Theo Croker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theo Croker
Theo Croker in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Theodore Lee Croker
Born	(1985-07-18) July 18, 1985 (age 40) Leesburg, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Jazz hip-hop pop
Occupation(s)	Musician, trumpeter, composer, record producer, vocalist
Instruments	Trumpet
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Sony, Okeh, Arbors
Associated acts	Dee Dee Bridgewater

Theodore Lee Croker (born July 18, 1985) is an American jazz trumpeter, composer, producer, and singer. He is also known as Theo Croker. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won other important music awards.

Theo Croker has released many studio albums. Some of his well-known albums include Afro Physicist (2014), Escape Velocity (2016), Star People Nation (2019), BLK2Life / A Future Past (2021), and Love Quantum (2022). He has also worked with famous artists like J. Cole, Common, and Ari Lennox.

Early Life and Music Start

Theo Croker was born on July 18, 1985, in Leesburg, Florida. His father, William Henry Croker, was a civil rights activist. His mother, Alicia Cheatham, was a guidance counselor. Theo's grandfather was the famous trumpeter Doc Cheatham.

Theo started playing the trumpet when he was 11 years old. His grandfather inspired him to play. As a teenager, he studied music at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville.

He later attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. There, he earned a degree in jazz studies. During his time there, he was taught and guided by the talented trumpeter Donald Byrd.

Theo Croker's Music Journey

Living and Playing in Asia

From 2007 to 2013, Theo Croker spent seven years living in Shanghai, China. He had a five-month music residency at the House of Blues & Jazz. After that, he became the music director for a TV show called Asia Uncut Star Network. He led the band and wrote music for the show until 2010.

In July 2010, Theo became the first artist to have a long-term residency at Shanghai's Peace Hotel Jazz Bar. This jazz club is very old, dating back to the 1920s.

While in China, Theo met the famous singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. They stayed in touch and shared musical ideas. In 2014, Dee Dee Bridgewater helped produce his third album, Afro Physicist. She also sang on three songs on the album. Other guest musicians included vibraphonist Stefon Harris and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.

Returning to the United States

When Theo Croker returned to the United States in 2013, his music had grown. Living in Shanghai helped him mix jazz with other styles. He started to include sounds from salsa, fusion-rock, R&B, hip-hop, and blues in his jazz music.

Star People Nation Album

In 2019, Theo Croker released his album Star People Nation. The first song from the album was "The Messenger." This song honored the jazz drummer Elvin Jones. Theo explained that the song was about the powerful "swing" beat that is key to black music.

Another song from the album, "Understand Yourself," featured the Jamaican reggae artist Chronixx. The album was well-received, and Theo was interviewed by Quincy Jones's Qwest TV about it.

Orchestra Performances

In 2019, Theo Croker performed with the DVRK Funk band and singer China Moses. They played in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with the Fawzi Haimor [de] directing the orchestra. This was a big step for Theo, performing with a full orchestra.

Theo Croker's Albums

Here is a list of albums Theo Croker has released: