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Derek Crawford has come a long way from his humble origins in Port Huron, MI. Taking an interest in drums at age seven, he has gone from basement band beginnings to being a skilled professional who is a recognized figure in the Chicago music scene. He brings a distinctive percussive voice to any situation he plays in while displaying versatility not found in many musicians. He is equal parts rock and jazz and is at home locking into a tight rock and roll groove or stretching a composition to its improvisational limits. His style could be described as 'John Bonham meets Stewart Copeland at a Miles Davis gig.'While attending Central Michigan University, Crawford studied classical percussion under the late Robert Hohner. He performed as a member of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble and recorded with this nationally recognized group on composer David Gillingham’s "Stained Glass; Music for percussion". When his time at CMU was through, he transplanted himself to the Windy City and set about making his mark.Derek Crawford has performed and recorded with the best talent the midwest has to offer. A partial list of credits would include don, Katie Todd, Dick Prall, Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket), bleary, Sunday Runners, Anne Harris, Mark Jiaras and Cathy Massey, Todd Bowie, John Munson (Semisonic), Mike Hoffman (E.I.E.I.O.), Starch Martins, Frank Catalano, The Northwoods Improvisors, Fareed Haque, Ellen Rosner, The Convulsions, Ari Brown, The All Rectangle, Jan James, and Jade Maze.