BOOKINGS

Listen to Saxophonist Tony Craddock, Jr. & Cold Front

“[Tony’s saxophone cover] warmed my heart the first time I heart it. It was like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a blustery winter day with caramel drizzle on top. Definitely my favorite version since the original.” – Grammy Award-winning songwriter Makeba Riddick-Woods on Tony’s cover of the hit gospel song “Won’t He Do It'” (Koryn Hawthorne)

BIO

“The maturity of his vision for life and music is quite compelling and is born out in the sound of his horn,” says Grammy® award-winning saxophonist & composer Kirk Whalum about emerging jazz saxophonist Tony Craddock, Jr. Craddock’s discovery of smooth jazz on The Weather Channel’s “Local on the 8s” at age eight led him to the saxophone and eventually to Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology. Now, he uplifts listeners with song titles, lyrics and sounds that connect his music’s messages with emotions people experience from the weather, reaching more than 20,000 monthly listeners through Spotify and Pandora Radio.

Tony’s latest single is an energetic saxophone cover of the 2018 Dove Award-winning and Billboard Gospel #1 hit song “Won’t He Do It.” The cover, a “wintry mix” of gospel, hip-hop and jazz, garnered the approval of Grammy Award-winning songwriter Makeba Riddick-Woods, who encouraged Tony to release the cover after it captured her attention on Instagram.

Craddock’s released his third studio album H₂O in March 2018, produced by chart-topping jazz guitarist Ken Navarro and featuring Kirk Whalum on a soul-stirring offering of “Amazing Grace.” The lead single “Living Water” (featuring Navarro) airs on Sirius XM Watercolors, Music Choice Smooth Jazz and more than forty radio stations in the U.S., U.K. and Poland. “Living Water” peaked at #13 on the British Smooth Jazz chart and hit the Top 40 on the Radiowave Smooth Jazz chart. Craddock also renders his take on the New Edition classic “Can You Stand the Rain,” while penning six originals, including two heartfelt vocal songs he accompanies on saxophone, “Abide in Me” and “Sunrise,” dedicated to his wife and daughter respectively. His other albums include Convection (2013) and Christmas in the Air (2011), which aired on The Weather Channel’s “Local on the 8s” in 2011 and 2012, bringing his musical journey full circle since that is where his passion for jazz began.

Describing the experience of one of Craddock’s shows, Ronald Jackson of The Smooth Jazz Ride recalls, “A warm night outside met a cool set inside, and the contrast was much appreciated — as was the impressive set by the weatherman with a penchant for sax and smooth jazz.” Craddock has performed at Bethesda Blues & Jazz, Blues Alley, Jazz in the Garden, Jazz in the Park, the U.S. Botanic Garden and National Harbor (Washington, D.C. area); The Tin Pan and CBS 6’s “Virginia This Morning” (Richmond, VA); Chateau Elan Winery & Resort (Braselton, GA); and events in Detroit, MI and Waco, TX. He has also been blessed to share the stage with award-winning artists Norman Connors, Jean Carne, Ken Navarro, Ben Tankard, Luther Barnes, Kim Jordan and actress/singer Rebecca Holden (Nightrider, General Hospital).

Craddock leads the inspirational jazz band Tony Craddock, Jr. & Cold Front, the name under which he released H₂O. The band’s music blends jazz, gospel and R&B/soul, all genres which influence Craddock’s music. Tony is a voting member of the Grammy Recording Academy (Washington, D.C. Chapter), as well an endorsing artist of the Fiberreed Carbon on alto saxophone.

Tony believes his music has nothing to do with him, but rather the gifts with which God has blessed him. He is a native of Woodbridge, VA and currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and daughter.

Read Tony’s full bio here!

Listen to Tony’s story here in his interview with Talking Smooth Jazz!