Reminiscin' - Interviews

Gwen MC Crae is the epitome of soul music. Having led a virtuous career for over three decades, she has accumulated a worldwide fan base from both sides of the Atlantic. Filling out the dance floors with tracks like, 'All This Love I Am Giving' and the infamous, 'Rockin Chair' her energy is unstoppable.

Despite being at an age, where many would retire, Gwen has re-emerged herself back on to the music scene; moulding a new career as well as setting a trend of her own.

Reminiscin' caught up with Gwen MC Crae to find out her secret behind her youthful looks (ladies grab a pen and paper) and why the world is still her oyster.

How did you embark on your musical career?
My musical career started a long time ago, at home and church. As I grew up with my life, from childhood to adulthood I was fortunate enough to be discovered by Betty Wright, who saw me perform in this club. My future was very, very bright ever since I met Betty.

Was it a daunting experience to be in a highly competitive industry at a young age?
I didn't know the pros, cons or the legal aspects. Actually I was so humble, I always would talk to the lord to make my decisions for me - I always trusted in God. I always put God first in everything that I do and when he has it, then I know it is going to be alright.

Who have been your musical influences?
My music influences were Aretha of course, James Cleveland and my mother, she made through all this - it's her fault that I am out here tonight (laughs).

You decided to put a halt to your music career for a while; what were your main reasons for stepping down?
It was my children because I wanted to raise them up myself. See women have got to be smart today - young ladies have children but they don't give them the deep-rooted values, maybe some of them don't know themselves and they are the ones I really feel sorry for. But the ones, who don't know, or parents didn't teach them - then they have problems and I can reach out to them. I love young people and I have always loved children.

Being a very family orientated person - was it hard to balance your career as well as your family?
No, it was a challenge. What's more important are my children - so I set my career aside to raise them. It is easier to go and raise them and get them out on their way - you're still young and you still got time to do what you need to do. After you raise your children then your time comes. I love my children, I hated leaving them, I would cry. When they were little, with my records and my awards I would have them on the wall with their awards, like running tracks 1st place and stuff - I would put it on the wall like their shrine. Even when they graduated, I built a shrine for them with pictures of their gowns and their caps. With the help of god, indeed, we raised some very good children. I never had any problems, none whatsoever.

Having a five year gap from the industry what made you re-establish your music career? Was it harder to adjust to the industry after your absence?
When you are as fortunate as I am, it is already written in the stars - you are gunna make it. I have always been destined and ordained already to make it. You gotta hold on to faith and the dreams you hold, don't let nothing get in your way - then you can make it, but put God first, or whatever you may call him - he is the one that controls everything. I never failed to realise that, which is why I lasted for so long.

You came from a large family of five children - did your upbringing influence your music in any ways?
I am the baby of all my mother's children. My mother didn't raise me, I was raised by my god mother who died, believe it or not when I was little, really small, I was able to sleep in two rocking chairs and then when I grew up they gave me this song, 'Let me be your rockin' chair' and it brings me back - that's my childhood.

By not having your mother's presence growing up did those emotions filter into your music?
No, it didn't bother me at all. As I grew up I could see why raising kids by yourself is not easy, it is a challenge. You do the best you can do, when you do that, the Lord will see what your doing. My mother was very proud of me. She slept in my house one night and she would just smile, it was kinda embarrassing, she was like, 'ooooooh that's my baby, that's my baby'. She was very proud of me - I love my mother no matter what. I don't hold anything against her because who am I to sit and pass judgement and point fingers.

You speak so greatly about the Lord, has religion and faith played a big role in your music / career?
Oh yeah, that is all I have. The only thing I can depend on, other then that I don't know where I would be without that faith that I have. Each day brings about a challenge - you have just got to be freed up enough to ask God to help you and be strong enough to tell him not to move it, just let you go over it. When my mother past, that hurt me but he had a way of soothing all hurt.

Let's talk about your music, you have made multi selling records, 'Lead Me On', "Ain't Nothing You Can Do," "He's Not You" and "Leave The Driving To Us"- is there any particular song that remains your favourite?
Well one of the songs which is my favourite is actually Rockin' Chair - I love that one. I just love to sing, actually there is no favourite one - I like them all, but maybe two, three, four or five albums I was really, really, really crazy about, 'Starting All Over Again', that was like a gospel feel thing for me, cos you know how I love gospel. I did a gospel CD and that was a very good CD, it was another side of Gwen they didn't know. Another one is, Tonight's The Night', I like that one, Frederic Knight wrote that one for me and 'All This Love That I am Giving'. I can't really say, other people's songs I might say I was crazy about, like O'Jays 'Stairway To Heaven' and I was crazy about Tyrone Davis, Luther Vandross and I would try and put myself in their shoes in the way they perform.

So we might see the Beyonce bounce in one of your performances?
(Laughs) I do it too. I did it in Berlin the other night. Oh girl, it was great, it was fantastic. I never been to Berlin and it turn out to be so great.

You have toured and travelled all over the world - what makes the UK audience different?
You know, I am thankful that they are. I wish I had this moment, then, like I have it now with the UK. They make us, they give something new, there is a new life, new world, a new everything. Oh my God I just hug it and embrace it, because without the UK, these days, they won't make it in the states because this business is so so bad.

What has been your favourite country to perform?
Oh Paris, that was fun.

How do you get yourself psyched up before a gig?
When I leave my house, back home, I am already psyched up. When I am on the road - I'm psyched up that I have to do it. I am always like, ok, ok, ok, I have gotta do it - so you can't procrastinate.

So you don't have any superstitions or rituals before you get up on stage?
I have been doing for so long -my fans keep me excited. I know when I come here (London) ooooooh baby, it is on!

You have been in the industry for over three decades - what has been your fondest moment/memory?
Oooooh fondest memory….there are so many, let's see, I guess when I am on stage. I am raring to get back because I miss the faces of my fans, I miss the love that they show, those are my fondest moments. Except for the time I got saved, that was fun, cos I wasn't the same anymore.

Jazz café is one of my fondest moments, it is one of the greatest, greatest places I have ever performed because the people are soooooooooooooo loving, oh my god there are so fabulous. It's like most of the talent who wants to be something try and come over and get known to come to a place like this You have be somebody to come to the Jazz café - I love it here. This is my fourth or fifth trip and they keep calling and I keep running back, just like Paris.

Tell us more about the new album, Gwen McCrae (Live in Paris)
It has '90% Of Me Is You', 'All This Love That I'am Giving', 'Keep The Fire Burning' and 'It's Been Raining'- a lot of stuff that I have put on here is because I don't get the chance to do when I am out there. I can't sing them all, but every chance that I get, I try to do all but it is pretty good.

How would you describe your music?
Blessed and spiritual. See there are different kinds of singers - you have your singers, then you have your SINGERS, then you have ones that just want to say it by mouth. But when you find a real good singer, I mean the kind that you just want to listen to all the time, and when you hear it and it feels good - then that is a good thing. You know when you come home from a hard days work, sitting in traffic, spending three hours trying to get home, nothing on the radio, you don't have no good music in your CD's and then when you get home you relax and you say, well I am gonna put Gwen McCrae on, cos I know I feel good now. Then you're sitting there sipping on a glass of wine and you put on Gwen McCrae then you feel sooooooooo good - That's my job.

Besides music - what else interests you?
I like to stay home, believe it or not.

At 62 you look fabulous - what's the secret to looking so youthful?
People always ask me if I have a secret. I don't take pills or any substance - I never have. My children and grand kids keep me young. My children I have to live for them, I can't look bad - I never ever wanted to put shame on to my children, I want them to be very proud.

Lastly, what is the best thing about being Gwen?
The best thing being me, I really don't know I never really think about me. I met these guys (Soulpower). I know the Lord had sent them to me.