Jeff Trott
Jeffrey Robert Trott is an American songwriter/producer and multi-instrumentalist who has collaborated with prominent artists across genres in the United States and abroad. Trott has been named BMI Songwriter of the Year.[1]
Jeff Trott | |
|---|---|
Trott in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeffrey Robert Trott |
| Born | San Mateo, California, United States |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Bass, Keyboards, Lapsteel, Veena |
| Website | www |
He is known for writing many hits with Grammy winning artist Sheryl Crow, "If It Makes You Happy," "Every Day is a Winding Road," "My Favorite Mistake," "Soak Up The Sun," and "Good Is Good" as well as the Top 10 Billboard Country single "Easy" from her 2013 album Feels Like Home. He has produced tracks on her multi-platinum albums C'mon, C'mon and Wildflower, also co-writing and producing Crow's 2017 album Be Myself. Trott also appears on Crow's most recent album Threads that was released in 2019 - credited as a songwriter, producer and musician.[2]
In 2019 Trott produced, wrote and performed on the Hootie and the Blowfish album Imperfect Circle. The band's first new album in 14 years. The album was met with positive reviews.[3][4]
Early years
Trott's roots are West Coast. He got his start in San Francisco where his band was post punk outfit The Lifers. He then went on to join 415/Columbia recording artists Wire Train and in 1990 subsequently joined the UK band cult favorite World Party playing on their critically acclaimed album Goodbye Jumbo.[5]
Career
Writing
Trott's songwriting collaborations including Gemma Hayes, Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, John Paul White of The Civil Wars, Augustana, Rob Thomas, Guster, Natasha Bedingfield, Michelle Branch, Meiko, Liz Phair, Roger Daltry for The Who, Joe Cocker, Stevie Nicks, Counting Crows, Marc Broussard, Holly Conlan, Cider Sky and many others. Trott wrote "I'll Be Your Doctor" for Joe Cocker on his latest record Fire it Up .[5]
Producing
In 2015, Trott produced an album with actress/singer songwriter Leighton Meester from "Gossip Girl" and the movie Country Strong. The album was named "Heartstrings". Producer credits include Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, San Diego rock band Augustana, Joshua Radin's Wax Wings, Meiko, Griffin House, Pete Francis from Dispatch. In 2009, Trott produced the Samantha Stollenwerk record "Carefree". "Carefree" was recorded with members of Beck's band -Joey Waronker, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Brian LeBarton, Lyle Workman and Roger Manning. Trott also produced Max Gomez's latest record "Rule the World" featuring the single "Run from You" with a video directed by Keifer Sutherland. Randy Jackson chose Trott to produce his musical ensemble venture, The Canyons.[6] Trott and Frank Rogers co-produced 2019's Imperfect Circle by Hootie & the Blowfish.
Movie and television
Trott produced the soundtrack for the indie movie "Janie Jones" featuring Abigail Breslin and Alessandro Nivola.[7] He also scored the Kevin Watkins short film animation, "Hose".[8]
Trott was nominated for an Emmy Award for writing and producing the theme song for the Katie Couric talk show The Katie Show.[9] His songs have gotten many placements in hit television shows like Parenthood,[10] Grey's Anatomy', as well as songs in American Idol, The Voice,[11] and The X Factor.
Solo project
In 2000, Trott recorded and produced his first solo album, Dig Up The Astroturf,[12] with Portland electronic whiz kid Keith Schreiner. It was released on Trott's own indie label Black Apple. Trott's reason for making a solo record was to understand "every aspect of making a record, mastering, artwork, branding and PR in order to know firsthand what an artist goes through during the process of making a record."[13]
ole-2016
In January 2016, Trott signed a publishing and catalogue purchase agreement with rights management company ole.[14]
Accolades
BMI Songwriter Award
The BMI Awards are annual award ceremonies for songwriters in various genres organized by Broadcast Music, Inc. The main pop music award was founded in 1952. The 63rd Annual BMI Pop Awards were held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on May 13, 2015.[15]
| Year | Award name | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | BMI Songwriter Award | Won |
Daytime Emmy Awards
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York–based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles–based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming.[16] Jeff Trott and Sheryl Crow have received one nomination in the category "Outstanding Original Song".[9]
| Year | Nominated work | Award name | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "This Day" | Outstanding Original Song (shared with Sheryl Crow) | Nominated |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award name | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | "Forever" | Best American Roots Song (shared with Sheryl Crow) | Pending |
Discography
Sheryl Crow
1996
Sheryl Crow- Sheryl Crow (album)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | "A Change Would Do You Good" | Crow, Jeff Trott, Brian MacLeod | 3:50 |
| 4 |
| Crow, Trott | 3:58 |
| 5 | "If It Makes You Happy" | Crow, Trott | 5:23 |
| 8 | "Everyday Is A Winding Road" | Crow, Brian MacLeod, Trott | 4:16 |
| 10 | "Oh Marie" | Crow, Trott, Bill Bottrell | 3:30 |
| 11 | "Superstar" | Crow, Trott | 4:58 |
| 12 | "The Book" | Crow, Trott | 4:34 |
1998
Sheryl Crow- 'The Globe Sessions'
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "My Favorite Mistake" | Crow, Trott | 4:08 |
| 2 | "There Goes The Neighborhood" | Crow, Trott | 5:02 |
| 4 | "It Don't Hurt" | Crow, Trott | 4:49 |
| 5 | "Maybe That's Something" | Crow, Trott | 4:17 |
2002
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | "Soak Up The Sun" | Crow, Trott | 4:52 |
| 3 | "You're An Original" | Crow, Trott | 4:18 |
| 8 | "Lucky Kid" | Crow, Trott | 4:02 |
| 11 | "Abilene" | Crow, Trott | 4:45 |
2005
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | "Good Is Good" | Crow, Trott | 4:18 |
| 4 | "Chances Are" | Crow, Trott | 5:16 |
| 6 | "Lifetimes" | Crow, Trott | 4:12 |
| 7 | "Letter To God" | Crow, Trott | 4:04 |
| 8 | "Live It Up" | Crow, Trott | 3:42 |
| 9 | "I Don't Wanna Know" | Crow, Trott | 4:28 |
| 11 | "Where Has All The Love Gone" | Crow, Trott | 3:40 |
2008
| No. | Title | Writers(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | "Peace Be Upon Us" | Crow, Trott, Bottrell, Mike Elizondo | 4:22 |
| 5 | "Gasoline" | Crow, Trott, Bottrell | 5:07 |
| 10 | "Diamond Ring" | Crow, Trott | 4:10 |
2013
| No | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | "Easy" | Crow, DuBois,Trott | 4:10 |
| 3 | "Give It To Me" | Crow, Trott | 3:57 |
2017
| No | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Alone in the Dark" | Crow, Trott | 3:40 |
| 2 | "Halfway There" | Crow, Trott | 3:59 |
| 2 | "Long Way Back" | Crow, Trott | 5:07 |
| 4 | "Be Myself" | Crow, Trott | 4:22 |
| 5 | "Roller Skate" | Crow, Trott | 3:19 |
| 6 | "Love Will Save the Day" | Crow, Trott | 4:58 |
| 7 | "Strangers Again" | Crow, Trott | 3:51 |
| 8 | "Rest of Me" | Crow, Trott | 3:52 |
| 9 | "Heartbeat Away" | Crow, Trott | 5:35 |
| 10 | "Grow Up" | Crow, Trott | 3:27 |
| 11 | Woo Woo | Crow, Toby Gad, Trott | 3:14 |
2019
| No | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | "Live Wire" | Crow,Trott | 5:09 |
| 7 | "Cross Creek Road" | Crow, Trott | 4:46 |
| 13 | Wouldn't Want To Be Like You | Crow, Trott | 3:35 |
| 15 | Nobody's Perfect | Crow, Trott | 4:43 |
Counting Crows
2002
| No. | Title | Writer (s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | "4 White Stallions" | Trott, John Vickery, Patrick Winningham | 4:21 |
Marc Broussard
2004
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | "Rocksteady" | Broussard, Trott, Mike Elizondo and David Ryan Harris | 4:03 |
Augustana
2011
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | "Borrowed Time" | Trott, Dan Layus | 3:10 |
Joe Cocker
2012
| No | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | "I'll Be Your Doctor" | Jeff Trott, Victoria Horn, Steve McMorran | 3:30 |
Hootie and the Blowfish
2019
Hootie and the Blowfish – 'Imperfect Circle'
| No | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "New Year's Day" | (Tofer Brown, Hootie & the Blowfish, Eric Paslay, Jeff Trott) | 3:32 |
| 5 | "Turn It Up" | (Hootie & the Blowfish, Eric Paslay, Jeff Trott) | 3:21 |
| 9 | "Lonely on a Saturday Night" | (Hootie & the Blowfish, Eric Paslay, Jeff Trott) | 3:10 |
Others
- 1990 Goodbye Jumbo, World Party
- 2001 Trouble in Shangri-La, Stevie Nicks
- 2005 ...Something to Be, Rob Thomas
- 2005 The Forgotten Arm, Aimee Mann
- 2005 ...Something More, Rob Thomas
- 2009 Keep the Faith, Toni Childs
References
- ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (May 23, 1998). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Jeff Trott Interview – Hit Songwriter & Producer". Songwriter Universe | Songwriting News, Articles & Song Contest. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "Imperfect Circle - Hootie & the Blowfish | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Hootie & the Blowfish Reveals 'Imperfect Circle' Track List, Shares 'Rollin: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ a b "Jeff Trott : Songwriter Interviews". songfacts.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "Jeff Trott : Songwriter Interviews". songfacts.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (October 27, 2011). "'Janie Jones' With Abigail Breslin – Review". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ TheNetCave.com, NetMan Inc. "KIDS FIRST! News » Blog Archive » Kevin Watkins and His Animation "Hose"". kidsfirst.org. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ a b "Sheryl Crow Receives Daytime Emmy Nomination – Music News – ABC News Radio". ABC News Radio. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "Music Review: "Rule The World" by Max Gomez". JollyBuzz. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "'The Voice' 2015 results: How did Michigan's Joshua Davis do? Watch his duet with Sheryl Crow". MLive.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "Dig up the Astroturf – Jeff Trott | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "In Music We Trust – INTERVIEW: Jeff Trott: From Sheryl Crow's Songwriter to a Solo Career". inmusicwetrust.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "ole Signs Songwriting Ace Jeff Trott | Business Wire". businesswire.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- ^ "BMI Film & TV Awards: Overview". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ^ "All Awards". Television Academy. Retrieved April 10, 2016.