He is a soul singer born in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the second of nine children to a policeman. He started singing in church when he was six years old and in high school performed with their glee club.
In the early 1960s he founded the Jivin’ Jets but in 1963 went into the US Navy, returning four years later to re-unite them. His wife, Gwen, became an extra member but before long they left the group to become a duo and released several recordings. He then became Gwen’s manager when she decided to set out on a solo career and during that time he could be heard session singing and making club appearances.
He decided to return to education and study law but before he got the chance Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch, who were in KC and the Sunshine Band, approached him and asked him to record the lyrics of a song that they had done for their own release, but couldn’t reach the higher notes. He sang the song admirably, hitting all the notes, and they gave it to him to record in his own right. This song was “Rock Your Baby” which became his first hit, sold over 11 million copies worldwide, reached No. 1 in 82 countries and catapulted him to stardom in 1974, making him one of the first artists to have a disco hit.
He followed it with many further releases but never reached the same heights in the charts again, even though having been Grammy nominated for Best R&B Vocalist in 1975, having been named the spearhead of the “Miami Sound” and having received two platinum singles and two platinum and 14 gold albums.
Always a busy artist, he regularly toured Europe and the United States up until the 1980s, appeared as a session singer on hits like “Queen of Clubs” by KC and the Sunshine Band, and managed his wife throughout her career until their divorce.
His numerous solo albums include Rock Your Baby, Together Again, Music Mirror and George McCrae.
He has lived in the Caribbean island of Aruba while still recording and touring, releasing a single in 2003 and further albums.
His daughter Marcella has appeared on the German show Popstars.
George McCrae recordings
It’s Been So Long (Harry Wayne Casey/Richard Finch)
You Got to Know (Harry Wayne Casey/Richard Finch)
George & Gwen McCrae recordings
I’ll Do the Rockin’ (Clarence Reid)
I’m Comin’ At You (Clarence Reid)
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