Kevin Griffin
The architect of 90s alt-rock earworms, he turned personal heartbreak into anthems that defined a college radio generation.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American musician·Birthday: October 1·Generation X
Biography
Kevin Griffin didn't just front Better Than Ezra; he was its chief songwriter and emotional engine, channeling the melancholic energy of early-90s New Orleans into unexpectedly sunny alt-rock hits. The band's story is one of DIY perseverance; their major-label debut 'Deluxe' was initially self-released and sold from the trunk of their car before catching fire regionally and exploding nationally. Griffin's knack for wrapping wistful, sometimes bruised lyrics in irresistibly catchy hooks powered songs like 'Good' and 'In the Blood' to ubiquity on MTV and radio. His voice, a distinctive blend of warmth and frayed edges, became a signature sound of the post-grunge landscape. Beyond the band, Griffin evolved into a sought-after songwriter and producer, crafting hits for artists like Howie Day and Taylor Swift, proving the durability of his melodic instincts.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kevin was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote and performed the hit single 'Good', which reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995.
- Self-released Better Than Ezra's album 'Deluxe', which later went platinum after being picked up by a major label.
- Co-wrote the Taylor Swift song 'You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home' for the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack.
- Has written songs for a diverse array of artists including Howie Day, Sugarland, and James Blunt.
Did You Know?
He survived a serious skydiving accident in 2002 that resulted in multiple fractures and a long recovery.
He is a licensed private pilot.
He hosted a cooking web series called 'The Kitchen Hour' that blended music and food.
The band's name comes from a line in Ernest Hemingway's 'A Moveable Feast'.
“I think the best songs are the ones that are personal but universal at the same time.”
