Craig Peyton

Music career

Peyton's production, writing, and arranging skills contributed to many music hits, including Peyton's own Latitude, 40 Degrees North. In the 1980s and 1990s Peyton worked with artists including James Brown, Melba Moore, Nona Hendrix, Levon Helms, and Dan Hartman. Peyton has written underscore music for Friends, the Smithsonian, PBS Nature series, and many TV productions and jingles.

Peyton is a Jazz Vibraphone player and drummer by training. However, with his music releases, including titles with Narada Records and Positive Records, he made use of the Fairlight Digital Computer keyboard system exclusively. In the 1990s Craig released an acid jazz project with former Ray Charles arranger David Hoffman as well as Paul Adams.

Film and multimedia production

In 1991 Peyton founded EarthFlight Media, a multi media production and music company that combined his passion for flying, filming, and music. A 5,000-hour instrument rated pilot, Peyton learned the craft of aerial cinematography flying his aircraft, a Mooney 201, while filming a full-length music video to support his "Latitude, 40 Degrees North" audio CD.

The Outdoor Life Network had Peyton fly throughout North America filming nature backdrops for a news info program. Peyton produced a one-hour show for Speed Vision titled "The Rebirth of Civil Aviation". Peyton hosted BET's "Jazz Central" program, featuring many of his aerial "Visual Music" productions. This led to an appearance on the CNN Morning News, discussing music and aerial photography.

Peyton's industrial work includes turnkey productions for major aviation companies as, UPS Aero, Sennheiser, Extra Aircraft, Oxford Aviation, EADS Socata, Northstar Avionics, JP Instruments and many others. Peyton's aerial photography has contributed to many films like "Along Came Polly", "The Punisher", "Storm", "Island of Doctor Moreau", "What the Bleep", and music videos including Jay-Z, Beyoncé Knowles, and TLC, as well as numerous TV and feature releases.

Personal life

In 2001 Craig Peyton was diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer. He was able to be healed with an experimental procedure involving radiation, chemo, and dietary changes, as well as with the daily help of an energetic healer. As part of his healing process, this healer (Sarah) advised him to spend a few hours a day in and on water. Craig bought a kayak and spent many months floating on the Hudson River. Inspired by the beautiful crystal photographs of water in Dr. Masaru Emoto's book Messages from Water, Craig began a journey photographing the healing rhythms and qualities of water. Adding his music and nature sounds, this project became the Spirit of Water DVD. In 2012 Craig published "Cloudman, Surviving Stage IV Cancer, A New Beginning" as a kindle book.