Keyboard, Guitar and Vocals
Personal Background: Craig Hodgkins, a disabled Veteran originally from Gardner, MA, began his musical journey at the age of 8 or 9 when he started playing the piano. At 17, Craig temporarily set aside his focus on music to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps, where he dedicated 21 years of service. Known simply as Craig on stage, he carried his passion for music with him through the years and continues to channel it into every performance.
Musical Journey: Craig’s love for music led him to explore a variety of instruments, including the soprano bugle in a drum and bugle corps, trumpet in school bands, and drums in a marching band. He even dabbled with the harmonica and mouth harp, though the clarinet proved to be a short-lived experiment. Over time, he also picked up the guitar, which he plays on a few songs with the band, though his primary focus remains on the keyboards. Craig draws inspiration from iconic musicians like Johnny Gould, Rick Wakeman, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as his daughter and fellow bandmate, Kristi Lynn.
Band Experience: Craig serves as the keyboard player, with occasional roles as a singer, harmony vocalist, guitarist, and full time sound system manager. His favorite part of being in the band is the sense of family and connection it brings. When it comes to favorite performances, Craig highlights “The Executioner’s Aria,” “In The Morning,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Can’t You See,” and “Venus” as standout songs that he loves playing.
Behind the Scenes: Outside of music, Craig dedicates his time to Life Changing Service Dogs For Veterans, where he and his service dog, Foxy, raise awareness and funds to provide service dogs for veterans in need. Each dog costs approximately $29,000, and Craig takes pride in ensuring 100% of donations go directly to the cause. A fun fact about Craig? He used to ride a unicycle and juggle at the same time! His pre-show ritual includes stretching in the morning and a series of keyboard, guitar, and vocal warm-ups before each gig.
Personal Philosophy: For Craig, “Music is what feelings sound like”—a quote that captures his belief in the emotional power of music. Music is his happy place, capable of turning around even the most challenging days.
Looking Ahead: Craig dreams of seeing the band recognized as a solid, crowd-pleasing group while incorporating more original songs into their setlists. Performing at Stage AE and Jergal’s Rhythm Grille remains one of his aspirational goals. Above all, Craig hopes audiences leave their performances with a sense of satisfaction, enjoyment, and memories worth talking about for days.
Gear and Fun Facts: Craig’s setup includes four keyboards: Korg PA1000, Roland JUNO-X Synthesizer, Roland Gaia 1, and Roland Gaia 2, alongside his Gibson ES Supreme Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar. His go-to song is “Easy Livin'” by Uriah Heep, and he once experienced an on-stage mishap when his keyboard rebooted mid-performance. His favorite snack during gigs? Water and Vocal Eze Throat Drops (Strawberry Menthol).
Three Words to Describe Craig:
Craig and his bandmate Dan both agree on one thing—Craig is definitely impatient (Craig doesn’t even argue this one). But he also describes himself as Driven and Loyal—qualities that keep the band moving forward, even if he might tap his foot impatiently while waiting for soundcheck to start.