Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford Jr. (December 21, 1934 – January 29, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist, pianist, arranger, and songwriter whose genres included R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, and soul jazz. Crawford was musical director for Ray Charles before embarking on a solo career, releasing many well-regarded albums for labels such as Atlantic, CTI, and Milestone.

Early life Crawford was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. He began formal piano studies at the age of nine and was soon playing for his church choir. His father had brought an alto saxophone home from the service, and when Hank entered Manassas 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.

Career Crawford appears on an early 1952 Memphis recording for B. B. King, with a band including Ben Branch and Ike Turner.

In 1958, Crawford attended Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. While there, he majored in music, studying theory and composition, as well as playing alto and baritone saxophones in the Tennessee State Jazz Collegians. He also led his own rock 'n' roll quartet: "Little Hank and the Rhythm Kings". His bandmates all thought he looked and sounded just like Hank O'Day, a local saxophonist, which earned him the nickname "Hank". This is when Crawford met Ray Charles, who hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles's band, serving as its musical director until 1963.

When Crawford left Ray Charles in 1963 to form his own septet, he had already established himself through several albums for Atlantic Records. 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 Peeper", "Whispering Grass", and "Shake-A-Plenty".

He also did musical arrangement for Etta James and Lou Rawls, among others. Crawford recorded "Wild Flower" in 1973, and in 1978, worked with Cornell Dupree on the album Shadow Dancing. Much of his career was in R&B, but in the 1970s, he had several successful jazz albums, with I Hear a Symphony reaching no. 11 on 's jazz albums chart and no. 159 for pop albums.

David Sanborn has cited Crawford as being one of his primary influences. Crawford is recognized by saxophonists as having a particularly unique and pleasing sound. In 1981, he featured with fellow saxophonists David "Fathead" Newman and Ronnie Cuber on B. B. King's There Must Be a Better World Somewhere.

In 1983, he traded to Milestone Records as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands, including guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John. In 1986, Crawford began working with soul-jazz organist Jimmy McGriff. They recorded five co-leader dates for Milestone: Soul Survivors, Steppin' Up, On the Blue Side, Road Tested, and Crunch Time, as well as two dates for Telarc Records: Right Turn on Blue and Blues Groove. The two toured together extensively.

The 21st century found Crawford shifting gears and pursuing more a mainstream jazz set with his 2000 release The World of Hank Crawford. Though its track listing includes the music of jazz composers like Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Tadd Dameron, he delivers a soul sound that is his trademark. The following year saw the release of The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff.

Death Crawford died on January 29, 2009, aged 74, at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, due to complications arising from an earlier stroke.

Discography As leader/co-leader

Release yearTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes1961More SoulAtlantic1962 The Soul ClinicAtlantic1962From the HeartAtlantic1963Soul of the BalladAtlantic1964True BlueAtlantic1965Dig These BluesAtlantic1966After HoursAtlantic1967Mr. BluesAtlantic1968Double CrossAtlantic1969Mr. Blues Plays Lady SoulAtlantic1970The Best of Hank CrawfordAtlanticCompilation1971It's a Funky Thing to DoCotillion/Atlantic1972Help Me Make It Through the NightKudu/CTI1972We Got a Good Thing GoingKudu1973WildflowerKudu1974Don't You Worry 'bout a ThingKudu1975I Hear a SymphonyKudu1976Hank Crawford's BackKudu1977Tico RicoKudu1978Cajun SunriseKudu1980CenterpieceBuddahWith Calvin Newborn1982Midnight RambleMilestone1983Indigo BlueMilestone1984Down on the DeuceMilestone1985Roadhouse SymphonyMilestone1986Soul SurvivorsMilestoneWith Jimmy McGriff1986Mr. ChipsMilestone1987Steppin' UpMilestoneWith Jimmy McGriff1989Night BeatMilestone1989On the Blue SideMilestoneWith Jimmy McGriff1990Groove MasterMilestone1990Bossa InternationalMilestoneWith Richie Cole1991PortraitMilestoneWith Johnny "Hammond" Smith1993South CentralMilestone1994Right Turn on Blue TelarcWith Jimmy McGriff1996Blues Groove TelarcWith Jimmy McGriff1996TightMilestone1997Road TestedMilestoneWith Jimmy McGriff1998After DarkMilestone1999Crunch TimeMilestoneWith Jimmy McGriff2000The World of Hank CrawfordMilestone2001The Best of Hank Crawford & Jimmy McGriffMilestoneCompilation

As sideman With Ray Charles Ray Charles at Newport (Atlantic, 1958) What'd I Say (Atlantic, 1959) Ray Charles in Person (Atlantic, 1959) Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (ABC-Paramount, 1962)

With B. B. King There Must Be a Better World Somewhere (MCA, 1981) Let the Good Times Roll (MCA, 1999)

With David "Fathead" Newman Fathead Comes On (Atlantic, 1962) Still Hard Times (Muse, 1982) Fire! Live at the Village Vanguard (Atlantic, 1989)

With others Eric Clapton, Journeyman (Warner Bros., 1989) Cornell Dupree, Shadow Dancing (Versatile, 1978) Grant Green, Easy (Versatile, 1978) Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Breakout (Kudu/CTI, 1971) Etta James, The Right Time (Elektra, 1992) Shirley Scott, Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes (Atlantic, 1969) Janis Siegel, The Tender Trap (Monarch, 1999)

References

External links Hank Crawford bio at Telarc Records (archived) "Hank Crawford" at All About Jazz