September's Artist - Kelly Craig
Born in Regina Saskatchewan, Kelly Craig began his musical career-playing trumpet at age five. At age seven Craig became a member of the Regina Police Junior Band where he continually developed his craft as a trumpet player. He stayed with this marching band until he was nineteen years old. His father and younger brother were avid musicians playing both bass and guitar. At age eleven Kelly was taught to play bass by his nine-year-old brother Kristopher. At age fifteen Kelly was so well versed with his chosen instruments that he began to play with world renowned R&B artists as they toured through western Canada. Craig played both bass and trumpet for Long John Baldry, bass for Amos Garrett, and trumpet for Otis Clay from Vancouver to Thunderbay. While developing his professional career Kelly attended the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts and later the University of Regina Music Program. At age twenty-one Craig moved to Ottawa Ontario where he quickly became an admired trumpet player for Stone Soul Picnic, while sitting in on trumpet, at times for the likes of the Charlie Mingus Big Band, Bo Diddley, Dan Akroyd, Little Anthony and the Locomotives and recently Percy Sledge. In 2002 he opened up the now very successful Shine Music Academy in Ottawa. Both Kelly Craig on trumpet and his brother Kristopher Craig playing guitar can be seen on tour with Motown’s legendary Funk Brothers. Kelly still finds time to now play bass for the very electrifying Soul Review Board.