About Craig

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Craig Bickhardt's songs have been recorded by over 150 artists world wide including Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, B. B. King, Alison Krauss and Kathy Mattea.

His songs appear in three films including Academy Award winner TENDER MERCIES, SWITCHBACK and AT CLOSE RANGE, as well as the TV shows Hidden Palms, Wildfire, and Huff.

  • He has received nine ASCAP Awards and four R.I.A.A. Platinum Album Awards for his songs, which include four #1 hits.
  • As an artist and performer he has recorded for Warner Brothers and Capitol Records, appeared on Austin City Limits and Mountain Stage, and shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Hank Williams Jr., Judy Collins, Stephen Stills, and Kathy Mattea. He also took first place in the 2006 International Acoustic Music Awards
  • He has been a judge in the Mountain Stage Newsong Contest, and The Great Lakes Song Contest, and has presented seminars for the NSAI, The Song Guild, The Philadelphia Folk Festival, Mountain Stage Newsong Academy, and SongU.com

What they're saying...

  • “Craig is every bit as gifted a teacher/mentor as he is songwriter. Craig's insight into what makes a quality, commercial song is unparalleled. He puts on a killer concert too!”-Rebecca Olivier, NSAI Regional Coordinator Detroit, MI

  • His Songwriters Workshops...touch the artistic heart of the aspiring singer/songwriter. We had outstanding feedback from attendees... Many shared how inspiring and motivating it was to not only advance their craft of songwriting, but go deeper as artists. -Michael Shield, Pittsburgh Songwriters Network Coordinator

  • “The workshop was absolutely wonderful and informative...Craig did a better job of getting across what songs need to say and how to approach writing them than any of the other workshops I’ve been to.” -Donny Grace, NSAI Regional Workshop Coordinator North Alabama

  • "This was by far the very best mentoring session on the craft of songwriting we've ever had!" -Dena H. Marchiony, Executive Director Philadelphia Songwriters Project

  • “Craig Bickhardt stands among the giants of Performing Songwriters…he helped curate and moderate some of our best panels.” -Jesse Lundy, Point Entertainment promoter of the Philadelphia Folk Festival