Craig Pruess

Summary of the man

Craig is an American born and bred musician, feature film and TV composer, gold & platinum record producer and arranger, recording artist, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, sound engineer and singer. He has been living and working in the UK since 1973 and founded Heaven on Earth Music in 1977, which is his own record label and recording studio based in Wiltshire, specialising in chant and world music CD's, now sold in over 80 countries around the globe.

Composing (film and TV) and producing

Craig first met and composed music together with Russell Stone in 1980, two years prior to Craig producing and arranging gold albums for Sir Cliff Richard (Now You See Me and Silver). Later, Craig and Russell would continue their collaboration in 2006, creating At-Ma out of their synergistic talents. In the intervening years, Craig garnered a Grammy Award nomination for his production and arranging work with UK gospel singer Sheila Walsh (War of Love), a set of number one UK film sound track scores (Bend It Like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice), ground-breaking world music arrangement for top international acts such as Massive Attack (100th Window), Bond (Shine) and India's premier Bollywood composer, Anu Malik. Emmy Award television music contributions to RKO 281 and scoring the music for one of the most successful independent TV drama series in British history (Peak Practice) between 1999 and 2004.

Indian music

Craig began his in-depth study and practice of Indian classical music in 1981 after his first visit to India on a Vedic science and meditation course, and through his interest in Ayur-veda, yoga and meditation, came to approach the ancient music of India through an intense exploration of the role of sound and how it affects consciousness. Having been a music teacher in Nairobi, Kenya, West Africa, for two years (1971-1973) at the East African Conservatoire of Music, Craig was later able to also incorporate all these aspects, including his working knowledge of African and Indian classical music into all aspects of his composing and recording work.

Performing - and more film scores

As a sitar player who has performed for Prince Charles and the Dalai Lama, Craig has also performed sitar on the soundtrack for the blockbuster Harry Potter film, "The Goblet of Fire", and also "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory", "The Guru" and the Madonna film, "The Next Best Thing". As a session keyboard player, he has contributed to many films, including "Shall We Dance", "Hear My Song", "Funny Bones", the James Bond film "Goldeneye" and was Indian music consultant and performer on Warner Brothers' "A Little Princess". Craig's other feature film world music scoring credits include: "The Mistress of Spices", "What's Cooking?" and "Bhaji on the Beach".

Meditation and the Art of Living

Craig has been a volunteer teacher since 1995 for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation, one of the largest NGOs in the world now dedicated to improving the quality of life in all strata of society. Craig leads Art of Living workshops around the UK and Europe, revealing the ancient Science of the Breath and its role in improving health and vitality, gaining deep rest and achieving effortless meditation.