‘Heaven's sure enough going to have some singing now’: Pensacola's Gwen McCrae has died

The first time the world heard the classic ballad "Always On My Mind," it wasn't from Willie Nelson, nor Elvis Presley or even the Pet Shop Boys."

No, Pensacola's Gwen McCrae was the first of more than 300 people to release the song written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher and Mark James. It was the B-side to her 1972 single "He's Not You," and while neither was a hit for her, her time was soon coming.

McCrae, who grew up singing in Pensacola churches, died on Feb. 21 in a Miami care facility. She was 81 years old. Her health declined after she had a stroke following a performance in England in 2012.

When Grammy-nominated Gwen McCrae returned to her native Pensacola in the late 1970s after touring Europe, where she remains beloved by many, she was asked by a local reporter to describe her music.

"Sexy" is what McCrae said.

One listen to her sultry, sensuous, blood-warming 1975 soul-flavored R&B hit "Rockin' Chair," which simmers in its seductive nature, is proof she's right. There are McCrae's seductive coos of long "oohs" and "aahs" sprinkled throughout the infectious groove.

She was known as the "Queen of Rare Groove" in the music world, a moniker bestowed upon McCrae because of her unique vocal abilities and musical styling, crafting hits and songs that mined funk, soul, R&B, disco, pop, and, maybe reluctantly, a little blues once in a while, though she once claimed she wasn't a "blues singer."

"Rare Groove" was a UK-born description of 1970s music that was influenced of the styles McCrae incorporated as well as jazz and some Latin styles.

McCrae was integral to what was called "Miami's Sunshine Sound,'' of the late 1960s and through the 1970s and which featured artists such as Betty Wright, KC & the Sunshine Band, Clarence Reid and McCrae, as well as her former husband George McCrae, who scored a 1974 hit with "Rock Your Baby," an early disco hit. The couple divorced in 1976. Her maiden name was Gwen Mosley.

Born on Dec. 21, 1943, McCrae began singing in local churches, and later in area clubs with acts such as the Layfayettes and the Independents.

She recorded with various labels over the years including Ichiban, TK and Atlantic, and found moderate success with the songs "Lead Me On" in 1970 followed by "For Your Love." Performing on the "Chitlin Circuit," McCrae was known as a fiery live performer.

In 1975, she released "Rockin' Chair,'' which reached No. 1 in March of that year on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 9 on the Billboard "Hot 100" chart.

She would soon find her way to popular national shows including "Soul Train," "The Midnight Special" and "American Bandstand" where she would give a nationally-broadcast shout out to her home, a trait later adopted by hometown proud Roy Jones Jr. Yet only moderate success followed, though her stature in Europe, especially the United Kingdom, was enough to cultivate a devoted following that continues.

She reflected on that stardom in her 2010 PNJ interview, just months before heading to France to record.

"I own that territory over there,'' McCrae said. "I'm the girl over there. Aretha got hers. I got mine."

She also remained an important figure to many musicians and her records have been sampled by artists such as Lady Gaga, Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill and many others.

"I tell folks that she didn't reach her full potential for some reason,'' said her friend, Robert Hill, founder of radio station WRNE-AM 980 and host of the station's "Morning Show," a popular community-focused program. "She was great, not just with pop and soul but even with gospel." McCrae released her first gospel album "I'm Not Worried" in 2004.

Hill had just played McCrae's 1981 track "Funky Sensation" for WRNE's Thursday listeners, a song that reached No. 15 on US  Billboard  Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

"Funky Sensation was one of her biggest ones,'' Hill said. "That song is played all the time in clubs."

Rev. John Powell of Pensacola , founder of the Truth for Youth organization, was a big fan of McCrae, who he compared to "Aretha or Whitney."

"She never forgot about us in Pensacola,'' he said. "Heaven's sure enough going to have some singing now."

Services have not yet been announced, but they will take place in Pensacola. Gwen McCrae is survived by three daughters, a son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and other family members.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gwen McCrae of Pensacola died at 81