A Debut Masterpiece| Posted March 01, 2015
Remember the group Anointed? They were a groundbreaking group that made waves in Gospel and then CCM in the 90s and early 2000s with songs like "For the Sake of the Call," "Send Out a Prayer," "Revive Us Again" and "Godspot." Steve Crawford was the lone male singer in the group. This baritone/tenor was irreplaceable, and he would especially capture an audience during their live performances.
Over the last five plus years, Steve has been leading worship at Lakewood Church along with his sister Dadra, Israel Houghton, Cyndi Cruse Ratliff and more. Now Steve is releasing his long awaited and long anticipated solo album. Expect a melting pot of Gospel, CCM and a little R&B, all seasoned with songs of heartfelt praise and worship. Steve produces the album with keyboardist William "Willie" Garcia (watch out for this very talented musician/producer) and multi-instrumentalist Andre Vinson.
Steve is one of those singers who can sing various styles. He drives it home and gives a soul-stirring jolt on "Abundance of Rain." I have heard him sing this live several times, and it never gets old. I love the energy and the proclamation of the title song. Not to mention the fact that Mayra Alvarez of The Voice steps in to lend a little bit of her singing.
It is a family affair on "Uniquely Me." Steve's wife Tammy (Daughter of Ann McCrary of the McCrary Sisters), son Steve Jr and daughter Ani'ya all collaborate on this catchy song. I found myself pressing repeat over and over again. Even an adult should be reminded that God made us all unique.
Stevie Wonder was honored this month for his huge catalogue of timeless music that touched people across racial boundaries and genres. His voice is amazing and his pen is prolific. He is in a class all by himself. Steve Crawford also has the ability to sing and write in a way that does not stay in a box. An example is "Love Will Lead The Way," written by Steve. Steve guides us through a journey of the power of showing true love and care for our fellow man. His voice flows masterfully throughout with skillful orchestration by Roger Ryan, plus Steve's tickling of the ivories and Joel Camey's smart placements of the electric guitar.
He gives us more of the soulful Gospel feel on "I Am" and "He's Amazing" while flowing just as smoothly on the pop ballad "Face to Face." It should be noted that "Face to Face" morphs into a nice Gospel vamp with vocals from the Lakewood Choir and Dadra.
Closing Thoughts:
This is an album that I can suggest to lovers of Gospel and CCM. For those who just want music that leads them into the presence of God, Steve delivers. Steve has one of the best voices around, and he is also one of the nicest people who really makes people feel welcome when they are around him. His debut is an album worth noting, a gem that should not be overlooked.
Song to Download Now:
"Abundance of Rain" (Get it on iTunes here.)
to add lyrics if not listed.
