Noted Percussionist/Producer/Songwriter Craig Krampf Passes

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Craig Krampf, who drummed on dozens of Nashville recordings, died on April 16 at age 80.

He was formerly the Secretary/Treasurer of Nashville Local 257 of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).

Krampf was a West Coast rock artist who migrated to Music City to become a session musician in the 1990s. He also worked as a record producer, notably on Nashville rocker Ashley Cleveland’s 1991 Big Town and 1993 Bus Named Desire collections for Atlantic and on the 1994 album by the Americana act Disappear Fear for Rounder.

His session credits in Nashville included percussion work on records by Tanya Tucker, Dan Seals, The Remingtons, Townes Van Zandt, Radney Foster, The Sky Kings, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, Ty Herndon, LeAnn Rimes, Jack Ingram, The Randy Rogers Band, The Kinleys, Billy Burnette and Burrito Deluxe. He did percussion and production work on Dolly Parton’s 1987 Rainbow album. He was also a mainstay of Alabama’s recording sessions, appearing on the group’s million-selling Southern Star, Pass It On Down, American Pride, Cheap Seats and In Pictures albums in 1989-95.

Over the years, he also logged session credits with such Nashville pop artists as Webb Wilder, Van Stephenson, Steve Cropper, Jason Ringenberg, Jill Sobule, Will Kimbrough, Newsboys, Bonepony, The Features, Essra Mohawk, Josh Leo, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Tom Kimmel and Jonell Mosser.

The Wisconsin native originally rose to prominence in L.A. in 1965-89, working in the studio with Alice Cooper, Cher, Lita Ford, Paul Stanley, Joan Armatrading, Flo & Eddie, Art Garfunkel, Santana and Warren Zevon, among others. Krampf played on hits such as Nick Gilder’s “Hot Child in the City” (1978), “Only the Lonely” by The Motels (1982), and Melissa Etheridge’s “Bring Me Some Water” (1989) from her debut album that he co-produced.

He was particularly noted for his work with Kim Carnes on her 1980s albums Romance Dance, Mistaken Identity, Voyeur, Café Racers, Barking at Airplanes, Light House and View from the House. Krampf can be heard on the Carnes hit singles “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981) and “Crazy in the Night” (1986).

While on the West Coast, he was a member of such rock bands as Silver Condor, Alien Project, The Robbs and Cherokee. The Robbs were signed to Mercury and were the house band on Dick Clark’s 1965-67 ABC-TV series Where the Action Is.

As a songwriter, Krampf’s biggest hit was with Steve Perry’s “Oh Sherrie” (co-written with Perry, Randy Goodrrum, and Bill Cuomo), which peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s pop chart in 1984. Krampf also co-wrote Perry’s “Strung Out,” which made it to No. 40. He also co-wrote “I’ll Be Here Where the Heart Is” on the Grammy-winning Flashdance soundtrack album of 1983.

Craig Krampf was the father-in-law of WPLN radio producer and WNXP program director Jason Moon Wilkins. He is married to Krampf’s daughter Carrie. Craig Krampf and his wife Susie, who passed away in 2004, were married for 34 years and have three daughters, Carrie, Courtney and Katie.

Robert K Oermann
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