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 39) 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 a talented American musician. He plays the trumpet, writes music, produces records, and sings. Theo Croker has been nominated for a Grammy Award and several other music prizes.

He has released seven studio albums, including Afro Physicist (2014) and Love Quantum (2022). Theo has also worked with famous artists like J. Cole, Common, and Ari Lennox.

Theo Croker's Early Life

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 Doc Cheatham, a Grammy Award-winning trumpeter. Inspired by his grandfather, Theo started playing the trumpet when he was 11 years old. As a teenager, he studied music at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville.

Later, Theo went to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He earned a degree in jazz studies there. During his time at Oberlin, he learned a lot from the famous trumpeter and teacher Donald Byrd.

Theo Croker's Music Career

Living and Playing Music in Asia

From 2007 to 2013, Theo Croker spent seven years living in Shanghai, China. He had a five-month music residency at Shanghai's House of Blues. After that, he became the music director for a TV show called Asia Uncut Star Network. This show was like The Tonight Show in the U.S.

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

While in China, Theo met and performed with the singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. They stayed in touch and shared musical ideas. In 2014, Dee Dee Bridgewater helped produce Theo's third album, Afro Physicist. She also sang on three songs on the album.

New Music and Collaborations

In 2013, Theo Croker returned to the United States. His time in Shanghai helped him expand his music style. He started mixing jazz with other types of music, like salsa, R&B, and hip-hop.

In 2019, Theo released a single called "The Messenger." This song honored the jazz musician Elvin Jones. Theo said the song showed the power of the "swing" rhythm in black music. The song was mixed by the Grammy-winning engineer Bob Power.

Theo's second single, "Understand Yourself," featured the Jamaican reggae artist Chronixx. His album Star People Nation was released in May 2019. Qwest TV, founded by Quincy Jones, interviewed Theo about the album.

Orchestra Performances

In 2019, Theo Croker performed in Ludwigshafen, Germany. He played with singer China Moses and the DVRK Funk band. They performed at the Das Feierabendhaus der BASF. Fawzi Haimor conducted the orchestra for this special event.

Theo Croker's Albums

Theo Croker has released many albums and EPs. Here is a list of his main works: