Kacy Crowley
Encyclopedia
Kacy Crowley is an American
musician
and singer-songwriter
. A New England
native, she currently resides in Austin, Texas
.
, her mother was a piano
teacher and her father was a construction worker. Her family soon relocated to Connecticut
, where Kacy remained until graduating from high school. Her parent's passion for music influenced her from an early age. She started playing the guitar
soon after seeing John Denver
in concert at age 5. She also began taking piano lessons around that time. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Massachusetts
for one semester before dropping out. At 19 she moved out to Los Angeles
to try to jumpstart her music career. She played in coffeehouses in and around the Los Angeles area. After two years in Los Angeles, she was struggling with a drug habit and moved back into her parents' house in Connecticut
.
. She moved to New York City
around 1992 and tried forming a few ensemble groups, without much success. She began waiting tables, while living with then-boyfriend Karl Anderson in one bedroom apartment. She devoted whatever free time she had to her music. Realizing, New York City was taking its toll on her, she and Anderson, the two now married opted to move to Texas, hoping for a fresh start. Once in Austin, she played many open mic nights and would often busk on Sixth Street. She signed a deal with the Dallas-based indie label, Carpe Diem and began recording her debut album Anchorless. The album, which was produced by Dave McNair, was recorded with several local musicians. After performing at South By Southwest
, Kacy signed a deal with Atlantic Records
, which brought her music to a wider audience. The label released Anchorless in 1997, including two new tracks on this release. The album received some critical praise from publications such as Billboard
, Vanity Fair
and USA Today
, but many of the critics had a lukewarm response to the record. Despite the response from critics, her songs were featured in films such as Anywhere but Here and Three to Tango
She went out on tour in support of the record, playing at Lilith Fair
and the H.O.R.D.E.
festival and opening for artists Chantal Kreviazuk
and Marc Cohn
. She went into the studio in 2001 and recorded her second album Boys in the Attic which was shelved by Atlantic. Kacy soon parted ways with Atlantic and took some time off. She spent the next few years writing and found time to record her third album Moodswing. Released in 2003, the album quickly became a favorite in the Austin area. She released another album entitled Tramps Like Us in 2004.
She released her latest album, "Cave," in the May of 2008. In 2010 Kacy joined the band Liars & Saints, which released an EP in 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. A New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
native, she currently resides in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
Early life
Born in Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, her mother was a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
teacher and her father was a construction worker. Her family soon relocated to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, where Kacy remained until graduating from high school. Her parent's passion for music influenced her from an early age. She started playing the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
soon after seeing John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
in concert at age 5. She also began taking piano lessons around that time. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
for one semester before dropping out. At 19 she moved out to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to try to jumpstart her music career. She played in coffeehouses in and around the Los Angeles area. After two years in Los Angeles, she was struggling with a drug habit and moved back into her parents' house in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Career
With her life back together, she started a band, Tragic Sam, and produced a few sessions with Billy Rush, the former guitarist for Southside Johnny & The Asbury JukesSouthside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes are a Jersey Shore musical group led by Southside Johnny. They have been recording albums since 1976 and are closely associated with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. They have recorded and/or performed several Springsteen songs, including "The Fever" and...
. She moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
around 1992 and tried forming a few ensemble groups, without much success. She began waiting tables, while living with then-boyfriend Karl Anderson in one bedroom apartment. She devoted whatever free time she had to her music. Realizing, New York City was taking its toll on her, she and Anderson, the two now married opted to move to Texas, hoping for a fresh start. Once in Austin, she played many open mic nights and would often busk on Sixth Street. She signed a deal with the Dallas-based indie label, Carpe Diem and began recording her debut album Anchorless. The album, which was produced by Dave McNair, was recorded with several local musicians. After performing at South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, Kacy signed a deal with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, which brought her music to a wider audience. The label released Anchorless in 1997, including two new tracks on this release. The album received some critical praise from publications such as Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, but many of the critics had a lukewarm response to the record. Despite the response from critics, her songs were featured in films such as Anywhere but Here and Three to Tango
Three to Tango
Three to Tango is a 1999 romantic comedy film starring Matthew Perry, Neve Campbell, Dylan McDermott and Oliver Platt.- Plot :Set amidst Chicago's swing music revival of the late 1990s, Oscar Novak , an aspiring architect and his business partner, Peter Steinberg , have just landed a career-making...
She went out on tour in support of the record, playing at Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
and the H.O.R.D.E.
H.O.R.D.E.
Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere or H.O.R.D.E. Festival was a touring summer rock music festival originated by the musical group Blues Traveler in 1992. In addition to travelling headliners, the festival gave exposure to bands, charities, and organizations from the local area of the...
festival and opening for artists Chantal Kreviazuk
Chantal Kreviazuk
Chantal Jennifer Kreviazuk is a Canadian singer-songwriter of the adult contemporary music genre. She is also a classically trained pianist, and can play the guitar.-Albums:...
and Marc Cohn
Marc Cohn
Marc Craig Cohn is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and musician.- Personal life :Cohn was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Beachwood High School in Beachwood, a Cleveland suburb. He then attended Oberlin College....
. She went into the studio in 2001 and recorded her second album Boys in the Attic which was shelved by Atlantic. Kacy soon parted ways with Atlantic and took some time off. She spent the next few years writing and found time to record her third album Moodswing. Released in 2003, the album quickly became a favorite in the Austin area. She released another album entitled Tramps Like Us in 2004.
She released her latest album, "Cave," in the May of 2008. In 2010 Kacy joined the band Liars & Saints, which released an EP in 2011.
Albums
- Anchorless (indie release, limited edition 1996)
- AnchorlessAnchorlessAnchorless is Kacy Crowley's major label debut released on Atlantic in 1997.This album had been released as a limited edition indie release in 1996 and was re-released by Atlantic in 1998, subsequently with a different track listing.- Track listing :...
(Atlantic Records, 1997) - Anchorless (remixed edition, 1998)
- Moodswing (indie release, 2003)
- Tramps Like UsTramps Like Us (album)Tramps Like Us is the 2004 album by Kacy Crowley. It was released independently. Like her previous album, Moodswing, it is popular in Crowley's hometown of Austin, Texas.- Track listing :# "Badass"# "Barely Hanging On"# "Nameless Town"...
(indie release, 2004) - Cave (indie release, 2008)
- Liars & Saints (indie release, 2011)