Saxophonist
recording artist
composer
“I think [Tony] might have the best ‘how I got into the music I play’ story that I’ve ever heard. I really love this.”
— CHRIS RICHARDS, THE WASHINGTON POST
Meet Tony
Tony Craddock, Jr. is a saxophonist who blends jazz, gospel, and soul to create a smooth, uplifting sound. His music has afforded him collaborations with some of music’s most respected names: chart-topping jazz guitarist Ken Navarro, Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum, gospel jazz trailblazer Ben Tankard, gospel legend Luther Barnes, soul vocalists Jean Carne and Norman Connors, and jazz pianist Kayla Waters.
Music from his three albums and one EP — Uplift, H2O, Convection, and Christmas in the Air — have aired on Sirius XM Watercolors, Music Choice Smooth Jazz, The Weather Channel, and more than 70 radio stations spanning the U.S., U.K., Spain, and Poland. He has performed the national anthem for the NBA and WNBA, and headlined jazz festivals, concerts, church worship services throughout the U.S.
He discovered jazz not in a concert hall, but during The Weather Channel’s “Local on the 8s” forecast segments as a kid. Those catchy melodies sparked dual passions for music and meteorology that led him to Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science, while nurturing his musical calling.
This unexpected link between jazz and weather inspires Tony’s artistry through his music label, Cold Front Music. Just as a cold front lifts warm air, Tony aims to uplift listeners’ minds and spirits through music. He often weaves weather-inspired themes into his songs to offer inspirational insights about life, giving listeners hope as they navigate their own journeys.
Tony is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy’s DC Grammy Chapter and a Fiberreed endorser. He currently lives in the Washington D.C. area with his wife and two children.
“Tony is an important part of the new generation of contemporary jazz musicians in my honest opinion.”
— CHART-TOPPING JAZZ GUITARIST KEN NAVARRO
ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT
Performance Highlights
Hub City Jazz Festival
Lake Arbor Jazz Festival
Jazz in the Country Music Festival
Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of the Art
Jefferson County African American Cultural & Heritage Festival
U.S. Botanic Garden Season’s Greenings Concert Series
Soundboard Theatre
Blues Alley
City Winery DC
Bethesda Theatre
The Tin Pan
Kennedy Center Millenium Stage
Capital One Arena (National Anthem for the Washington Wizards and Mystics)
Press Highlights
WUSA9 Great Day Washington Interview about Cold Front Music
Smooth Jazz Times Feature on "Magnetic"
Washington Post Feature
WTVR-TV Richmond “Weather Inspired Jazz Brightens Our Day”
Cornell University Alumni Spotlight
Music Highlights
Sample Catalog
Live Performances
The latest with Tony
Tony is featured on the new single by chart-topping jazz guitarist Ken Navarro – a reimagined version of his 2000s hit song “In The Sky Today!” The song is airing on Sirius XM Watercolors and available on all streaming outlets.
Tony’s new gospel jazz single “How Great” is available on all streaming platforms! The song offers a fresh interpretation of the hymn “How Great Thou Art.”