Hank Crawford

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hank Crawford


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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Bennie Ross Crawford, Jr
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Born = birth date and age|1934|12|21|mf=y
Origin = flagicon|USA Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Instrument = Alto/Baritone Saxophone, Piano
Genre = R&B, Hard bop, Jazz-funk, Soul jazz
Occupation = Saxophonist, Songwriter
Years_active = 1958 – Present
Label = Milestone, Atlantic
Associated_acts = Jimmy McGriff, Richie Cole
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Hank Crawford (born Bennie Ross Crawford, Jr., December 21, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter.

Biography

Hank Crawford began formal piano studies at age nine and was soon playing for his church choir. His father had brought an alto saxophone home from the service and when Hank entered high school, he took it up in order to join the band. He credits Charlie Parker, Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges as early influences. In 1958 Crawford went to college at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at TSU, he majored in music studying theory and composition, as well as playing alto and baritone saxophone in the Tennessee State Jazz Collegians. He also led his own rock 'n' roll quartet, "Little Hank and the Rhythm Kings". This is when Crawford met Ray Charles. They all thought he looked and sounded just like Hank O'Day, a legendary local saxophonist, and that's when they nicknamed him Hank. Charles hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles' band--becoming its musical director until 1963. [Lydon, Michael. Ray Charles: Man and Music, Routledge, page 144, (2004) - ISBN 0415970431] When Crawford left Ray Charles in 1963 to form his own septet, he had already established himself with several albums for Atlantic. From 1960 until 1970, he recorded twelve LPs for the label, many while balancing his earlier duties as Ray’s director. He released such pre-crossover hits as “Misty”, “The Pepper”, “Skunky Green”, and “Whispering Grass”.

He also has done musical arrangement for Etta James, Lou Rawls, and others. [ [http://www.downbeat.com/artists/window.asp?action=new&aid=601&aname=Hank+Crawford Down Beat Profile] ] Much of his career has been in R&B, but in the 1970s he had several successful jazz albums with "I Hear a Symphony" reaching 11 on Billboard (magazine)'s Jazz albums list and 159 for Pop albums. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:bx7ibka96akv~T5 All Music: Hank Crawford] ] American saxophonist David Sanborn cites Hank Crawford as being one of his primary influences. [Fairweather, Digby. The Rough Guide to Jazz, Rough Guides, page 694, (2004) - ISBN 1843532565] Crawford is recognized by saxophonists as having a particularly unique and pleasing sound. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdX9roN_3kg YouTube: Hank Crawford on Nightmusic] ] In 1981, he featured, with fellow horn players Ronnie Cuber and David Newman, on B. B. King's "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere". In 1983 he moved to Milestone Records as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands--that include guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John. [Vladimir, Bogdanov. All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues, Backbeat Books, page 133, (2003) - ISBN 0879307366] In 1986, Crawford began working with blues-jazz organ master Jimmy McGriff. They’ve recorded four co-leader dates for Milestone Records—"Soul Survivors", "Steppin’ Up", "On the Blue Side", and "Road Tested"—and tour together when Crawford isn’t performing with his own group.

The new century found Hank Crawford, shifting gears and going for a more mainstream jazz set in his 2000 release "The World of Hank Crawford". Though the songs are compositions from jazz masters as Duke Ellington and Tadd Dameron, he delivers in that sanctified church sound that is his trademark. Followed by "The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff" (2001), and "Back" (2007). He has two children, Michael A. Crawford and Sherri L. Crawford. As well as a Grandchild, Tiffany M. Crawford.

elective discography

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.telarc.com/biography/bios.asp?aid=22 Hank Crawford bio]
* [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=5970 All About Jazz: Hank Crawford]