Local teen climbs high in music industry

By Taryn Plumb
Turley Publications Reporter

HOLLAND - Remember his name.
Because one of these days, clean-cut, handsome, Holland-bred singer-songwriter Joel Crouse just might emerge as the male version of teen phenomenon Taylor Swift.
“My main message is being true to who you are,” said the 17-year-old, who remains level-headed despite what seems to be a speedy rise to commercial success.
The country/pop-rock vocalist and guitarist – who also “dabbles” on the bass and piano – will likely ink a record deal with a major label by the summer.
In the meantime, he's filling out his entourage with a panoply of celebrity talent.
He's working with top writers in Los Angeles and Nashville – including some of Swift's lyricists – and with creative people who helped launch the careers of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
His producer, meanwhile, is Jamie Houston, who's written for the teeny-bopper sensation “High School Musical” (which will reach a new level of fandom when its much-anticipated fourth installment comes out this year). And Joe Simpson – father of starlet Jessica Simpson, who is now starring in the VH1 reality show “The Price of Beauty” – has also expressed interest in managing him.
If that's not enough A-list action for you, just wait: This summer, you'll hear him singing backup on a Cyrus-Sheryl Crow single.
That's about all he can say about that project, though, due to contractual obligations.
“It's a good song, I'll tell you that,” Crouse – wavy hair, wide smile, fitted gray shirt and black jacket over dark tailored jeans – said from a seat at a Sturbridge café.