Craig earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Humboldt State University and Master and Doctoral degrees in Composition from the University of Southern California. Craig has taught in four states, all ages Kindergarten through university graduate. His students have risen to notable acclaim in concert music, film, arts administration, and education. He retired as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Craig lives near Glacier National Park in Montana where he writes novels, poetry, and magazine articles, composes music and guest conducts, tends an orchard of mostly heirloom apples, and teaches Aikido (Craig is a fourth-level black belt and certified instructor).