The Crooners
have played in the streets and clubs of cities throughout the U.S. and Europe,
bringing their unique brand of high-energy American roots music to people from
all corners of the globe.
Originally formed in 2001 by the late Nyles
Reed Fitzgerald, Kevin Denton, Chris Merkley and "Hambone" Jennie
Grauer, the group got its start playing in the streets of Paris armed with only
their instruments and an open guitar case for spare change. They have
since traveled to a dozen different countries, released numerous live and
studio albums and also been featured on VH1, MTV and several independent
films.
Currently led by Denton, Merkley and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Bryan Eaton, the band is now based in New York City equipped with resonator guitars, mandolin, harmonica, group vocals and homemade percussive platforms. Mixing high-octane bluegrass with a rock 'n roll sensibility of blues and swing, the result is a contagious energy that spreads through any size crowd and resonates with people of all ages.
"Theirs is a sound that is really, really American, like surf rock born in the Midwest, or like The Beatles after they got big in America....it sounds like that first moment when the smoky blues joint became, through a few quick guitar riffs, the first rock club." (Richmond Style Weekly)
"The Crooners, a trio of blues street musicians who, banging on a washtub bass and vintage guitars on the sidewalk, played the best set I saw this year. Sometimes, you don’t even have to go into a club to see the best that SXSW has to offer." (Dallas/Fort Worth Star Telegram)