Al Krockey’s story begins in Skokie, Illinois, where he was raised in a hardworking Jewish family that taught him grit long before he knew he’d need it. By age twenty, he had already opened his own record store—The Record Shack—and dove headfirst into Chicago’s explosive 1970s music scene. From running a store to launching a record label to producing music, Al lived fast, worked hard, and chased the rhythm of a generation.
After leaving the music industry in the early 1980s, Krockey reinvented himself, building a successful career in insurance consulting and rising to vice president of a national firm. But reinvention didn’t stop there. At 68, he reached the final table of a World Poker Tour event. At 75, he became an author.
His debut memoir, Straight Outta Skokie: The Krockey Chronicles: 1968, captures his coming-of-age during one of the most culturally electric eras in American history. From Wrigley Field hustles to wild pop festivals and legendary nights at Chicago’s Kinetic Playground, Al chronicles a year—and a life—built on tenacity, freedom, and unforgettable stories.
✨ Meet Al Krockey at the Scottsdale Book Festival and dive into a memoir shaped by hustle, music, and moments that defined a generation.