Craig Ross
Encyclopedia
Craig David Ross is an American
guitarist
best known for performing and recording with Lenny Kravitz
.
. Craig Ross picked up the guitar at age 8, following a path that he hasn't deviated from since. That first guitar, borrowed from a neighbor's garage, was his foray into the world of the Beatles and Chuck Berry, his early influences.
Before the age of 16, he started playing the L.A. clubs and eventually formed the band The Broken Homes in high school. They opened for the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan
, INXS
, and Jerry Lee Lewis
, among others, while doing clubs gigs with bands such as Guns N' Roses
and Jane's Addiction
. The band made three records for MCA records in the 80's, working with producers such as Andy Johns
of Zeppelin
and Stones
fame. This seminal period gave Craig his education in studio work.
A chance meeting in an LA pool hall with Lenny Kravitz (facilitated by Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's) shaped the course of his career for the next 13 years. After touring Lenny's Mama Said album, Craig joined Lenny in the studio, co-writing and playing all the guitars on the track Are You Gonna Go My Way, an anthem that helped elevate Lenny's career to new heights. The collaboration continued with stand-out solos on tracks such as Believe and Is There Any love in Your Heart helping make Lenny a top rock act. Craig has written and played on every subsequent Lenny album since as well as records by Sheryl Crow
, Mick Jagger
, B.B. King, Eric Clapton
, The Black Crowes
, Nikka Costa
and others.
His musical influences include Freddie King
, Albert King
, Jimi Hendrix
, Jimmy Page
, Cornell Dupree
and Jimmy Nolen
. Apart from studio work, performing and writing, he is now expanding into production and is currently doing projects for Roxie Records.
Surviving all of the changes the music business has to offer, Craig continues on his journey that is now spanning over three decades.
He was a member of the LA rock band Broken Homes; Ross went by the stage name
Kreg Ross, and recorded 3 albums for MCA Records
with the band. In 1991, he met Lenny Kravitz
in a pool hall and joined his band to tour in support of the album Mama Said (1991). He has played on every album by Kravitz since. Ross co-wrote the songs "Spinning Around Over You", "Are You Gonna Go My Way
", "Is There Any Love in Your Heart", "Where Are We Runnin'?
", "Stillness of Heart
", and "Lady
" with Kravitz, as well as numerous songs on Kravitz's 2008 release It Is Time for a Love Revolution
. He has two daughters named Mia and Devon and his wife's name is Anna. Also in a side band call Honky with Mark (muddy) Dutton and T. Grier before joining Lenny
Ross also played on The Black Crowes
2001 album, Lions
, on the track "Greasy Grass River", and on former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford's
first solo album, It's About Time in 2003.
Most recently, Craig appeared as a guest guitarist on the band Spoon
's performance on the television show Austin City Limits
. The episode premiered on PBS on October 9, 2010. He appeared on the song Nobody Gets Me But You and as co-guest guitarist with Charlie Sexton
on the song Who Makes Your Money.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
best known for performing and recording with Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
.
Biography
Ross was born and raised in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Craig Ross picked up the guitar at age 8, following a path that he hasn't deviated from since. That first guitar, borrowed from a neighbor's garage, was his foray into the world of the Beatles and Chuck Berry, his early influences.
Before the age of 16, he started playing the L.A. clubs and eventually formed the band The Broken Homes in high school. They opened for the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
, INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, and Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, among others, while doing clubs gigs with bands such as Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
and Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
. The band made three records for MCA records in the 80's, working with producers such as Andy Johns
Andy Johns
Andy Johns is an engineer and producer who worked on well-known rock albums such as Led Zeppelin's IV and The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. His sound is exemplified by Free's album Highway, which he engineered and produced....
of Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
fame. This seminal period gave Craig his education in studio work.
A chance meeting in an LA pool hall with Lenny Kravitz (facilitated by Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's) shaped the course of his career for the next 13 years. After touring Lenny's Mama Said album, Craig joined Lenny in the studio, co-writing and playing all the guitars on the track Are You Gonna Go My Way, an anthem that helped elevate Lenny's career to new heights. The collaboration continued with stand-out solos on tracks such as Believe and Is There Any love in Your Heart helping make Lenny a top rock act. Craig has written and played on every subsequent Lenny album since as well as records by Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, B.B. King, 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...
, The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
, Nikka Costa
Nikka Costa
Domenica "Nikka" Costa is an American singer whose music combines elements of funk, soul, and blues. She also had a career as a child singer starting in the early 1980s. She is the daughter of notable music producer Don Costa and is married to Australian producer/songwriter Justin Stanley.- Early...
and others.
His musical influences include Freddie King
Freddie King
Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
, Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Cornell Dupree
Cornell Dupree
Cornell Luther Dupree was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He worked at various times with Bill Withers, Donny Hathaway, King Curtis and Steve Gadd, appeared on David Letterman, and wrote a book on soul and blues guitar: Rhythm and Blues Guitar ISBN 0-634-00149-3...
and Jimmy Nolen
Jimmy Nolen
Jimmy Nolen was an American guitarist, known for his distinctive "chicken scratch" lead guitar playing in James Brown's bands.-Early life and career:...
. Apart from studio work, performing and writing, he is now expanding into production and is currently doing projects for Roxie Records.
Surviving all of the changes the music business has to offer, Craig continues on his journey that is now spanning over three decades.
He was a member of the LA rock band Broken Homes; Ross went by the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Kreg Ross, and recorded 3 albums for MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
with the band. In 1991, he met Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
in a pool hall and joined his band to tour in support of the album Mama Said (1991). He has played on every album by Kravitz since. Ross co-wrote the songs "Spinning Around Over You", "Are You Gonna Go My Way
Are You Gonna Go My Way (song)
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is the first single to be released by Lenny Kravitz from the album of the same name. It was released in March 1993. It was written by Lenny Kravitz and Craig Ross...
", "Is There Any Love in Your Heart", "Where Are We Runnin'?
Where Are We Runnin'?
"Where Are We Runnin'?" is the lead single by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz from his 2004 album Baptism, released on May 10, 2004. The lyrics were written by Kravitz, and the music also by Kravitz in collaboration with Craig Ross....
", "Stillness of Heart
Stillness of Heart
"Stillness of Heart", released on January 29, 2002, is a song written by Lenny Kravitz and Craig Ross, released on Kravitz's 2001 album Lenny...
", and "Lady
Lady (Lenny Kravitz song)
"Lady" is the final single from the 2004 album Baptism by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz. It was released on November 23, 2004. The song is believed to be written about Kravitz's then-girlfriend, Nicole Kidman. The track was used heavily in the GAP ads...
" with Kravitz, as well as numerous songs on Kravitz's 2008 release It Is Time for a Love Revolution
It Is Time for a Love Revolution
It Is Time for a Love Revolution is the eighth studio album by American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and arranger Lenny Kravitz, released on February 5, 2008....
. He has two daughters named Mia and Devon and his wife's name is Anna. Also in a side band call Honky with Mark (muddy) Dutton and T. Grier before joining Lenny
Ross also played on The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
2001 album, Lions
Lions (album)
Lions is the sixth studio album by American rock band The Black Crowes. It was released in 2001 as their first album on V2 Records following their departure from Columbia, and is their only studio album to feature guitarist Audley Freed. Lions was recorded in New York City in January and February...
, on the track "Greasy Grass River", and on former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford's
Marc Ford
Marc Ford , is an American blues-rock guitarist. He's a former lead guitarist of the rock and roll jam band The Black Crowes and the leader of his own bands .-Burning Tree:Ford began his career with the blues-rock outfit Burning...
first solo album, It's About Time in 2003.
Most recently, Craig appeared as a guest guitarist on the band Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
's performance on the television show Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
. The episode premiered on PBS on October 9, 2010. He appeared on the song Nobody Gets Me But You and as co-guest guitarist with Charlie Sexton
Charlie Sexton
Charles Wayne Sexton is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known for the 1985 hit Beat's So Lonely and as the guitarist for Bob Dylan's backing band from 1999 to 2002 and since 2009...
on the song Who Makes Your Money.