Sal Cracchiolo started working as a professional musician at age 15 in nightclubs with various R & B and Latin bands. In 1975 he started a long musical relationship with Poncho Sanchez, which ultimately led to 18 albums, three of which were Grammy nominees, and one live album, Latin Soul, that won a Grammy. He has toured extensively, worldwide, for 20 years. He has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Shew, Cal Tjader, Stanley Turentine, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Clair Fischer, Gary Foster, Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Harris, Francisco Aquabella, and Celia Cruz.
In addition, Sal has played on such movie soundtracks as The Mambo Kings, The HBO Cinema Latin Session and Million to Juan to name a few. He has also done worldwide tours with such artists as Tom Jones, Vikki Carr, Brian Setzer and Greg Adams. In 2001 the CD he recorded, Fly, with his wife, vocalist Melanie Jackson, was nominated for a Latin Grammy. His group was sponsored for the 2004 Touring Arts Directory for the California Arts Council.
Sal loves his Yamaha YTR-8310Z trumpet and YFH-6310Z flugelhorn and is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
