Hank Cramer

Harry Griffith Cramer III (born 1953) is an American folk singer from the Pacific Northwest. He was born an army brat at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where his father was one of the Army's original Green Berets. Hank's father, Harry Griffith Cramer Jr., was killed in Vietnam on October 21, 1957, the first Special Forces soldier to die in that conflict. Hank Cramer began singing professionally during his college days at the University of Arizona (1972-1976). After graduation he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army, serving 14 years in the Regulars and 14 years in the Army Reserve. The highlight of his military career was a five-year tour with his father's Green Beret unit, the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). After 9/11, Hank served in Afghanistan as the Senior Signal Corps Advisor to the Afghan National Army. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2004.[1]

Hank Cramer
Concert Reading PA June 4, 2011
Background information
Born1953
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States
GenresCountry music, folk, sea shanty, Celtic
Occupation(s)Musician, soldier
InstrumentsVocals, guitar and Banjo
Years active1982–present
LabelsFerryboat Music, Skookumchuck Music, Front Range Records
Associated actsDakota, Victory at Sea, The Rounders, The Cutters, The Ferryboat Musicians, Constellation's Crew
WebsiteHankCramer.com

Hank began a full-time career as a traveling folksinger in 1999. He established a small, co-op music label known as Ferryboat Music, and has organized a number of music instruction camps and festivals. In 2006 Cramer revived the annual Pine Stump Symphony in the Methow Valley of Washington, a music event run by his late father-in-law Ron McLean from 1962 until his death in 1982.[2]

Industry Awards
  • Heartland Public Radio voted "My Sweet Wyoming Home" in the Top Five Cowboy Songs of 2007
  • Texas Public Radio "Random Routes" voted "Two of a Kind" and "Della & The Dealer" in Top Twenty Songs of 2007
  • Northwest Public Radio "Inland Folk" named "Songs From Maurie's Porch" one of the Top Ten Folk CDs of 2006
  • Humanities Washington presented Hank their annual Performer's award in 2011

Discography

Cramer made dozens of recordings. A partial discography is available at:

Specific examples follow.

  • The Captain & The Outlaw (1982) – Hank Cramer with Dakota – Front Range Records
  • West By Northwest (1996) – Skookumchuck Music
  • Live Aboard The Wawona (1998) – Hank Cramer with The Cutters – Skookumchuck Music
  • Days Gone By (1999) – Ferryboat Music
  • Sail Away (2000) – Hank Cramer with The Cutters – Skookumchuck Music
  • Brave Boys! (2001) – Hank Cramer with The Rounders – Ferryboat Music
  • The Road Rolls On (2003) – Ferryboat Music
  • Songs from the USS Constellation (2003) – Hank Cramer & Constellation's Crew – Ferryboat Music
  • If There's One More Song (2004) – Ferryboat Music
  • A Soldier's Songs (2005) – Ferryboat Music
  • Back to Sea (2006) – Hank Cramer & Constellation's Crew – Ferryboat Music
  • Songs From Maurie's Porch (2006) – Ferryboat Music
  • Miner's Songs (2007) – Ferryboat Music
  • Way Out West (2007) – Ferryboat Music
  • Caledonia (2007) – Ferryboat Music
  • An Old Striped Shirt (2008) – Ferryboat Music
  • Open Range (2008)- Ferryboat Music
  • The Shantyman (2008) – Ferryboat Music
  • Loosely Celtic (2008) – Ferryboat Music
  • My Side of the Mountains (2011) – Ferryboat Music
  • Make the Rafters Ring (2016) - Ferryboat Music
  • Sing Until Morning (2019) with Dan Maher - Ferryboat Music

References
  1. "Hank Cramer presents 'A Salute to Veterans'". Sequim Gazette. June 21, 2014.
  2. Robbins, Jefferson (June 14, 2013). "On The Stump". The Wenatchee World.
  • Hank Cramer biography Inquiring Minds Alumni
  • Captain Harry Cramer – First U. S. Casualties Vietnam War Vietnam War casualties#First and last US Casualties
  • 45 Years Apart – Seattle Times Friday January 11, 2002
  • Black Rose Acoustic review of Caledonia
  • Acoustic Brew 2008 review
  • National Public Radio (NPR) Calling All Cowboys Sample Show
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