Gwen McCrae

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Gwen McCrae

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Gwen Mosley
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Born = birth date and age|1943|12|21
Pensacola, Florida, United States
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Origin =
Instrument = singing
Voice_type =
Genre = Soul, R&B, gospel
Occupation = singer
Years_active = 1963-present
Label = Alston Records, TK Records, Atlantic Records
Associated_acts = George McCrae
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Gwen McCrae (born Gwen Mosley, 21 December 1943, Pensacola, Florida, United States) is an American R&B singer, best known for her 1975 hit "Rockin' Chair".

Gwen was the youngest of five children. She grew up singing in her pentecostal church and later discovered secular singers like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. She began performing in local clubs as a teenager, and singing with local groups like the Lafayettes and the Independents. In 1963, she met a young sailor named George McCrae, whom she married within a week.

From 1963 she recorded as a duo with her husband George, and was first to receive a solo recording contract, with Henry Stone's TK Records. She found success on the R&B charts with "Lead Me On" in 1970, followed by "For Your Love".

George & Gwen were discovered in 1967 by singer Betty Wright, who helped get them signed to Stone's Alston record label. Their debut single, "Three Hearts in a Tangle," was released in 1969; the follow-up, "Like Yesterday Our Love Is Gone," marked the first time they worked with the writing team of Clarence Reid (who would later morph into the bawdy comic Blowfly) and Willie Clarke. Both were regional hits, as was third single, "No One Left to Come Home," although none of those records broke nationally; meanwhile, the McCraes and Wright were collectively earning a reputation as stellar session vocalists.

Following husband George’s unexpected solo success with "Rock Your Baby", Gwen went on to have a major hit of her own in 1975 with "Rockin' Chair", a #1 R&B hit which also reached the U.S. Top 10. The follow-up "Love Insurance" also made the R&B charts. By this time, the separate successes were taking their toll on the McCraes' marriage. Gwen has since alleged that her husband beat her frequently.Fact|date=February 2007

After Gwen and George divorced and TK Records collapsed, Gwen moved to New Jersey, and signed with Atlantic Records, having another hit with "Funky Sensation" in 1981. She continued to record, and the success of some of her earlier recordings on the UK’s Northern Soul scene maintained her popularity as a live act in Europe. In 2004 she released her first gospel album.

In 1999, french house music duo Cassius released the single "Feeling for You" which sampled the vocals of Gwen McCrae's "All this love that I'm giving", which was a top 40 hit on the UK Charts and is considered a classic dance track by many house enthusiast.

In 2008, Yung Ralph released the single, "I Work Hard," which samples "Rockin' Chair."

Discography

Albums

*1974: Gwen McCrae (Cat 1603)
*1975: Rockin' Chair (Cat 2605)
*1975: Together (w. George McCrae) (Cat 2606)
*1976: Something So Right (Cat 2608)
*1978: Let's Straighten It Out (Cat 2613)
*1979: Melody of Life (Cat 2614)
*1981: Gwen McCrae (Atlantic 19308)
*1982: On My Way (Atlantic 80019)
*1996: Psychic Hotline (Goldwax 4221)
*1997: Girlfriend's Boyfriend (Ichiban 1511)
*1999: Still Rockin' (Phat Sound 0199)
*2004: I'm Not Worried (Lewmar 7154)
*2006: Live in Paris at New Morning (Hi & Fly)
*2006: Sings TK (Henry Stone Music 6001)

External Links

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Gwen%20McCrae.html
http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/gwenmccrae.htm