Adam Fredric Duritz (born August 1, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and film producer. He is known as the frontman for the rock band Counting Crows,[2] of which he is a founding member and principal composer.[3] Since its founding in 1991, Counting Crows has sold over 20 million records,[4] released seven studio albums that have been certified gold or platinum,[5] and been nominated for two Grammy Awards[6] and an Academy Award.[7][8]
Adam Duritz | |
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![]() Duritz on stage in Bilbao with Counting Crows | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Adam Fredric Duritz |
Born | (1964-08-01) August 1, 1964 (age 58) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.[1] |
Genres | Folk rock, alternative rock, pop rock |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1990–present |
Labels | Capitol |
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Formerly of | |
Website | CountingCrows.com |
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 has been recognized by the music industry, notably with an award from BMI for co-writing the song "Accidentally in Love" for the movie Shrek 2.
Duritz and producer/guitarist David Bryson formed Counting Crows in San Francisco in 1991.[9][10] 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".[11]
The band's first album, August and Everything After, charted within the top five of the Billboard 200,[12] and the single "Mr. Jones" (1993) was a number-one hit in Canada.[13][14] After the band performed as the music guest on Saturday Night Live, "Mr. Jones" jumped 40 spots in the charts.[15] The album has been certified 7× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[5] Six of the band's albums have charted on the Billboard 200[12] and four have been certified gold or platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[5] Counting Crows was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1994.[6] The band also received a 2004 Academy Award nomination for the song "Accidentally in Love", which was included in the film Shrek 2.[7][8][16]
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;,[17] with Dashboard Confessional on the track "So Long, So Long" from Dusk and Summer[18] and with Maria Taylor on the song "Waiting In Line."[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[update], 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]
Duritz grew up in Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; El Paso, Texas; and Berkeley, California. He is the son of Gilbert and Linda Duritz, both physicians. Duritz has a younger sister, Nicole.[32] Duritz attended the prestigious Taft School, and graduated from the Head-Royce School in Oakland, California. He has Russian Jewish ancestry.[33] Duritz attended University of California, Berkeley, but left college two credits short of a degree.[11]
Duritz has a dissociative mental health issue.[34][35] He disclosed this mental health issue publicly in 2008.[36][37]
In August 2019, Duritz—who had "rocked voluminous dreadlocks" since Counting Crows was formed—revealed that he had shaved his head.[38][39]
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