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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 ZCROWELL, Rodney(b 7 August 1950, Houston TX) Singer-songwriter, producer. He worked with various bands in Texas and moved to Nashville in the early '70s. Jerry Reed was an early champion of Crowell's songs. He was a backup singer and guitarist in Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, '75-8; she recorded more than a dozen of his songs. He has a beautiful voice of his own: his album Ain't Livin' Long Like This '78 showcased his own writing and included guests Willie Nelson, James Burton and Ry Cooder. Other albums were What Will The Neighbors Think? '80, Rodney Crowell '81. He married Rosanne Cash '79 and produced her successful crossover album Seven Year Ache '81. Crowell's many fine songs include 'Ashes By Now', 'Stars On The Water' (a hit for Bob Seger), 'Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight' (included on first album; Harris's version '78 was more atmospheric, Crowell and Harris each performing on the other's version). His songs have been recorded by Waylon Jennings and George Jones, as well as most of those above. He concentrated on production in the early '80s: Survivors, with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins brought together the remainder of Sun records' famous 'million- dollar quartet' after Elvis Presley's death; there were also albums by Bobby Bare, Guy Clark, Albert Lee, etc; finally his own Street Language '86 was followed by Diamonds And Dirt '88, his second on Columbia and a major breakthrough with five no. 1 singles including 'It's Such A Small World' (a duet with Rosanne). But with five nominations at the Country Music Association awards '89 he was still not accepted by mainstream country; Keys To The Highway '89 was another good album but less successful commercially; Life Is Messy '92 reflected marriage problems and was poorly received, though good songs included 'What Kind Of Love' (co-written with Will Jennings and Roy Orbison). He moved to MCA, where ex-Hot Band colleague Tony Brown was an executive, and co-produced Let The Picture Paint Itself '94. His skill as a writer was confirmed by his highly praised memoir Chinaberry Sidewalks 2011. |