Counting Crows

They began in 1990 as just Adam Duritz and David Bryson playing acoustic shows together in the San Francisco area. Duritz later joined a band called the Himalayans, but continued to work with Bryson. In 1993, they formed Counting Crows and were signed to Geffen Records after playing some shows in Northern California.

T-Bone Burnett, much admired by Duritz, produced their first album. The connection was Bonnie Simmons, a San Francisco DJ who was friends with both Burnett and the band. She sent Burnett their demo and he agreed to produce it.

In an era when alternative rock and hip-hop were polarizing Top 40 radio, Counting Crows fit the pop middle ground with their traditional, rootsy sound. Many stations put them in hot rotation (along with another Crow: Sheryl), since they had a sound that was contemporary but unlikely to alienate core listeners.