 Born in Macon, Ga., in 1952, soulful jazz/R&B/pop singer Randy Crawford grew up in Cincinnati, where she sang in her church choir and later performed in local clubs. By the time she was 21 Crawford was on the road, touring with jazz great George Benson, among others. Her 1976 solo debut, Everything Must Change, paved the way for her breakthrough success three years later with "Street Life," a hit 1979 single recorded with The Crusaders. Taken from the Sharkey's Machine soundtrack, "Street Life" launched Crawford's career and inspired a European tour with The Crusaders. (Indeed, Crawford remained more popular in Europe than in the U.S. for much of her career.) Her next album, 1980's Now We May Begin, was a smash hit, spawning the radio single "One Day I'll Fly Away," while 1981's Secret Combination was even more popular, spinning off the title track as an international hit. Over the next few years Crawford continued to grow in international stature, recording a string of successful albums for Warner Bros. Records and appearing at many of Europe's top jazz festivals. Her 1990 single "Diamante" topped the German charts; three years later she launched a sold-out tour of South Africa, dining with President Mandela.
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