|
 Wes
demonstrated an interest in drums since the age of four and began his professional
career after graduating with a B.S. in Psychology at Virginia Tech. Soon thereafter,
he began performing drumset with the extraordinary Jazz / R&B singer Jane
L. Powell, a musical association that lasted eleven years and continues as
a managerial relationship. The group toured throughout the United States, Canada,
and the Caribbean performing at festivals, universities, resorts, nightclubs,
and on cruise ships. They opened for acts such as Ray Charles, Melba Moore, Freddie
Jackson, Lou Rawls, The Crusaders, Joan Jett, Ernie Watts, and Paula Poundstone,
and occasionally performed alongside artists such as Tony Bennett, O.C. Smith,
and Dorothy Moore, as well as being featured with various symphonies. The 1,300
colleges and universities comprising the National Assocation for Campus Activities
voted the group Entertainer of the Year in 1990, their highest honor, and Jazz
 Artist
of the Year for 1990-1992. During these years of touring, Wes also recorded two
albums with Ms. Powell as well as several outside projects including his own "Rap-Along"
album, a creativity and esteem building recording designed for teenagers.
Wes also conducted electronic percussion seminars at VA Tech and at the Virginia
Governor's School for the Gifted.
In 1992, Wes settled
with his family in the Washington, D.C. area as an independent artist on drumset
and percussion where he has performed and/or recorded with talented groups including:
His other noteworthy performances and recordings include those with
the David
Bach Consort (2nd place winner in the 1998 BET
unsigned band video contest), Hennesy Jazz Search regional winner Jerry
Gordon, African Continuum Theatre Company's "Hubert & Charlie", and performances
with Milestone recording artist Ron
Holloway. Additionally, Wes has also recorded for The History Channel and
for PBS.
Wes considers education
to be an important link to the future of the percussive arts and teaches drumset
privately and at Goucher
College in Baltimore, MD. He also performs in school assemblies with Cindy
Rosenberg's Mosaic, which provided the musical instruction and curriculum for
the 2000 Maryland Artist/Teacher Institute. Wes is the director of the Drumset
and Percussion Camp, a part of the annual Goucher Summer Arts Institute.
His latest projects are his interactive "A
Rhythmic Murder Mystery" DVD, which he also performs live, as well as the "Wes
Crawford's Drumset Play-Along DVD". Wes is currently serving as President
of the MD/DE chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and works as a musical consultant for
Sustainable Environments for Health and Shelter (SEH+S).
Wes proudly endorses drums by Baltimore Drum, Dream Cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, and ProLogix Percussion. |