Steven Kroon



I’ve been a professional musician for the last 45 years.    I was born in Spanish Harlem, and lived there until the age of nine when we moved to St. Alban’s Queens in 1957.      My parents moved to New York City from their native Puerto Rico. My surname comes from my grandfather who emigrated to La Isla Del Encanto from the Dutch-speaking Caribbean island of Curaçao.  

My parents were great music fans and at home my father mostly listened to his record collection, which included Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Machito and Cortijo y su Combo. My mother enjoyed a lot of the jazz singers of the time, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra.

At a very early age I became paralized by the music on the radio. My older brother Bobby started playing before me, and I chose to follow in his footsteps. He was a great inspiration to me and my first mentor.

When our parents discovered that we wanted to play musical instruments, they went and bought us our first drums, and were happy to let us practice in the basement.

I often tell people that music chose me. I felt like lightening struck me the first time I heard music coming out of the radio. From then on it was love at first sight.


Steven Kroon live


Being born in New York has been such a blessing in my life, because this great city always has such a plethora of great musicians.  We lived in Spanish Harlem, and for example Tito Puente, Willie Bobo and Joe Cuba, just to name a few, all lived in the same neighborhood, which is called El Barrio. You walked down the street and you heard a diversity of music coming from the people’s windows everywhere.  Also at that time there were many clubs and dance halls everywhere. In those clubs is where my brother and I would go and jam, and was proved to be a training ground in learning our craft.


Luther Vandross live with Steven Kroon on congas, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"



I owe a lot to Luther Vandross. Thanks to him I was able to become established as a working musician. I first met him in 1980 when he had just made his first album, “Never To Much”, which he had produced himself.  I was recommended to Luther, did an audition and got the job. I played with him for two decades.



Ron Carter with Steven Kroon on percussion, "Third Plane"



During the same years I worked with Ron Carter simultaneously. Performing with both bands was very enlightening, and a great experience because of going from  R&B and pop in large venues, then with Ron Carter it was straight ahead-jazz in small intimate venues. I learned so much playing such different styles of music and venues.
Through those years a lot of people saw me and liked what they heard, and when they like what you do, they call you in to play on their records. The most important thing is to have your own sound. That’s what people are looking for in you. Your sound is like a special ingredient that they are looking for.



The Steven Kroon Sextet live in 2015


The main difference about being a solo artist is that you get to make all decisions.  As the band leader you are responsible for all the music, material, as well as dealing with musicians and the audience. You have to have something to offer, otherwise you shouldn’t go there. I enjoy it because I had been a sideman for so many years, and at this point in my career I want to be the one who takes the lead, it’s like saving the best for last.


During 2016, I have the same plans as I have had for the last ten years, which is touring clubs and festivals in the US.  I would also very much like to extend my touring in Europe and the rest of the world. My parents were great music fans with my band.



Steven Kroon is a percussionist and band leader with an extensive career and a vast number of collaborations. Find out more HERE.