Craig 17X

Craig 17 X (Erving) began writing at an early age. He was a member of his high school journalism department, wrote for the school newspaper and was first published in The Oakland Tribune newspaper at the age of 17 years old. Since that time he has published three books of poetry (under he pseudonym Zahieb A. Mwongozi), and has had his articles published in national magazines such as The Source Magazine and 4080 Magazine. From 1988 through 1989 Erving was a staff writer for The Monroe Free Press in Monroe, LA. His ties to media are numerous: He worked for a year in college radio at the University of California Berkeley̢۪s KALX, has been a stage actor with prominent roles in works performed at the Oakland Ensemble Theater, the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, CA, and Laney College Theater in Oakland, CA. His background in theater includes mentoring and direction by such black theater luminaries as Ed Bullins (known as the ;Godfather of Black Theater), Charles Gordone (R.I.P.), author and director of the famed stage play No Place To Be Somebody, and poet/writer/social activist Marvin X. He has also trained in workshops at the San Francisco ACT under the tutelage of Danny Glover. Erving has been equally prolific as a recording artist and performer. He signed his first recording contract at age fifteen with MUSIC CITY RECORDS in Oakland, CA and is said to have written over 200 individual original songs including the album;From Debasement to de Penthouse which sold over 15,000 units throughout Europe and the United States.