Marshall Crenshaw

Marshall Crenshaw, born and raised in Michigan, used theater as the back door to a career in rock 'n' roll. He fronted many popular but unsigned bar bands in and around Detroit, but none of these acts succeeded in grabbing the attention of A&R execs.

Frustrated, he answered a classified ad in Rolling Stone Magazine recruiting potential actors for a new Broadway play that simulated the entire history of Beatles performances, complete with look and sound-alike musicians, called Beatlemania. Crenshaw and his younger brother, Robert, moved to New York City, where Marshall landed a role as understudy to the character of John Lennon. When the show went on the road, Crenshaw played the part on stage for years.

While touring the country, he brought a guitar and four track porta-studio where he spent his days laying down demos of original songs. Upon leaving Beatlemania in 1982, he was able to get a singles deal on the indie label Shake It Records and, due to the response he received, a full blown recording contract with Warner Brothers Records.

His debut LP, released in 1982, featured an offering of carefully crafted power pop hits - hip enough to appeal to fans of New Wave but radio friendly enough to attract mainstream rock fans. The single "Some Day, Some How" broke Crenshaw onto the radio stateside and abroad, although it was not quite popular enough to make him a household name.

Although Crenshaw has continued to write, record and tour, he was never able to break out of the showcase club circuit. In addition to his musical career, Crenshaw has appeared as an actor in a number of TV shows and films. He played Buddy Holly in the classic Richie Valens biopic, La Bamba, and also appeared in the Kathleen Turner breakthrough film Peggy Sue Got Married.

In addition, he has written a book on the history of rock 'n' roll films, and published articles about vintage guitars. The music's where it all started, though, and this recording offers Crenshaw at his very best.