Craig Backstrom "Branson's Mr. Smooth"

Country • Coolidge, 85128, US

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About the Artist

Craig, an outstanding vocalist, and sometimes drummer, started playing the drums when he was eight years old, and went professional at the ripe old age of eleven. He has worked with such artists as Link Wray of "Rumble" fame. While with Link, Craig worked with such "names" as Cheech and Chong, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Redbone, and the Manhattan Transfer. In the early 70's he joined the Jerry Haymes and Brenda D. Show in Nashville, Tennessee. In Nashville, Craig worked with many of Country musics brightest stars and legend--Roy Drusky, Red "Teddy Bear" Sovine, Johhny "Whiskey River" Bush, Johnny "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" Carver, Linda K. Lance, LaWanda Lindsay, Tommy Overstreet, Glenn Barber and Claude "Wolverton Mountain" King. In 1975, Craig founded and led "SKY TRAYNE". One of the most popular, and versatile show bands in the Pacific Northwest playing steady until 1997! Craig and "SKY TRAYNE" shared the stage with many national acts. Among them were Dave "Six Days on the Road" Dudley, Red "Hello I'm A Truck" Simpson, Shirley Grainger, and Jim & John, "Hee Haw's" famous Hager Brothers. They also hosted their own Country music variety show on Seattle television called "Country Music Northwest" in the early 1990's. In the spring of 2003 Craig appeared with Grand Ole Opry Legend Jimmy C. Newman on the nationally broadcast PAX TV special "Voices Across America". In 2005 Craig, backed by Alan Jacksons' band "Strayhorns", opened a show at the "Nashville Nightlife Theater" for 50 year Grand Ole Opry veteran Charlie Louvin in Nashville. Most recently Craig completed his first, and very successful season performing in Branson, Missouri where he was "tagged" with the name "Bransons' Mr. Smooth".... Although the primary focus of the "Music,Memories.....and Smiles" show is Classic American Country Music (M. Haggard, G. Jones, W. Nelson, C. Twitty, P. Cline, G. Strait, etc.) Craig's repertoire of over 525 songs also includes Classic Rock & Roll (The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson, etc.) and a good selection of standards, (F. Sinatra, T. Bennett, P. Como, etc.) and a large selection songs by the "King"....Elvis Presley. Craig now makes his home in Coolidge, Arizona where he was raised. .. I

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