Anthony John Crombie, born Anthony John Kronenberg on August 27, 1925, in London, was an English jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He began playing drums at age 14 and co-founded Club Eleven, which promoted modern jazz in Britain. Crombie toured with Duke Ellington in 1948. In 1956, he established the rock and roll ensemble The Rockets, which included bassist Jet Harris. The group’s recording “Teach You to Rock” reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart in October 1956. The Rockets transitioned into a jazz ensemble by 1958, featuring Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes. Crombie composed the piece “So Near, So Far”, which was recorded by Miles Davis for the album Seven Steps to Heaven. He collaborated with musicians including Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins. Crombie stopped performing as a drummer in the mid-1990s and died on October 18, 1999.
