Born in London of Jamaican heritage, Crosby is the nephew of guitarist Ernest Ranglin, who performed with Jazz Jamaica at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in October 2009 as part of the club's anniversary concert series. Crosby started out playing trumpet but in his teens studied with noted bassist Peter Ind, going on to become a founding member in 1986 of the Jazz Warriors — a group that showcased such talented young Black musicians as Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Cleveland Watkiss, Phillip Bent, and Orphy Robinson.
Tomorrow's Warriors
In 1991, Crosby established Tomorrow's Warriors, providing a platform for talented young musicians who wished to pursue a career in jazz. Over the following 13 years, the Tomorrow's Warriors Jazz Café Jam Session became an institution and developed four generations of Warriors, including Denys Baptiste, J-Life and Soweto Kinch. In 2004, the Tomorrow's Warriors Jam Session moved to The Spice Of Life in Soho, where it remained active until Summer 2010. Tomorrow’s Warriors continues to develop the careers of young musicians and is now commencing the development of its sixth generation of Warriors with core programmes and workshops at Southbank Centre, London.
Jazz Jamaica
In the early 1990s, Crosby set up Jazz Jamaica, a group of Jamaican jazz musicians, in which young musicians played alongside such seasoned talent as ska trombonist Rico Rodriquez and trumpeter Eddie Thornton.
Dune Music
In 1996, Crosby and his partner, Janine Irons, established The DuneMusic Company Ltd, a commercial company comprising four divisions: artist management, record label, music publishing, and education. Artists associated with Dune Music include Jazz Jamaica All Stars, Soweto Kinch, Denys Baptiste, Abram Wilson, Andrew McCormack, Empirical and J-Life.
Awards
In 1998, Gary Crosby's Nu Troop won the award for Best International Ensemble at the Jazz à Vienne Concours International d’Orchestres in France. In 2002, Crosby won the award for Best Band for his 20-piece big band, Jazz Jamaica All Stars. In the same year, he was honoured by the Festival Directorate of the Ocho RiosJazz Festival, Jamaica, for Consistent Contribution to Music in Jamaica, thereby securing a place in the Jamaica Jazz Hall Of Fame. In 2006, Jazz Jamaica was given the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Ensemble. In 2007, Crosby received the BBC Radio Jazz Award for Services to Jazz. In 2009, Gary Crosby was appointed an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. In 2012, Crosby received the Parliamentary Award for Jazz Education. Citing Crosby's nomination for the award, presenter Paul Gambaccini said: "Gary has been making his mark as a jazz educator and bass player since 1991 when he formed the group ‘Tomorrow’s Warriors’ as a platform for young musicians who want to pursue a career in jazz. The ethos is to encourage young people from all backgrounds but there is a positive move to encourage people of the African diaspora. Many women have come through the Warriors' training bands and have now secured places at leading music colleges. Gary Crosby through his organisation and outstanding teaching has achieved in 20 years what many would think would take a lifetime in regards to ethnic minorities and gender imbalances." In September 2017, Crosby was named by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors as one of 12 recipients of a Gold Badge Award, which celebrates the unique contribution of those who have supported or inspired the UK songwriting and composing community. Crosby was awarded the Queen's Medal for Music 2018, the first jazz musician to receive the honour since it was established in 2005.
