Carolyn Crawford
Encyclopedia
Caroline Crawford is an American
rhythm and blues
and disco
singer and actress, who recorded as Carolyn Crawford for Motown Records
in the early 1960s, and for other labels later in her career.
, the prize for which was a contract with Motown Records. She recorded three singles for the label, an unsuccessful first release of "Forget About Me" (Motown 1050) being followed by "My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" (Motown 1064), written by Smokey Robinson
. The record reached # 39 on the Billboard
rhythm and blues chart. She also sang backup vocals for some of the Motown artists. Her final record for Motown, "When Someone's Good To You" (Motown 1070), released in December 1964, failed to chart and her contract was not renewed, although the record later became a favorite among British
soul
fans.
A few years later, she joined a girl group, Hodges, James, Smith and Crawford, put together in 1972 by William "Mickey" Stevenson. She released two singles with them, "Nobody" and "Let's Pick Up The Pieces", before leaving the group (which went on to achieve some success as Hodges, James and Smith). She then joined the group Chapter 8
, but left them in 1976 to start a solo career; she was replaced in the group by Anita Baker
.
In the late 1970s, and through the early 1980s, she was featured vocalist on several of Hamilton Bohannon
's singles and six of his albums, including his biggest US single hit "Let's Start the Dance". She also signed a solo contract with Mercury Records
(using the spelling Caroline), and released a single "Coming On Strong" which reached # 66 on the R&B chart at the start of 1979. In addition she released two albums, My Name Is Caroline (1978) and Nice And Soulful (1979), both produced by Bohannon.
In 1989 (using the spelling Carolyn) she joined Ian Levine
's Motorcity
project and recorded the album Heartaches, including the single "Timeless" which later became a favourite on the UK Northern soul
circuit. She was reported to be still performing (as Caroline Crawford) in Detroit clubs in 2007.
Crawford has also worked as an actress in recent years. She voiced the character of Mrs. Lovat in the 2009 stop-motion film Coraline
, and appeared in the TV series Leverage
.
Several of her earlier recordings, including recordings for Motown which went unreleased at the time, have been included on later compilation albums.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
singer and actress, who recorded as Carolyn Crawford for Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
in the early 1960s, and for other labels later in her career.
Career
In 1963, at the age of about 13, she won a talent contest held by Detroit radio station WCHBWCHB
WCHB is an American AM radio station licensed to Taylor, Michigan, at 1200 kHz, and serving the Detroit market. Owned by Radio One, WCHB identifies as NewsTalk 1200 WCHB and airs a News/Talk format.-AM 1440 WCHB:...
, the prize for which was a contract with Motown Records. She recorded three singles for the label, an unsuccessful first release of "Forget About Me" (Motown 1050) being followed by "My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" (Motown 1064), written by Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
. The record reached # 39 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
rhythm and blues chart. She also sang backup vocals for some of the Motown artists. Her final record for Motown, "When Someone's Good To You" (Motown 1070), released in December 1964, failed to chart and her contract was not renewed, although the record later became a favorite among British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
fans.
A few years later, she joined a girl group, Hodges, James, Smith and Crawford, put together in 1972 by William "Mickey" Stevenson. She released two singles with them, "Nobody" and "Let's Pick Up The Pieces", before leaving the group (which went on to achieve some success as Hodges, James and Smith). She then joined the group Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 was a Detroit soul group of the 1970s and '80s formed by Michael J. Powell and Derek Dirckson. Anita Baker was featured as lead vocalist on their first, self-titled album on Ariola entitled Chapter 8 in 1979, produced by Michael and Derek...
, but left them in 1976 to start a solo career; she was replaced in the group by Anita Baker
Anita Baker
Anita Baker is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit....
.
In the late 1970s, and through the early 1980s, she was featured vocalist on several of Hamilton Bohannon
Hamilton Bohannon
Hamilton Bohannon is an American percussionist, band leader and record producer, who was one of the leading figures in 1970s disco music...
's singles and six of his albums, including his biggest US single hit "Let's Start the Dance". She also signed a solo contract with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
(using the spelling Caroline), and released a single "Coming On Strong" which reached # 66 on the R&B chart at the start of 1979. In addition she released two albums, My Name Is Caroline (1978) and Nice And Soulful (1979), both produced by Bohannon.
In 1989 (using the spelling Carolyn) she joined Ian Levine
Ian Levine
Ian Levine is an English songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is also a well-known fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who.Levine attended Arnold School in Blackpool from 1963 to 1970...
's Motorcity
Motorcity Records
Motorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
project and recorded the album Heartaches, including the single "Timeless" which later became a favourite on the UK Northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
circuit. She was reported to be still performing (as Caroline Crawford) in Detroit clubs in 2007.
Crawford has also worked as an actress in recent years. She voiced the character of Mrs. Lovat in the 2009 stop-motion film Coraline
Coraline (film)
Coraline is a 2009 stop-motion 3D fantasy/horror children's film based on Neil Gaiman's 2002 novel of the same name. It was produced by Laika and distributed by Focus Features. Written and directed by Henry Selick, it was released widely in US theaters on February 6, 2009, after a world premiere at...
, and appeared in the TV series Leverage
Leverage (TV series)
Leverage is an American television drama series on TNT that premiered in December 2008. The series is produced by director/executive producer Dean Devlin's production company Electric Television...
.
Several of her earlier recordings, including recordings for Motown which went unreleased at the time, have been included on later compilation albums.
Singles
- "Forget About Me" (1963)
- "My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" (1964) R&B: #39
- "When Someone's Good to You" (1964)
- "I'll Come Running" (1964)
- "My Heart"
- "Devil In His Heart"
- "Too Young, Too Long"
- "Until You Came Along"
- "Keep Stepping (And Don't Look Back)
Album
- "My Name Is Caroline (LP)" (1978) (Mercury) (as Caroline Crawford)
- "Nice And Soulful (LP)" (1979) (Mercury) (as Caroline Crawford)
- "Heartaches" (1990) (as Carolyn Crawford)