Randy Crawford

Randy Crawford's initial notoriety came from her fiery vocal on "Street Life," a 1979 song matching her with the Crusaders that was included on the soundtrack for Burt Reynolds' film Sharky's Machine. Crawford was born in Macon and grew up in Cincinnati; she worked in clubs as a teen, accompanied by her father. Crawford was lead vocalist in a group that included bassist Bootsy Collins before touring as George Benson's opening act in 1972. Cannonball Adderley invited her to sing on his LP Big Man. Crawford recorded "Don't Get Caught in Love's Triangle," a song produced by Johnny Bristol, during a short stay on the label. She soon moved to Warner Bros., and after "Street Life," recorded and toured Europe with the Crusaders. Crawford was tabbed Most Outstanding Performer at the 1980 Tokyo Music Festival. She remained with Warner Bros. through the '80s and early '90s, but was unable to score either a big R&B hit or major crossover smash, despite having one of the most readily identifiable voices and distinctive approaches of any contemporary female vocalist. She's been more successful overseas, particularly in England, where such singles as "Knocking on Heaven's Door," "Rainy Night in Georgia," and "Last Night at Danceland" have gotten universal acclaim. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide

Written by Ron Wynn



Randy Crawford 's best hits are, at least in Switzerland, available on a re-release (16 titles, several of them are special versions and remixes; on the 1996 CD available at Amazon.com, there are 14 titles, probably only original versions!). Veronika Crawford was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1952, and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a child, she sang in school and church choirs. At the age of 15, she began to sing in clubs, accompanied by her father. She became the lead vocalist in a group that included bassist Bootsy Collins. In 1972, she had her first big concert in New York's Club Nico's, where she appeared in a program together with George Benson. In a tribute concert to Cannonball Adderley in 1975, she was on stage together with Quincy Jones and George Benson. Two of the songs recorded on that occasion were part of her (only American) debut album Everything Must Change. It included jazz, blues, soul and pop elements. Randy Crawford's initial notoriety came from her vocal contribution to Street Life. The Crusaders invited her to sing their eleven minute title song on their 1979 album Street Life, which remained #1 on the American jazz charts for twenty weeks. The song was included on the soundtrack for Burt Reynolds' film Sharky's Machine.



Randy Crawford had her commercial breakthrough as a solo artist with her fourth album, Now We May Begin. Released in the summer of 1980, it was #4 in the UK. Its single hit, the ballad One Day I'll Fly Away, was a UK #1 hit. Only after this success were her three previous albums also released in Europe. Several other hits followed. She worked together with Al Jarreau and, in 1986, was considered the ballad Queen of soul by the New Musical Express. On her next album, only the ballad Almaz, composed by Randy Crawford herself, had certain qualities and reached #4 in the UK charts. In 1988, the London Symphony Orchestra invited her for two concerts which were sold out. In the following years, only her version of Bob Dylan's Knockin' On Heaven's Door was interesting, sweet but still powerful, but it had no commercial success, although recorded together with Bob Dylan (guitar) and David Sandborn (saxophone). In the 1990s, there are a few notable songs such as Cajun Moon (1995), Last Night At The Danceland and of course Captain Of her Heart (1997; but not on the American "Best of" CD of 1996). Despite her distinctive voice, she did not have any other major hits in the USA, only maintaining a limited success in the UK and other European countries. Randy Crawford's singing is often a touch too sweet and the compositions are a bit too simplistic. Get the CD from Amazon.com.