John Crawford is a platinum-selling musician who saw a rise to fame with the Los Angeles-based synth pop group Berlin, which he founded with Terri Nunn in 1978. With Crawford as bassist, Berlin created the synth-driven sound that now seems to epitomize early 1980s techno pop. Best known for their singles "The Metro," "Sex (I'm A...)," and "No More Words." The platinum-selling Pleasure Victim was the most successful independent EP ever released for a time. The pinnacle of their mainstream commercial success in the mid-80s came with the Giorgio Moroder-penned single "Take My Breath Away" from the 1986 film Top Gun, which was Berlin's biggest international hit.
During the aftermath of Berlin's initial success, Crawford took some time out from the music industry to focus on his family. During the 90s he found personal revelation in the Christian faith. This turning point in his life would not only serve to save his soul and his marriage, but also go on to inspire the vocal work on the masterful solo album Surrender, alongside his precise guitar, bass playing and drum programming. With the electric guitar as its sonic focal point, the hard-rocking album beautifully embodies Crawford's uncanny knack for generating lyrical and melodic hooks.
After a multi-year hiatus from song writing during the 90s, he was inspired to start again after VH1 aired "Bands Reunited: Berlin" in 2006. With his passion for song writing rekindled, Crawford wrote a collection of new songs which are entitle After Berlin, released on Hembot Records in 2015.
John Crawford - Sunshine Girl
After Berlin is a brave and ambitious recording that seeks to do something different and doesn't find John Crawford resting on the laurels of his past experiences. The sound is layered and there's so much going on, you want to pick each piece apart and hear all the different instruments and the production touches that are generously sprinkled throughout all eleven songs. It paints a portrait of an artist confident and content to have moved to the next step... After Berlin. (Read more)
I think the word to describe this artist would be refreshing and (Read more)
..a real catchy tune. (Read more)
John Crawford's "After Berlin" revels in the spirit of hope... Melodically the songs are incredibly catchy and his background as a bassist shines through as the songs employ such tight rhythms. (Read more)