Randy Crawford(I)

Jazz and R&B singer Randy Crawford was born as Veronica Crawford on February 18, 1952 in Macon, Georgia and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Randy first began singing both at church and in school. She started performing at nightclubs in Europe and America at age fifteen (her father acted as her chaperon). Among the notable artists Crawford has worked with throughout the years are Bootsy Collins, Cannonball Adderley, Ray Charles, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, and Johnny Bristol. Randy released her first single "If You Say the Word" at age twenty. In 1979 Crawford sang the fiery lead vocals on the stirring "Street Life" for the group the Crusaders; this song not only peaked at #17 on the US R&B charts and #5 on the UK pop charts, but also has been featured on the soundtracks to the movies "Sharky's Machine" and "Jackie Brown." Randy was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 1980 Tokyo International Music Festival. She had substantial Top 20 UK pop radio hits with "One Day I'll Fly Away," "You Might Need Somebody," and an especially moving and inspired rendition of "Rainy Night in Georgia." Her 1981 album "Secret Combination" stayed on the Billboard album charts for sixty weeks. Crawford scored another smash success in 1986 with "Almaz," which went all the way to #4 on the UK pop radio charts. In 1989 Randy recorded a hit cover of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" with Eric Clapton and David Sanborn. She still continues to tour and perform in concert all over the world. More recently, Randy Crawford collaborated with pianist and composer Joe Sample on the 2006 album "Feeling Good."