J.J. Crowne: The Musical Chameleon
Just as certain chameleons have the ability to change colors at the drop of a hat, so too can J.J. Crowne
a.k.a “The Eclectic One.” J.J.’s array of colors comes in the form of musical notes, and this colorful artist
has a deep and interesting history. Originally from Jersey and later moving to South Florida at age 15,
Crowne started writing songs at 11, picked up piano/keyboards at 16 and learned how to play guitar at
just 9 years old. The music bug had taken hold of J.J. at a very young age and this self-taught musician
hasn’t looked back since!
J.J. later attended Oberlin Music Conservatory, where he learned about formal musical composition and
arranging for the first time, and the musical chameleon was definitely taking shape. Besides playing in
nightclub cover bands for five years and then signing his first record deal at 22, radio enters the picture in
a BIG way. In the late ‘70s J.J. turned his sights to commercial jingles for various stations and ad
agencies in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. He actually became quite well-known for it, which led him down
the road of writing and recording music for films, TV shows and theatrical productions throughout the
late ‘70s into the ‘80s and ‘90s. Crowne even landed a deal with Fox TV back in 1992 where he came up
with the background music behind an episode of “America’s Most Wanted.” J.J. also got involved with
PBS TV as well as with Univision’s “Yo Quiero Ser Estrella” show, along with doing many voice-overs
for television, radio programs and even a few documentary films. Having won “Addy Awards” for two
of his commercials and then becoming an ASCAP Full Writer Member, J.J. seemed to be on top – or
maybe not? Just as a crown is worn by a king, this Crowne wasn’t fully satisfied and a little frustrated
with the “lack of real success in the music biz” so he became an attorney for the indigent. I mean, why
not?
This guy’s a chameleon, after all, with no desire to stay the same; and all the while laughing in the
face of that stale, same-old, same-old fellow from around the way. Constant change and ever evolving is
what J.J. Crowne is all about. In the realm of being a perfectionist, a Crowne is to be worn properly and
so J.J. must wear it right.
Jack of all trades and master of many is all fine and dandy, but the fact of the matter is that J.J.’s true gift
in this life is to make quality music for all to hear. Can’t fight what talents are given to you, and so what
can you do but just roll with it? Let me also mention that this singer/songwriter has had the opportunity,
with his former bands, to open for many acts including: The Mavericks, Johnny Depp’s old band The
Kidz (yes, I’m talking about that Scissor-handed pirate that we all love) and even Marilyn Manson & The
Spooky Kids before Mr. Trent Reznor discovered Manson. J.J. Crowne is already a rock star in my
book! However, the term rock star doesn’t seem to fit J.J.’s peaceful & laid-back persona, as he performs
more like Paul Simon/Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor and Bob Dylan. These legendary artists are all
singing poets who made substance-heavy music with a message and a true purpose. Crowne is attempting
to do just that through his own original music, so just give him an acoustic guitar and watch what he can
do! It’s no surprise that his songwriting ability has been recognized by Billboard Magazine and The
Miami Herald among others. The real magic happens in J.J.’s small studio at his Florida home where he
has also produced albums for several local Miami artists; and this is the birth place of his 2011 debut
release ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ and his current EP ‘Another Day of Love.’ Handling all the
vocal parts, instrumentation, arrangements and production on ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience,’ J.J.
decided to call in some big hitters to really help push the new EP into different directions. Worldrenowned
producer Stephen Wrench of Musik and Film Records, who has worked with the likes of
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rick Springfield, Missing Persons , Tommy Tutone and many others, joins forces with
the Eclectic One on the new EP – along with the highly-regarded Nashville engineer Jeff Silverman, who
has also worked with Rick Springfield , Richard Marx ,Barbara Streisand and Stephen Bishop, just to
name a few.
Stephen Wrench was kind enough to supply an informative and thoughtful description for each track on
J.J.’s latest release as follows: “The EP’s title song, ‘Another Day Of Love, ‘depicts the real world we
live in and says, in an ironic way, that all we really need is another day of love. I suggested to J.J. that he
almost talk the lyrics rather than sing them, and then came up with an idea to strategically place old radio
news clips of some of the world’s most famous messengers of peace whose lives ended tragically. Music
has the power to deliver a message, and ‘Another Day of Love’ definitely delivers a message.
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