are from Romania" Archived July 15, 2012, at archive.today , happyhour.protv.ro, 2009-02-16 (in Romanian).
  10. "Directory | St. Marys College of Maryland". inside.smcm.edu.