John Cruz
It may have been over 10 years in the making, but One of These Days, the new album by Grammy winner John Cruz, isn’t wasting any time making an impact.
The CD debuted at #6 on the Billboard World Chart after its September 25th release. It hit #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart for the Pacific Region and #32 on the Launch Pad/Top Heatseekers Chart nationally. Additionally, the CD landed firmly at #1 on the Borders Hawaiian Top 10 and is already considered a bestseller in local stores.
It received preliminary Grammy nominations in 2 categories, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album.
In the current climate of coveted radio airplay where few new songs get added to rotation, One of These Days has an astounding 4 songs already on the air in solid rotation in Hawaii and beyond. The title track, “One of These Days,” “Hurricane,” “Missing You” and “Hi’ilawe” can be heard on radio stations throughout Hawaii, with other tracks like “If That’s the Way She Wants It,” “Baby’s Gone Blues” and “Let Us Dream” being added to playlists on the mainland and in Europe and Japan as well. “Missing You” and “Hurricane” have both gone to #1 on various Hawaiian radio stations. The top rated commercial pop station in Hawaii, KSSK, which is owned by Clear Channel, recently added “Missing You” to its very tight playlist.
Influential Triple A radio station WMVY on Martha’s Vineyard added “Missing You” to rotation several months ago, and has sparked a national sales bump that is giving the CD momentum. The station liked the song so much, they released it on their new Fresh Produce Volume 4 CD, which features quality singer songwriters like Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. The station recently streamed John’s February concert performance on the Vineyard live around the world.
John’s critically lauded CD has been described as “brilliant,” “first class,” and “one of the year’s finest albums, local or otherwise.”
It’s no wonder the project has been so well received. The Hawaiian singer songwriter recorded One of These Days at Jackson Browne’s legendary studio in Los Angeles, with some of the industry’s most well respected musicians Percussion virtuoso Paulinho da Costa, Los Lobos sax man Steve Berlin, monster bass player Glenn Worf and soulful drummer James Gadson are a few featured players who have recorded with just about every top name in the business. The CD, which John produced himself, is a finely-crafted work of art, taking his songwriting, performing and producing abilities to a whole new level.
