| ...and just who is... The "ZappMan?" |
| www.njswest.com Music. Media. Motivation. ® |
| A Short Biography of Keith “ZappMan” Crenshaw The ZappMan was born Keith Andre Crenshaw on January 13, 1968 to Alexander & Bessie Crenshaw, in Los Angeles, CA. At a very early age, Keith showed an unusual response to all styles of music. A friend of the family once remarked how at the age of two, Keith sat next to a stereo speaker all night long. He grew up listening to the Soul, Funk & Jazz of the 70’s & 80’s. His earliest influences included all the R&B greats: Steve Wonder, Ray Charles, The Jacksons, Prince, Earth, Wind & Fire, Ohio Players, The Gap Band, Zapp & Roger, Parliament, to name a few. While at a young age, Keith discovered the piano. Various friends of the family would have different musical instruments at their houses, and Keith would always take full advantage. At age 11, Keith was presented with his first musical instrument ever, a guitar. While in his teens, a close friend’s uncle had a drum set at his house as well, and Keith showed an aptitude for that instrument as well. |
| At Left: ZappMan looking cool for the camera while at a 90's reunion concert in Los Angeles. Photo taken by Jodecidal of NJS4E. At Bottom: Striking a pose with the real "ZappMan," the late great Roger Troutman circa 1993. Click the picture to see Roger at what he does best! (Video courtesy YouTube.com). |
| (Bio con't) While in college, Keith took up music theory classes, which broadened his understanding of musical composition, philosophies and concepts. It was also at this time Keith began a past-time that would eventually be a catalyst for all his music endeavors: becoming a professional Mobile Disc Jockey. In the mid to late 80’s the scope of Urban/R&B music was returning to its funkier, grass roots beginning. The rise of hip-hop and New Jack Swing had begun, and Keith found him self in “full swing” with the Los Angeles based production company, Totally Entertainment. It was also here when Keith began a life long interest in the media and entertainment fields in general, especially the broadcasting sphere. In addition to being a core member of the New Jack Swing 4Ever online community, Keith is also an aspiring Voice Over Talent artist. In May of 2004, Keith contacted the creator of New Jack Swing 4Ever, Mr. Andrew Knyte. They quickly learned they share a love and passion for the music accordingly called “New Jack Swing.” From there grew a business and personal relationship that maintains to this day. Having been dubbed the “ZappMan” as his online “screen name,” it’s Keith mission to continue to bring fans of New Jack Swing and all Urban music in general exclusive content with regard to interviews, events, photos, etc. to keep this music alive. You may check out a cool article written by the ZappMan here. At present, the ZappMan resides in Los Angeles and has two wonderful sons, and handles the Talent Relations & Marketing for NJS West! You can contact the ZappMan here: ZappMan@njswest.com |
| ** Notable Achievements by "The ZappMan" ** Pro DJ/Mobile Entertainment Talent since 1988 (for various celebrities, corporations, events, etc.) 16 years with a top Los Angeles production company: Totally Entertainment. Highly experienced in Urban & Popular forms of music (Jazz, R&B, Funk, Soul, etc.) personalities, politics, theory & culture. Owned & operated own webcast radio show through 99.3 KCLA FM (Los Angeles). Creator of the Afro-American section on Paltalk where the ZappMan occasionally hosts an online forum. Musician who plays drums, piano & guitar (having played with several notable local talents in the Greater Los Angeles area). Click here for an audio example. Have written & contributed to various online music forums like Soul Patrol (www.soul-patrol.com) and New Jack Swing Forever (www.njs4e.com). Click here for the very first article written (online) by the ZappMan. |
Above: Classic B&W 'headshot' of The ZappMan. At Bottom Center: ZappMan with the "King of New Jack Swing" Teddy Riley! Click on the pic for more info! |
NJS West! is a proud affiliate of the entire "New Jack Swing" Movement. Layout & Concept © 2010 NJS West, LLP All rights reserved. |
Above: The ZappMan with Jazz/R&B/Pop Pianist, Composer and Musician, Patrice Rushen (and unidentified girl) at an outdoor summer concert in Altadena, CA. Below: At same concert with Jazz/R&B/Funk Percussionist and Drummer, Ndugu Chancler. Click on the pictures for more info! |
| Above Left: ZappMan conversing with the CEO & Founder of New Jack Swing 4Ever, Andrew Knyte. Bottom Right: Knyte meeting Teddy Riley for the first time in person... |
NJS West Teddy Riley Aaron Hall GUY BLACKstreet NJS4E New Jack Swing R&B Funk Soul
Music Hip-Hop Al B. Sure Bobby Brown Janet Micheal Michael Jackson Today BBD New Edition
Ralph Tresvant Johnny Gill Heavy D The Boys Chuckii Booker Full Force The Good Girls Gyrlz
Troop Johnny Kemp Keith Sweat Karyn White Kid 'N' Play Kool Mo Dee LeVert MC Hammer
RedHead Kingpin Zan Aquart Salt 'N' Pepa Soul II Soul Timmy Gatling Tony Terry Lorenzo Tony
Toni Tone Wrecks N Effect Wreckx Another Bad Creation Ex-Girlfriend Special Generation
After 7 Father MC Mint Condition B Angie B Hi-Five TLC Basic Black Nice & Smooth Tara
Kemp Music Bell Biv Devoe Jasmine Guy Tevin Campbell Boyz II Men Jeff Redd Tracie Spencer
Jodeci R. Kelly Public Announcement Tyler Collins Christopher Williams Kwame Riff Wooten
Brothers Color Me Badd The Rude Boys LL Cool J Samuelle Dana Dane Slick Rick Lisa Stansfield
Shanice En Vogue MC Brains Das Efx Lo-Key Shaquille O'Neal London Jones Silk Aquil
Davidson Arrested Development Lorenzo Smoove Blackgirl Full Force Sounds of Blackness Big
Bub Good 2 Go Mary J. Blige S.W.V. SWV X-Clan Public Enemy Me 2 U Me-2-U Keith ZappMan
Crenshaw Grand Puba Men At Large Terri & Monica Brand Nubian G-Wiz Brian McKnight II D
Extreme Nona Gaye Tisha Tevin Campbell Immature Paperboy Trey Lorenz Bryan Powell Intro
Portrait CeCe Peniston Chante Moore Jade P.O.V. Voices Jamie Foxx Soul For 4 Real Kris Kross
Shai Jane Child Me 4 U Roger Troutman Zapp Parliament Funkadelic James Brown Sly Stone
NJS West Gap Band Prince Con Funk Shun Motown Stax Vizion Whodini Kurtis Blow LTD
Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis Flyte Tyme Isley Al Green Loose Ends KRS-1 Ohio Players SOS S.O.S.
Band Kashif Maxwell Mark Morrison Marvin Gaye Kraftwerk Digital Underground Stevie
Wonder Take 6 Quincy Jones Remix 112 EPMD E.P.M.D.
Notorious BIG B.I.G. Sean Combs Puffy P-Diddy Diddy Bad Boy Entertainment Kurtis Blow One
Way Run-DMC John Barnes Stanley Brown Big Bub West! Uptown MCA
Music Hip-Hop Al B. Sure Bobby Brown Janet Micheal Michael Jackson Today BBD New Edition
Ralph Tresvant Johnny Gill Heavy D The Boys Chuckii Booker Full Force The Good Girls Gyrlz
Troop Johnny Kemp Keith Sweat Karyn White Kid 'N' Play Kool Mo Dee LeVert MC Hammer
RedHead Kingpin Zan Aquart Salt 'N' Pepa Soul II Soul Timmy Gatling Tony Terry Lorenzo Tony
Toni Tone Wrecks N Effect Wreckx Another Bad Creation Ex-Girlfriend Special Generation
After 7 Father MC Mint Condition B Angie B Hi-Five TLC Basic Black Nice & Smooth Tara
Kemp Music Bell Biv Devoe Jasmine Guy Tevin Campbell Boyz II Men Jeff Redd Tracie Spencer
Jodeci R. Kelly Public Announcement Tyler Collins Christopher Williams Kwame Riff Wooten
Brothers Color Me Badd The Rude Boys LL Cool J Samuelle Dana Dane Slick Rick Lisa Stansfield
Shanice En Vogue MC Brains Das Efx Lo-Key Shaquille O'Neal London Jones Silk Aquil
Davidson Arrested Development Lorenzo Smoove Blackgirl Full Force Sounds of Blackness Big
Bub Good 2 Go Mary J. Blige S.W.V. SWV X-Clan Public Enemy Me 2 U Me-2-U Keith ZappMan
Crenshaw Grand Puba Men At Large Terri & Monica Brand Nubian G-Wiz Brian McKnight II D
Extreme Nona Gaye Tisha Tevin Campbell Immature Paperboy Trey Lorenz Bryan Powell Intro
Portrait CeCe Peniston Chante Moore Jade P.O.V. Voices Jamie Foxx Soul For 4 Real Kris Kross
Shai Jane Child Me 4 U Roger Troutman Zapp Parliament Funkadelic James Brown Sly Stone
NJS West Gap Band Prince Con Funk Shun Motown Stax Vizion Whodini Kurtis Blow LTD
Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis Flyte Tyme Isley Al Green Loose Ends KRS-1 Ohio Players SOS S.O.S.
Band Kashif Maxwell Mark Morrison Marvin Gaye Kraftwerk Digital Underground Stevie
Wonder Take 6 Quincy Jones Remix 112 EPMD E.P.M.D.
Notorious BIG B.I.G. Sean Combs Puffy P-Diddy Diddy Bad Boy Entertainment Kurtis Blow One
Way Run-DMC John Barnes Stanley Brown Big Bub West! Uptown MCA
| Above (L-R): Guitarist Wesley King & Assistant, International Musician/Composer/Bassist Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire (and The ZappMan) at a B-Day Celebration for a local dignitary in Los Angeles, December 2006. (Photo courtesy of Rovner/Thompson Photography) Email: brettmt@earthlink.net Below: Former L.A. Police Chief, and current Los Angeles 8th District Councilman Bernard C. Parks taking a moment to pose with the ZappMan on January 15th 2007, at a street festival commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King's B-Day. (Photo courtesy of Picture This! Photography) (http://picturethisdigi.com/) |
