Member Profile

Born in Tulsa, OK in the early 70’s, Craig Akin’s musical path was charted by a family of creatives and wanderlust inspired by the meandering Arkansas River. Next to his mama, he learned to play the piano at age 8 and turned to the trumpet at twelve. While most adolescents at the time were learning to “Walk like an Egyptian,” or glued to INXS (insert 80’s band of choice!) on MTV, Craig began guitar theory and harmony lessons.

Since then, Craig Akin has contributed to more than 100 albums and performed in shows from Tulsa to Taipei, with countless New York gigs and hundreds of national and international concerts and festivals in between. What he brings to the bandstand and studio today is a talent that is versatile, professional, relentless, intuitive yet always prepared. He’s passionate and authentic but also quickly adaptable to any musical situation, always committed to every note. How did he evolve into the in-demand bassist he is today? Tune into this story…

Moved by the music, teenager Craig followed his wanderlust and career dreams to Colorado, where he enrolled in formal music education amid the Rocky Mountains. While there, his grit and guitar prowess naturally flowed into electric bass and a coveted spot in the faculty jazz quintet.

A yearning to learn and play more gigs brought him to the University of Kansas to complete his music education degree and trumpet requirements. Meanwhile, Craig was drawn to the electric bass, followed by a fervor for upright, landing him many local gigs as a first-call bassist. These formative years proved “instrumental” to his musical evolution but only scratched the itch.

Kansas City, with its vibrant music scene, proved to be the perfect incubator for Craig’s maturing music style and professionality. Just a few years past drinking age, he was averaging 270 shows a year and had the honor to play in clubs with nearly everyone on the jazz and blues scene including veterans Tommy Ruskin, Paul Smith, Greg Meise, Danny Embrey, Rod Fleeman, Todd Strait, Gary Sivils, Karrin Allyson, Bobby Watson, Gary Foster, Frank Mantooth.

A decade later, Craig was ready for new musical challenges. This time, he was drawn to New York City where he could learn from veteran bassists Jay Anderson, Scott Colley and Larry Grenadier. Under Larry’s guidance, Craig was keyed into further opportunities for growth, including a pivotal career moment: Two years of study with Miles Davis’s famed bassist Ron Carter. 

"Ron accepted nothing less than perfection,” Craig said. “With his experience and amazing ears, just being in his presence was inspiring. While I often felt like I was under a microscope, I walked away a better, stronger and recharged musician."

Nowadays, whether he’s playing his upright or electric bass, on stage or in the studio… jazz, pop, blues or rock, Craig is comfortable and creative, and he consistently delivers the goods. Currently, he can be found playing or recording with various Nashville artists of different genres. He has performed in well over 6,000 shows and recently added a home recording studio to his artistic arsenal. Despite his extensive experience, Craig is known for being easy to work with. He approaches each new project with fresh ears and laid back Midwestern personality.