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Sal Crocker

Jazz Saxophonist residing in Los Angeles, CA.

About Me

Sal Crocker has been characterized as a blend of soul and intellect. Born in New York City October 29, 1965, Sal moved to Memphis at the early age of four. While growing up in Memphis, Sal was exposed to a rich heritage of music covering a broad and wide spectrum. Early on as a child his father would take him to Willie Mitchell’s studio where he would observe sessions and breathe the native soulful B3 sounds and classic rhythmns of that era. This became a part of him, in addition to the gospel and jazz traditions of the region.

At the age of ten, Sal began playing the tenor saxophone under the direction of noted saxophonist and studio musician Jim Terry, better known as “JT”. JT set the bar extremely high for Sal at a young age. By the time Sal entered his last year of high school he had already earned best soloist at the Austin Peay Jazz festival judged by Marvin Stem, won a chair in the Tennessee All-State Jazz band three years in a row, and finally awarded a seat on the highly selective McDonalds All-American Jazz and Marching Band, along with a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music Conservatory in Boston, Massechusetts. Before departing for Boston, Sal was awarded a key to the city of Memphis by Mayor Richard C. Hackett.

During his tour with the McDonald’s All-American Jazz Band, Sal was in the company of future greats Delfeayo Marsalis, Mark Whitfield, and Javone Jackson who were also members of the band. After touring the country with the McDonald’s Band, Sal found himself at Berklee studying with world renowned saxophonist Billy Pierce formerly with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and also performing with the top band, a position usually held by more senior students. The influence of that environment added another dimension to Sal’s makeup. He worked beside his peers and friends such as Cyrus Chestnut and Mark Whitfield in this very contagious learning environment.

Before returning to Memphis, Sal reunited with his father musically on jazz festivals and cruises performing on the same billing with many greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Lou Donaldson, Etta James, Gerald Albright, Arthur Prysock, Charles Erlin and many many more. After returning to Memphis Sal found himself wearing many musical genre hats, from R&B to Jazz and backing artist such as the Diamonds, Marvels, Angels, Platters, The Temptations, James Williams, Phineas Newborn, Mulgrew Miller, Dinah Shore, Kenny Loggins and more, while also performing in church ministries.

Sal also studies with Grammy Award Winner and YellowJackets saxophonist Bob Mintzer of Los Angeles, CA. Bob is also head of Jazz Studies at University of Southern California.

Jimmy Heath says “Sal has the sound of music. He knows the meaning of music!”.

This diverse life experience has yielded an individual who is not cut from a traditional mold. This musician brings a wealth of soulful, spiritual and intellectual insights from a place within as evidenced in his performances, where he frequently draws from his infulences such as Bob Mintzer, Grover Washington, John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Michael Brecker, Miles Davis, Eliane Elias, Don Grolnic, Joe Henderson and Kenny Garrett.

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because of the freedom of expression and the multitude of flavors. I was first exposed to jazz as a child of a musical father and jazz musician. The first jazz record I bought was "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis.