Chris Craker
Encyclopedia
Chris Craker was born in Bromley
, Kent, in 1959, and studied the clarinet
at the Royal Northern College of Music
from 1977–1981. He had a successful career as a clarinetist, playing with orchestras including the London Symphony
, the Royal Philharmonic
, the Scottish Chamber
, and the London Chamber
. He also founded and was the artistic director of The Prometheus Ensemble, one of Britain's premier chamber ensembles, and conducted a number of West End musicals such as Chess
. He went on to conduct the works of Karl Jenkins
in Japan, as well as the Bangkok debut of Chris de Burgh
. His work as a composer is published by Music Sales
and frequently broadcast on Classic FM
. Chris was selected to produce the music for the Asian Games
, including the hit theme song "Reach For The Stars", which was performed by Sony BMG pop artist Tata Young
and sold over 2.3 million copies, reaching No. 1 in the pop charts.
He moved into the record business in the late 1990s and worked as a record producer for numerous labels, including EMI
, RCA
, and BMG. He founded several records labels, such as Black Box Music
in 1998, which he later sold to Sanctuary Records
. Sony BMG asked him to become the head of classics for the newly merged multi-national company. After one year in the London office, he was appointed general manager and senior vice president of the International Division of Sony BMG Masterworks
, based in New York, where he stayed until his resignation in April 2008, after which he began to pursue independent activities once more—including founding the Karma Studios complex in Thailand. In 2008, Craker was appointed chairman of the Royal Northern College of Music
development board.
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, Kent, in 1959, and studied the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
at the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
from 1977–1981. He had a successful career as a clarinetist, playing with orchestras including the London Symphony
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, the Royal Philharmonic
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, the Scottish Chamber
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears...
, and the London Chamber
London Chamber Orchestra
The London Chamber Orchestra ' is the longest established professional chamber orchestra in the UK. Based in London, LCO has a residency at St John's Smith Square in Westminster.-History:...
. He also founded and was the artistic director of The Prometheus Ensemble, one of Britain's premier chamber ensembles, and conducted a number of West End musicals such as Chess
Chess (musical)
Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other;...
. He went on to conduct the works of Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
in Japan, as well as the Bangkok debut of Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
. His work as a composer is published by Music Sales
Music Sales
Music Sales Group is Europe's largest printed music publisher, with headquarters in Berners Street, London. It owns the rights to hundreds of thousands of songs, imprints both for books and sheet music, operates the UK's largest chain of music shops, and sells sheet music, instruments and...
and frequently broadcast on Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
. Chris was selected to produce the music for the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
, including the hit theme song "Reach For The Stars", which was performed by Sony BMG pop artist Tata Young
Tata Young
Amita Marie Young , better known under her stage name Tata Young, is a Thai singer, model actress and dancer....
and sold over 2.3 million copies, reaching No. 1 in the pop charts.
He moved into the record business in the late 1990s and worked as a record producer for numerous labels, including EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, and BMG. He founded several records labels, such as Black Box Music
Black Box Music
Black Box Music is an independent music and artist development company based out of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The company, originally dubbed Black Box Recordings, began exclusively as a record label in 2003. It expanded to include booking and management services in recent years, prompting the...
in 1998, which he later sold to Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
. Sony BMG asked him to become the head of classics for the newly merged multi-national company. After one year in the London office, he was appointed general manager and senior vice president of the International Division of Sony BMG Masterworks
Sony BMG Masterworks
Sony Masterworks is a record label. It is the result of a restructuring of Sony Music Entertainment's classical music division. Before the acquisition of Bertelsmann's shares in the former Sony BMG, the label was known as Sony BMG Masterworks....
, based in New York, where he stayed until his resignation in April 2008, after which he began to pursue independent activities once more—including founding the Karma Studios complex in Thailand. In 2008, Craker was appointed chairman of the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
development board.