Adam Duritz

Adam Fredric Duritz (born August 1, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the rock band Counting Crows.

Duritz co-founded Counting Crows in 1991 in Berkeley, California, alongside guitarist David Bryson, initially as an acoustic duo that evolved into a full band. Their breakthrough came with the 1993 debut album August and Everything After, which achieved multi-platinum status and propelled hits like "Mr. Jones" and "Round Here" to widespread acclaim, contributing to the band's global sales exceeding 20 million records. Over the decades, Counting Crows has released eight studio albums, including Butter Miracle: Suite One in 2021 and Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets! in 2025, and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Accidentally in Love" from the Shrek 2 soundtrack in 2004.

Adam Fredric Duritz was born on August 1, 1964, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Gilbert Duritz, a pediatrician who had served in the U.S. Army, and Linda Duritz, who was pursuing further education and later became a psychiatrist. He has a younger sister, Nicole. The family, of Russian-Jewish descent, raised Duritz in a Reform Jewish household that emphasized education and public service, influenced by their parents' commitments to healthcare and community welfare.

This move marked a period of stability for Duritz, allowing him to adjust to West Coast life amid the vibrant cultural scene of the Bay Area, though he later reflected on the challenges of adapting after years of transience. His Jewish upbringing continued to shape his personal identity, fostering values of resilience and creativity that influenced his later endeavors.

In 2025, the HBO documentary Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? (premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival) explores Duritz's personal story, including the influences of his mental health challenges and experiences with antisemitism, further highlighting his Jewish heritage and advocacy for openness about personal struggles.