Back in the day, as a student at Crestwood Secondary School, Roy Craft made it his business to learn all he could about audio-visual equipment, subsequently operating that equipment for class instruction, school plays and auditorium gatherings.
A bass guitarist – starting in 1970, he played and sang with the dance band Golden Brown for 13 years – Craft also operated his self-purchased sound equipment for the band. That skill led to the establishment of his sound business.
Hired by Harold Fife to provide sound for his annual Daisy D Jamboree, Craft was encouraged to bid for the provision of sound at Ontario Open Fiddle and Step Dance Contests in Bobcaygeon. He gained the contract, and starting in 1982, manned the event’s sound board for 37 years. That experience led to his doing likewise for the fiddle and step dance contests in Douro, Dundalk, Shelburne, Newmarket and Dalrymple. Other clients have included the Cobourg Waterfront Festival and, for 25 years, the Preston Springs Jamboree.
Craft has proven equally proficient at his craft on the road, as evidenced by his providing sound for Everything Fitz during North American tours in 2006, 2009 and 2010.
Currently providing sound services for the likes of the Lakefield Jazz Festival and the Bobcaygeon Music Festival Craft has well earned a stellar reputation for his professionalism, his attention to detail and his accommodation of last-minute requests.
Stompin’ Tom Connors, Tommy Hunter, The Peterborough Pop Ensemble, Tanglefoot…the list of acts that have benefitted from Craft’s professionalism and technical expertise goes on and on.
But business is one thing, voluntarism is quite another, and in terms of the latter, Craft has few peers, having gifted his services to the benefit of a number of causes and organizations.
When he played steel guitar for the gospel group Joyful Sound, he ventured into many retirement homes to share the joy of music. Craft has also handled sound duties for the Easter Seals Telethon and Rotary’s Spelling Bee. In 2006, when the International Plowing Match was held in Keene, Craft was all in, not only as a member of the planning committee and head of communications, but also responsible for the sound needs and tech for five stages.
These are just a few examples of Craft’s giving back, with cable television being another longtime benefactor of his time and talent. Over 43 years, he has volunteered with MacLean Hunter and Rogers, and currently toils for YourTV, mixing the sound for Petes’ games, community parade coverage, and musicians who have performed on air. And then there’s Craft’s dedication to Northview Community Church, where he has handled sound for 36 years. That’s in addition to his playing bass guitar as part of the church service band.