3. Randy Crawford
When we talk about one of a kind voices, Randy Crawford’s is a treasure. The Macon, Georgia native has proven impossible to box in though you most often found her records in the Jazz bin tanks to early associations with Cannonball Adderley (in the John Henry musical “Big Man”) and “Street Life,” the breakthrough 1979 hit she enjoyed as a guest of The Crusaders – so good they re-recorded it with film music legend Lalo Schifrin for the Hollywood movie “Sharkey’s Machine.” But on her own albums, Randy served up confections that could and should have worked all over the radio dial – from R&B and Adult Contemporary to Pop and Country. Most comfortably, she became a queen of the Quiet Storm radio format during a long stint with Warner Bros. Records beginning in 1976 with delights such a “I’m Under the Influence of You,” “Endlessly,” “Rio de Janiero Blue,” “Windsong,” “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” “Now We May Begin,” “One Hello,” “I Don’t Want To Be Normal” (from the Goldie Hawn movie “Wildcats”), “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” (a hit single with Rock guitarist Eric Clapton and Jazz saxophonist David Sanborn from the movie “Lethal Weapon 2”) and the film-worthy “Almaz” which Randy composed.Underrated Black Female SingersA club remix of her cover of George Benson’s Rod Temperton-penned classic “Give Me the Night” also became a staple of NAC radio. In later years, Randy has struggled with health issues but was chaperoned and shepherded by Crusaders keyboardist Joe Sample for two studio albums (Feeling Good and No Regrets) plus a Live CD with Joe’s son bassist Nicklas Sample and drumming legend Steve Gadd before Joe passed on. Prolific and with a sound that has made her internationally adored, it is still criminal that Miss Randy Crawford is not more of a household name.
