John McCrea (musician)

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For the comic book artist by the same name, see John McCrea.

John McCrea is a founding member of the band Cake, which originated in Sacramento, California. He sings and writes many of the lyrics for the band, in addition to playing guitar and vibraslap. He composed the original score for the 2001 film Sidewalks of New York.

Prior to Cake, McCrea spent most of the 1980s playing in various bands or performing solo. His first release was a double-sided single on vinyl only called Rancho Seco. One side was electric and the other acoustic. The LP was a protest song against the now-defunct nuclear power plant Rancho Seco built southeast of Sacramento.

His mid-1980s band John McCrea and the Roughousers recorded the songs "Love You Madly" and "Shadow Stabbing," which were later re-recorded by Cake. This band included Mike Urbano(drums) Pete Costello(bass) and Robert Kuhlmann(Guitar) McCrea then got a management deal in the UK, and spent some time in London. In the later 1980s he moved to Los Angeles.

McCrea continues to write lyrics and sing for the band. Additionally, he is a very vocal activist for environmental causes, most notably global warming and world poverty. He frequently uses the band's website and concerts as a platform to increase awareness about these and other causes.

McCrea possesses a distinctive, deep, and often monotone singing voice. His vocal stylings are featured on the Ben Folds song "Fred Jones, Part 2." He performed this song live with Folds on television and on Folds' album Ben Folds Live.

v • d • e CAKE John McCrea • Vince DiFiore • Xan McCurdy • Gabe Nelson • Paulo Baldi Former Members: Greg Brown • Victor Damiani • Shon Meckfessel • Pete McNeal • Todd Roper • Frank French Studio albums Motorcade of Generosity • Fashion Nugget • Prolonging the Magic • Comfort Eagle • Pressure Chief Compilations B-Sides and Rarities • Live at the Crystal Palace Demo Tapes & EPs Is This Love? • Three Song Sampler • Extra Value Singles Rock 'N' Roll Lifestyle • Jolene • Ruby Sees All • I Will Survive • The Distance • Frank Sinatra • Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps • Friend is a Four Letter Word • Never There • Let Me Go • You Turn the Screws • Sheep Go to Heaven • Short Skirt/Long Jacket • Arco Arena • Love You Madly • No Phone • The Guitar Man • Carbon Monoxide Related articles Discography • Deathray