Hank Crawford
USA, 1958–2009
American alto saxophonist and arranger (1934-2009) and musical director of the Ray Charles band. His blues-inflected, vocal-like tone became a model for pop-jazz saxophone playing, most directly for David Sanborn.
MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Hank Crawford and 1 artist Hank Crawford influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Hank Crawford?
- Charlie Parker — Charlie Parker's bebop alto was a formative early influence on Crawford's playing.
- Louis Jordan — Louis Jordan's jump-blues alto and showmanship were an early model for Crawford's bluesy, R&B-rooted saxophone.
- Ray Charles — Crawford was the alto saxophonist and musical director of Ray Charles's band — Charles's gospel-soul was the crucible of his sound.
Which artists did Hank Crawford influence?
- David Sanborn — Sanborn was enamoured with Hank Crawford's sound and adapted his elegant, direct, blues-drenched tone as the very foundation of his own signature alto voice.