Gwen McCrae

Gwendolyn Patricia McCrae ( Mosley, December 21, 1943 – February 21, 2025) was an American singer. She is best known for her 1975 hit "Rockin' Chair", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. McCrae's gospel, soul, disco, and funk vocals have been heavily sampled in dance music, including songs by Cassius, Madlib, Lady Gaga, Avicii, and Mobb Deep. The New York Times has credited her early 1970s hits as paving the way for disco music.

Life and career 1960s–1970s Gwendolyn Patricia Mosley was born on December 21, 1943, in Pensacola, Florida, the youngest of five children. She and her siblings were raised by their mother, Winnie Mosley ( Lee), after the early death of their father, Aaron Mosley. in 1963 and began recording in 1967, when George returned home from the Navy. With the help of singer Betty Wright, they signed a record contract with Alston Records, a subsidiary of Henry Stone and Steve Alaimo's TK Records. In 1972, she recorded the song "Always on My Mind", which was covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and the Pet Shop Boys. Her 1973 song "For Your Love" reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The follow-up single "Love Insurance" also made the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, peaking at number 16. Because of their competing careers, they divorced that same year. In 1982, she released the disco song "Keep the Fire Burning", which peaked at number five on the Billboard Dance Club chart Some of her earlier recordings on the UK's Northern Soul scene maintained her popularity as a live act in Europe. The track also appeared on Cassius' album, 1999. In 1999, her single "Funky Sensation" was sampled in the German single "Get Up," by DJ Thomilla featuring Afrob.

2000s and beyond In 2000, McCrae released the single "Gittin' What I Want", which reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart. McCrae released her first gospel album, I'm Not Worried, in 2004. which is also responsible for the comebacks of Marva Whitney, Lyn Collins, Martha High, Bobby Byrd and RAMP. Her collaboration with Soulpower resulted in various live performances with the Soulpower All-Stars.

"Keep the Fire Burning" was included in The Vinyl Factory's 2016 list of 'The 100 Greatest Disco 12″s of All Time. In August 2018, UK duo Disclosure released a cover of "Funky Sensation". In 2021, German musician Cody Currie and English musician Eliza Rose released "Another Love", which sampled "Keep the Fire Burning". In their review of "Another Love", Rolling Stone magazine called McCrae's song a "dancefloor classic" that is "relentlessly funky".

McCrae died at a care home in Miami on February 21, 2025, at the age of 81 after battling illness.

Discography Albums YearAlbumPeak chart positionsUS US R&B US Dance 1970 "Lead Me On" 102 32 ― ― 1972 "You Were Always on My Mind" ― — ― ― "Leave the Driving to Us" ― — ― ― 1973 "For Your Love" ― 17 ― ― "He Keeps Something Groovy Goin' On" ― — ― ― 1974 "Move Me Baby" ― — ― ― "It's Worth the Hurt" ― 66 ― ― 1975 "Love Insurance" ― 16 ― ― "Rockin' Chair" 9 1 ― ― "Let's Dance, Dance, Dance" (with George McCrae) ― — ― ― 1976 "Cradle of Love" ― 53 ― ― "Damn Right It's Good" ― 72 ― ― "Winners Together or Losers Apart" (with George McCrae) ― 44 ― ― 1978 "Starting All Over Again" ― ― ― ― 1979 "The Melody of Life" ― ― ― ― "All This Love That I'm Giving" ― ― ― 63 1981 "Funky Sensation" ― 22 15 92 1982 "Keep the Fire Burning" ― 60 5 ― "I Need to Be with You" ― ― ― ― 1984 "Do You Know What I Mean?" ― 83 ― ― 1993 "All This Love That I'm Giving" (with Music and Mystery) ― ― ― 36 2000 "Gittin' What I Want" ― 92 ― ― "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.