Anthony Crawford (bass musician)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Crawford is an American
bassist
, songwriter
, producer
and recording artist
from Memphis
, Tennessee
.
He is best known for working with Justin Timberlake
, Peabo Bryson
, Howard Hewett
, Shalamar
, Kirk Whalum
, Phil Perry
, Glen Jones and Karen Briggs
. Anthony also played bass for the National Democratic Convention for Bill Clinton
in 2000.
, into a musical family including his father, drummer Hubert "H-Bomb" Crawford and his uncle, Hank Crawford
, a well known saxophonist. Hubert Crawford played with many notable acts, including James Brown
, The Bar-Kays, The Eric Gales
Band, Mark Farner of "Grand Funk Railroad
", and Ann Peebles
. Hank Crawford played with Ray Charles
, Eric Clapton
, B.B. King, Grant Green
, Lou Rawls
, and Etta James
, among others.
Anthony Crawford was considered a musical prodigy. At the age of 14 he sat in with the Bette Midler band. He later honed his talent while performing with a variety of Memphis community choirs and churches.
, Anthony Crawford was asked to play at the National Democratic Convention for Bill Clinton. The word began to spread and in 2002 he appeared in a Burger King commercial with basketball icon, Shaquille O'Neal
. This eventually led to him playing with well-known pop vocalist, Justin Timberlake
.
Anthony began serving as a bassist in the legendary R&B group Shalamar
in 2004. Shortly after, he performed on tours and a DVD release with Shalamar front-man Howard Hewett.
Crawford worked with saxophonist, Kirk Whalum
and the pair donated their talents to create the soundtrack for a documentary film with Bill Gates
, Melinda Gates
, and Bill Clinton
which was called Miss HIV
, filmed in Toronto, Canada and in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Anthony relocated from Memphis to Los Angeles, and began to widely proliferate on the LA scene. In 2010 he released his debut solo album, "Urban Jazz".
In December 2010, Crawford joined Virgil Donati
's group for their upcoming tour.
World Overcomers Outreach Ministry:
FreeSol
Howard Hewett
Delight
Solstice
The Tim Terry Experience
Floyd Taylor
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and recording artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
He is best known for working with Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
, Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett is an American R&B and gospel singer and former lead vocalist of the R&B group Shalamar.Raised in Akron, Ohio, Hewett moved to Los Angeles. He would eventually meet Soul Train dancer and future first wife Rainey Riley-Cunningham, then a secretary of the show's creator and original...
, Shalamar
Shalamar
Shalamar was an American music group, primarily of the 1970s and 1980s, that was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator Don Cornelius. They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Soul Train producer Don Cornelius...
, Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
, Phil Perry
Phil Perry
Phil Perry is an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician and a former member of the soul group The Montclairs from 1971 to 1975.- Biography :...
, Glen Jones and Karen Briggs
Karen Briggs
Karen Briggs, is an American violinist. She was born in New York City and grew up in Portsmouth, Virginia. Taking violin lessons from an early age, Briggs attended Norfolk State University after graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1981. There, she majored in music education and mass media...
. Anthony also played bass for the National Democratic Convention for Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 2000.
Early life
Anthony Crawford was born in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, into a musical family including his father, drummer Hubert "H-Bomb" Crawford and his uncle, Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford
Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. was an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter...
, a well known saxophonist. Hubert Crawford played with many notable acts, including James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, The Bar-Kays, The Eric Gales
Eric Gales
Eric Gales is an American blues-rock guitarist, originally hailed as a child prodigy. Gales has recorded ten albums on major record labels, and has done session and tribute work...
Band, Mark Farner of "Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
", and Ann Peebles
Ann Peebles
Ann Peebles is an African American singer-songwriter who gained celebrity for her Memphis soul albums of the 1970s on the Hi Records label...
. Hank Crawford played with Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, B.B. King, Grant Green
Grant Green
Grant Green was a jazz guitarist and composer....
, Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls
Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
, and Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
, among others.
Anthony Crawford was considered a musical prodigy. At the age of 14 he sat in with the Bette Midler band. He later honed his talent while performing with a variety of Memphis community choirs and churches.
Career
After being discovered by several notable producers, including Angelo EarlAngelo Earl
Angelo Earl is an American guitarist, record producer, songwriter and owner of Soul Street Records. Earl is most widely known for playing electric guitar on Al Green’s “He Is The Light”, Bobby Rush’s “Southern Soul”, the Bar-kays “The Real Thing”, contributing vocal work to Isaac Hayes’ “Branded”,...
, Anthony Crawford was asked to play at the National Democratic Convention for Bill Clinton. The word began to spread and in 2002 he appeared in a Burger King commercial with basketball icon, Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
. This eventually led to him playing with well-known pop vocalist, Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
.
Anthony began serving as a bassist in the legendary R&B group Shalamar
Shalamar
Shalamar was an American music group, primarily of the 1970s and 1980s, that was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator Don Cornelius. They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Soul Train producer Don Cornelius...
in 2004. Shortly after, he performed on tours and a DVD release with Shalamar front-man Howard Hewett.
Crawford worked with saxophonist, Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
and the pair donated their talents to create the soundtrack for a documentary film with Bill Gates
Bill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
, Melinda Gates
Melinda Gates
Melinda Ann French , later known as Melinda French Gates, is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the wife of Bill Gates...
, and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
which was called Miss HIV
Miss HIV
Miss HIV is a feature length documentary by Ethnographic Media, released to DVD on August 26, 2008. Written and directed by Jim Hanon , and produced by Mart Green, the film explores the international collision of HIV/AIDS policies while following the journey of two HIV-positive women who enter a...
, filmed in Toronto, Canada and in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Anthony relocated from Memphis to Los Angeles, and began to widely proliferate on the LA scene. In 2010 he released his debut solo album, "Urban Jazz".
In December 2010, Crawford joined Virgil Donati
Virgil Donati
Virgil Donati is an Australian drummer, frequent drum clinician and a producer. He is currently playing with the band Planet X and Seven the Hardway among other projects. Virgil is perhaps most well known for his fast, highly technical drumming skills...
's group for their upcoming tour.
Discography
Anthony Crawford:- 2010 Urban Jazz
World Overcomers Outreach Ministry:
- Kingdom Liberation LIVE
FreeSol
- 11:11
Howard Hewett
- Intimate
Delight
- Rita Marie Valle
Solstice
- Exploration=Discovery
- Hyperspace Wavelength Travel
The Tim Terry Experience
- Self-titled
Floyd Taylor
- No Doubt