Anthony "Shep" Crawford Producer, Songwriter, Composer, Arranger, Original, Dynamic, Ingenious. In short, Brilliance! Over a relatively short span of time, Shep is well respected with credits that include work with Luther Vandross, Deborah Cox, Yolanda Adams, Boys II Men, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston, Karen Clark, Tamia and Kelly Price to name a few. With riveting lyrics, infectious harmonies and hypnotic rhythms, Shep has an uncanny ability to captivate listeners.
At the tender age of eight Shep began his musical voyage by way of the piano. With the church serving as a concrete foundation and a solid backbone, his steps have always been surefooted. Today, Shep creatively taps into those roots and creates a perfect balance of gospel flavor in the R&B genre.
Shep Crawford surfaced into the music industry in 1994 as the man behind multi-platinum Def Jam recording artist, Montell Jordan in the position of Music Director. Earning producer and songwriters credit on ten songs of the artists first three albums, the experience has become a mere milestone on a long journey to come. In 1998 the two paired up to pen the multi-platinum selling hit record, Nobody Suppose To Be Here, on Deborah Coxs, One Wish sophomore project. The record became the longest running No.1 Single in the history of the Hot R&B Singles and Single Sales on the Billboard Charts with a 14 week run.
That run initiated a sharp turning point for Crawford. And the hits came pouring in. Stranger In My House (Tamia); Id Rather (Luther Vandross); Incomplete (Sisqo); We Cant Be Friends (Deborah Cox featuring R.L.); As We Lay (Kelly Price). Shep has been acknowledged for many awards including the Lady of Soul, Dove, Billboard, American Music, ASCAP and subsequently along came the Grammys for albums including, At Last (Gladys Knight); The Experience (Yolanda Adams) and Dance with My Father (Luther Vandross).
With songwriter and producer credits sound, Shep embarked on his own empire. Founding 45 Live Records in 2001 with former manager Erica Grayson, he signed his first artist, Onitsha in a co-venture one off with record label Still Waters, a division of Hidden Beach. On Onitshas debut album entitled Church Girl; due to be released next year, Shep stayed true to form combining reminiscent, old school musical grooves and riffs over Onitshas sweltering, down to earth, sultry alto gospel vocals, melodies and lyrics.
In addition, after writing and producing six songs on Tamias sophomore album, Nu Day, another collaboration with Tamia was spawn and he as one of the Executive Producers on her fourth album titled, Between Friends, IN STORES NOW.
The question could be posed, What makes Shep Crawford a standout and unique force in this game? Well, uncommon of other prolific producers, Shep has the remarkable knack of articulating the true spirit and soul of woman in his lyrics. When asked how he creates this magic he answers, Listening to my sisters drama
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