Craig Williams - Tenor Saxophone

Craig Williams started playing the clarinet in the seventh grade and continued with it through high school. After joining the Navy, he started playing the alto sax in pick up bands, and switched to the tenor sax when an opportunity presented itself. After the war, Craig somehow found himself playing with the George Miller (no relation to Glenn) quartet in Elko, Nevada. It wasn’t long after moving to the Redding area in 1946, that Craig formed his own group, that was to become the Rivercity All-Stars. Back then there were dances in all the area hot spots, like Igo, Ono, and Montgomery Creek, as well as Redding and Anderson. Now retired, Craig owned and operated Williams Auto Service in Anderson for over 35 years, has played in the Shasta College Community Jazz Band almost that long, and been an active member and supporter of the Rivercity Jazz Society. When there was a jazz festival in town, Craig was usually in it, playing with his group, and helping out when he wasn’t playing. He’s been with the Straight Ahead Big Band long enough that it seems like he's always been one of us, and it has always been a true pleasure to work with him. 

SEE PHOTO: Craig and Loni in happier times.

We lost Craig in early January to serious stomach cancer. We may not have him with us in the band, or our lives, but he'll always be with us in our hearts. Craig was a great musician, a great friend and a true gentleman.  He was the first to contribute (a generous sum) to the new Straight Ahead Big Band Institute, "for the good of the cause," he said. We hope we can live up to what he would have wanted us to do, and keep the music going.