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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCROW, Sheryl(b 11 Feb. '63, Kennett MO) Rock singer-songwriter, one of the best to emerge in recent years, with a bitter-sweet back-porch philosophy. Influenced by country music; she hated it as a kid (it was all they could get on an AM radio), but halfway through her album 'I realized that what I was writing was a bunch of country songs.' Attended U of MO, worked as a music teacher in primary schools, went to LA '86, worked as backing singer, toured with Michael Jackson. Concentrating on songwriting (her songs recorded by Bette Midler and Wynonna Judd) she was suddenly signed by A&M when former Police producer Hugh Padgham heard one of her demo tapes. Her first album prod. by Padgham was too slick; the label allowed her to do it over with Bill Botrell; the debut Tuesday Night Music Club '94 on A&M was named for informal jams at Botrell's studio. It reached no. 3 and stayed in the US chart two years, incl. no. 2 single 'All I Wanna Do' (no. 4 UK), the kind of rockaballad that is a reward for listening through a hits compilation and reminds you why you listen to the music in the first place. The album had started slowly because the first two singles flopped; hard touring helped, then 'All I Wanna Do' cracked it, one of her least favourite tracks because it had been so much trouble to write, inspired by Vermont-based poet Wyn Cooper. She won three Grammys. Her second album was delayed when her lyrics and demo tapes were stolen from her car on the day the first went platinum, but she is an artist who has time on her side. |