Born:
February 11, 1962 - Kennett, Missouri.
Quote From Sheryl Crow:
"I think war is based in greed and there are huge karmic retributions that will follow. I think war is never the answer to solving any problems. The best way to solve problems is to not have enemies."
Growing Up:
Sheryl Crow was born into a musical family. Her father performed as a trumpet player, and her mother performed as a singer. Her mother also played piano and insisted all of her children learn to play piano at an early age. Crow wrote her first song at age 13 and majored in music at the University of Missouri. After teaching music to autistic children for a few years, she decided to pursue a career in the music industry.
Working For Michael Jackson:
In 1986 Sheryl Crow moved to Los Angeles and began work singing on commercial singles. She scored a spot as a backup singer on Michael Jackson's Bad tour. Although she was often featured as the female duet partner with Jackson on "I Can't Stop Loving You," she also told stories of being forced to change her name and being instructed to only make eye contact with Michael Jackson while performing. After 2 years of touring, Sheryl Crow set out on her own again.
First Album Nightmares:
Sheryl Crow began looking for a recording contract and was disappointed that record labels only wanted her to perform dance-pop. After a bout with depression and more session work as a backup singer, she connected with producer Hugh Padgham in 1991. The result was a slick, pop-oriented album that disappointed Crow. The project was shelved and Sheryl Crow descended into a more severe period of depression lasting over a year.
Tuesday Night Music Club:
With the help of her boyfriend, engineer Kevin Gilbert, Sheryl Crow connected with a group of music industry professionals who referred to themselves as the 'Tuesday Night Music Club,' because of their weekly get togethers to socialize and try out musical ideas. The group decided to focus on putting together Crow's first album, also titled Tuesday Night Music Club, released in 1993 by A&M Records. After initial failure to sell well, the single "All I Wanna Do" took off as a hit in 1994.
Sheryl Crow Controversy:
With the success of "All I Wanna Do" and the subsequent sales of her album, Sheryl Crow became a star and took home 3 Grammy Awards including Record of the Year and Best New Artist. Unfortunately she was soon embroiled in controversy. She casually claimed that the song "Leaving Las Vegas" was autobiographical on Late Night With David Letterman, when in fact it was mostly written by 'Tuesday Night Music Club' member David Baerwald and based on the book Leaving Las Vegas.
Trivia Fact About Sheryl Crow:
Sheryl Crow performed in a cover band named Cashmere while a college student.
Second Album:
The controversy over "Leaving Las Vegas" ultimately led to the severing of ties with many members of the original 'Tuesday Night Music Club.' Smarting from the fallout, Sheryl Crow decided to self-produce her second album. With the assistance of Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake, she created a powerful work. The album, titled Sheryl Crow and released in 1996 included the major hits "Every Day Is a Winding Road," "If It Makes You Happy," and "A Change Would Do You Good."
Pop-Rock Star:
With the success of her second album, Sheryl Crow became recognized as one of the top female pop-rock singer-songwriters. Her third album, The Globe Sessions, released in 1998, was another hit and included the song "My Favorite Mistake." Crow continued to win more Grammy Awards and, as a 9-time winner, is one of the musicians most decorated by the Grammys.
There was a lengthy gap before Sheryl Crow's next album appeared. She was afflicted by writer's block, but during that time she produced multiple tracks for Stevie Nicks' successful 2001 album Trouble In Shangri-La and had a hit with rumored boyfriend Kid Rock titled "Picture." C'mon C'mon, the fourth album, finally appeared in 2002 and included the hit single "Soak Up the Sun."
Sheryl Crow once again invited controversy in 2003 with her open opposition to the U.S. war against Iraq. She appeared on Good Morning America wearing a t-shirt that proclaimed "I don't believe in your war, Mr. Bush!" Despite complaints about her opposition, she probably gathered just as many new fans among those who joined her opposition to the war.
After a public romance, Sheryl Crow and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong announced in September 2005 that they would marry, most likely in spring 2006. Crow also announced that her fifth solo studio album, Wildflower, would be released at the end of September.
