Marshall Crenshaw

On tour

Pictures

Marshall Crenshaw

Listen to, buy or share

Buy

Buy on Amazon Amazon Expand purchase options
  • Digital download
  • Amazon Amazon
  • 7digital 7digital
  • iTunes iTunes
  • Physical media
  • Amazon Amazon Search
  • eBay eBay Search
  • 369,378
    scrobbles
  • 41,687
    listeners

Tags

Everyone’s tags

More tags

Biography

Marshall Crenshaw (born November 11, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He grew up in the suburb of Berkley. Crenshaw began playing guitar at age 10 and got his first break playing John Lennon in the off-Broadway company of a musical, Beatlemania. While in New York, he recorded a single for Alan Betrock’s Shake Records, Something’s Gonna Happen, after which he was signed to Warner Bros. Records. Robert Gordon took Someday, Someway to #76 in 1981, and Crenshaw’s version made #36 the next year.

His first album, Marshall Crenshaw, was acclaimed as a pop masterpiece upon release, proving Crenshaw a first-rate songwriter, singer and guitarist. His second album, Field Day, sported a somewhat heavier sound which displeased some listeners, but Field Day is regarded by many critics as Crenshaw’s best album, and one of the classic power pop statements, although Crenshaw’s work, like 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 Marshall Crenshaw has never sold enormous numbers of records, he enjoys a reputation as one of the finest songwriters of the era, with roots in classic soul music, British Invasion songcraft, Burt Bacharach and Buddy Holly — to whom Crenshaw was often compared in the early days of his career, and whom he portrayed in the 1987 film La Bamba.
Read more… Edit bio

Top Albums

Events

Add event

Listening Trend

41,687listeners all time
369,378scrobbles all time
Recent listeners trend:

Start scrobbling and track your listening history

Last.fm users scrobble the music they play in iTunes, Spotify, Rdio and over 200 other music players.

Create a Last.fm profile

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up.

  • Dylanisgod2

    can't wait to see him at the Tractor!

    2 Feb 1:21am Reply

  • RedjMusic

    Field Day...I played my cassette to death, so much dropout, still loved it

    23 Dec 2012 Reply

  • KevinKevnQuevin

    I think he's better than Buddy Holly, to be honest...

    7 Sep 2012 Reply

  • Bastard1

    Pretty much the worst Buddy Holly ever.

    2 Sep 2012 Reply

  • e_m_rabin

    Love you Mr. Crenshaw.

    9 Oct 2011 Reply

  • semionato

    he's terrific.

    31 Aug 2011 Reply

  • semionato

    oh my god, what have i been missing?

    30 Aug 2011 Reply

  • ElectricSoul921

    amazing.

    18 May 2011 Reply

  • BWoolmore

    catchy melodies, thoughtful lyrics - couldnt agree more with all who have said this guy is underrated

    16 Apr 2011 Reply

  • secret_nick

    Less than 30k listeners, what a shame!!! Lovely music.

    21 Feb 2011 Reply

  • Touchmetallic

    The music of Marshall Crenshaw is that of a pop craftsman schooled on R&B and golden radio classics.

    17 May 2010 Reply

  • llamagesicht

    Marshall Crenshaw really influenced my childhood. One of my favorite musicians ever, especially for those sentimental reasons...

    8 May 2010 Reply

  • liam7777

    Is he in the Hall of Fame yet? Every time I hear one of his songs, I think about how underrated and forgotten he has become. One of America's great singer-songwriters.

    25 Apr 2010 Reply

  • Thedra

    i'm pretty stoked 'bout that i like Marshall Crenshaw. Field Day is pretty much the best album i've heard for a while.

    21 Nov 2009 Reply

  • RandyB1961

    Haven't heard the new album yet; can't wait to get it.

    13 Nov 2009 Reply

  • MCTManagement

    Hello Marshall Crenshaw fans! Please sign up for his mailing list to get up-to-date info on tours, projects, and relevant news to all things Marshall! And don't wait, because once you sign up you will automatically be entered to win a limited edition audiophile version of Marshall's debut record personally autographed by Marshall! Only 3,000 copies of this reissued release are available, and only two with his signature on it! Sign up at the Fanbridge link at the bottom of this page and be entered into the lottery. We'll also give away a signed copy of Marshall's newest album, Jaggedland, to the 100th person to sign up. Winners will be chosen and notified via email by November 30, 2009. http://www.marshallcrenshaw.com/

    8 Oct 2009 Reply

  • Biff_Bang_Pow

    No IDEA why this is in my iTunes library, never heard of this bloke but I really, really like it.

    2 Sep 2009 Reply

  • dtito2

    Nice review of Jaggedland http://www.blurt-online.com/reviews/view/1290/

    19 Jul 2009 Reply

  • Jrecklin

    New album is his best since Life's Too Short. One of my favorite 09 releases.

    11 Jul 2009 Reply

  • dtito2

    The new album sounds good!

    3 Jun 2009 Reply
    • All 29 shouts

Top Listeners

Email Newsletter

Universal Music Group Get exclusive tour, release & promotion updates on Marshall Crenshaw from Universal Music.