Rick Crane was born in Essex County New Jersey, a few miles outside of New York City, where he still resides. Being raised in close proximity to the Jazz Capital of the World has been beneficial to his musical career. He started taking guitar lessons at age eleven and then bass guitar lessons at age fourteen. Even at this early age he was always involved in various musical groups playing the music of the sixties and seventies. At age sixteen he was introduced to his first jazz record through his brother. It was a quartet album by guitarist Joe Pass. Shortly after, he was seeking out local musicians from neighboring towns and formed a jazz group. It was during this time that he started playing the double bass.

At age eighteen he started studying privately with bassist Michael Moore in Manhattan. After receiving an associate’s degree in business while doing gigs at night Rick decided to enroll at William Paterson University in the Jazz Studies program. These were his most formative years. The jazz department was headed by trumpeter Thad Jones and shortly after, bassist Rufus Reid. While continuing his private instruction with Moore and having the guidance of Reid on campus, he found himself in the perfect environment to grow as a bassist. He was asked to play in rhythm sections backing visiting featured jazz greats such as Dave Liebman, Jackie Byard, Bucky Pizzarelli and Joanne Brackeen. In his senior year he was selected to perform at the Music Educators National Conference in Miami Florida along with fellow classmate saxophonist Bill Evans. In 1980 he graduated WPU with a Bachelor of Arts degree as a performance major on the double bass.

After completing school, Rick’s professional career soon took off. He became one of the most sought after bass players in the metropolitan area. He held a five-year Monday night trio gig with long time friend guitarist Vic Juris and the late drummer Ron Davis. As Rick’s career continued to develop he performed in clubs, concerts, jazz festivals and recording studios nationally and internationally with some of the top jazz artists on the scene such as:

• Guitarists: Tal Farlow, Harry Leahy, Vic Juris, Gene Bertoncini, Jack Wilkens, Bucky Pizzarelli, Dave Stryker, Jimmy Ponder, and Les Paul
• Pianists: Kenny Baron, Bobby Tucker, Norman Simmons, Cyrus Chestnut, Mike Melillo, Don Friedman, and  Jim McNealy
• Drummers: Billy Hart, Victor Jones, Mike Clark, Bernard Purdie, Jeff Hershfield , Bill Stewart, Joe Morello, Richie Morales, Billy Drummond, and  Eliot Zigmund
• Horns: Bill Evans, Dave Liebman, Don Braden, Eric Kloss, Jerry Niewood, Bob Kindred, Claudio Roditti, David Murray, Warren Vache, and Richie Cole
• Vocalists: Billy Eckstine, Michelle Hendricks, and Jeanie Bryson

Rick has also been actively involved as an educator throughout his career. He has taught at many jazz workshops and clinics on both the high school and collegiate level. He has been on the adjunct staff offering private instruction at both William Paterson University and Passaic County College. He also maintains an active roster of private students at his home studio. For the past five years he has been the bassist for the Generations Of Jazz program, which is sponsored by the New Jersey Jazz Society. This program is directed by Stan Meyers of WBGO radio and is designed to reach out and educate young students in the history of jazz.