Today we’d like to introduce you to Breyton Croom
Hi Breyton, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a saxophionist, rapper, and singer by the name of B. Able. I was born in Santa Monica, California and raised in Morristown, New Jersey. When I was two years old, I was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, which is a mild form of autism, and ADHD. The neurologist who evaluated me told my parents that I would never go to college, much less finish high school, I would never have an independent life, and that my parents would have to take care of me all the days of my life. I was bullied and teased as a kid and I went to speech therapy often. One thing that has gotten me through those times was music. I started playing clarinet, when I was 10, picked up the saxophone at 13 years old. I performed in bands and groups with my instruments, and independently as I picked up rapping and singing. Despite all the setbacks from my peers, even my own family, I graduated with my master’s of science degree in accounting and I achieved my dream in 2023 by moving to Los Angeles, California, where I live alone. I aim to increase autism awareness and inclusion for neurodivergent people through my music and performances. The motto I have is: “Don’t let anything define who you are and what you can do.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If I can describe my life, the road hasn’t been anything but smooth. My Dad spanked me and hit me growing up, failing to understand me emotionally. Don’t get me wrong, I disobeyed him and disrespected him more times that I can remember. However, I was physically disciplined even for standing up to him and being honest and my Mom did nothing to stop it. I was bullied quite extensively, even in my childhood church. I was in special ed from preschool all the way to 5th grade. I had speech therapy from kindergarten to 6th grade, which was not always fun. I struggled to make and keep friends, especially as I got older. I never had a relationship that lasted for more than 3 months and I have been taken advantage of by multiple women, both emotionally and financially. Professionally, it’s hard for me to find and hold down a job. Whenever I vocalized what I need to succeed, my disability and the challenges that come with it, and/or when I stood up for myself, my past and potential employers didn’t respond kindly to that. I have been unemployed for over a year and a half, bouncing around job after job, just for me to survive. Social Security denied me for disability income because it’s not severe enough to them. There were a lot of struggles. There’s more and I’m sure there’s more to come.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I play soprano and tenor saxophone, I rap, and I sing. I am known more for my saxophone playing than me as a rapper and singer. While my saxophone definitely sets me apart from my fellow colleagues, my story and what I stand for sets me apart from everyone else. I’m most proud of the connections I made throughout my music career, especially Qadree El-Amin, whom I have the pleasure of calling him a mentor.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was an energetic, funny, hyper, loving kid. The kid you want to have a birthday party, the kid you want to talk to if you need a good joke, the kid you can come to if you want a hug, the kid who will greet you with a smile. I was very empathetic towards others, always willing to help, to the point where I will cry with someone if they are sad. Sometimes I did come across as rude without knowing it, but I had no intention on being so. As I got older, my personality definitely changed. I was still the same genuine person, but I became more love-seeking, more afraid of rejection of failure, and more quiet. I was rejected a lot growing up, which caused me to feel depressed, and I still struggle with depression to this day. I didn’t know who to talk to about my depression because mental health back then was still a minor thing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b.ableofficial
