Gwen McCrae
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:17:52 PM Wikipedia source
Gwendolyn Patricia McCrae (née Mosley, December 21, 1943 – February 21, 2025) was an American singer, best known for her 1975 hit "Rockin' Chair". Known in the music industry as the "Queen of Rare Groove", McCrae's gospel, soul, disco and funk vocals have been heavily sampled by industry leaders in dance music including Cassius, Madlib, Lady Gaga, Avicii, Mobb Deep amongst others. McCrae had hits in both the U.S.A. and Europe and was particularly successful in Europe. She performed regularly until 2012.
Infobox
Also known as
The Queen of Rare Groove
Born
Gwendolyn Patricia Mosley(1943-12-21)December 21, 1943Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Died
February 21, 2025(2025-02-21) (aged 81)Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
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Occupation
Singer
Years active
1969–2012
Labels
IchibanTKAtlantic
Spouse
mw- George McCrae (m. 1963)
Tables
· Discography › Albums
US
US
Year
US
Album
US R&B
1974
1974
Year
1974
Album
Gwen McCrae
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
1975
1975
Year
1975
Album
Rockin' Chair
Peak chart positions
121
Peak chart positions
18
Together(with George McCrae)
Together(with George McCrae)
Year
Together(with George McCrae)
Album
—
Peak chart positions
33
1976
1976
Year
1976
Album
Something So Right
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
1978
1978
Year
1978
Album
Let's Straighten It Out
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
1979
1979
Year
1979
Album
Melody of Life
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
1981
1981
Year
1981
Album
Gwen McCrae
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
38
1982
1982
Year
1982
Album
On My Way
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
1996
1996
Year
1996
Album
Psychic Hotline
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
1997
1997
Year
1997
Album
Girlfriend's Boyfriend
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
1999
1999
Year
1999
Album
Still Rockin'
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
2004
2004
Year
2004
Album
I'm Not Worried
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
2006
2006
Year
2006
Album
Live in Paris at New Morning(with the Soulpower All-Stars)
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
—
Gwen McCrae Sings TK
Gwen McCrae Sings TK
Year
Gwen McCrae Sings TK
Album
—
Peak chart positions
—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Year
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | ||||
| US | US R&B | |||||
| 1974 | Gwen McCrae | — | — | |||
| 1975 | Rockin' Chair | 121 | 18 | |||
| Together(with George McCrae) | — | 33 | ||||
| 1976 | Something So Right | — | — | |||
| 1978 | Let's Straighten It Out | — | — | |||
| 1979 | Melody of Life | — | — | |||
| 1981 | Gwen McCrae | — | 38 | |||
| 1982 | On My Way | — | — | |||
| 1996 | Psychic Hotline | — | — | |||
| 1997 | Girlfriend's Boyfriend | — | — | |||
| 1999 | Still Rockin' | — | — | |||
| 2004 | I'm Not Worried | — | — | |||
| 2006 | Live in Paris at New Morning(with the Soulpower All-Stars) | — | — | |||
| Gwen McCrae Sings TK | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||
· Discography › Singles
US Pop
US Pop
Year
US Pop
Single
US R&B
Peak chart positions
US Dance
Peak chart positions
UK
1970
1970
Year
1970
Single
"Lead Me On"
Peak chart positions
102
Peak chart positions
32
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1972
1972
Year
1972
Single
"You Were Always on My Mind"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"Leave the Driving to Us"
"Leave the Driving to Us"
Year
"Leave the Driving to Us"
Single
―
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1973
1973
Year
1973
Single
"For Your Love"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
17
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"He Keeps Something Groovy Goin' On"
"He Keeps Something Groovy Goin' On"
Year
"He Keeps Something Groovy Goin' On"
Single
―
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1974
1974
Year
1974
Single
"Move Me Baby"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"It's Worth the Hurt"
"It's Worth the Hurt"
Year
"It's Worth the Hurt"
Single
―
Peak chart positions
66
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1975
1975
Year
1975
Single
"Love Insurance"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
16
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"Rockin' Chair"
"Rockin' Chair"
Year
"Rockin' Chair"
Single
9
Peak chart positions
1
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"Let's Dance, Dance, Dance" (with George McCrae)
"Let's Dance, Dance, Dance" (with George McCrae)
Year
"Let's Dance, Dance, Dance" (with George McCrae)
Single
―
Peak chart positions
—
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1976
1976
Year
1976
Single
"Cradle of Love"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
53
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"Damn Right It's Good"
"Damn Right It's Good"
Year
"Damn Right It's Good"
Single
―
Peak chart positions
72
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"Winners Together or Losers Apart" (with George McCrae)
"Winners Together or Losers Apart" (with George McCrae)
Year
"Winners Together or Losers Apart" (with George McCrae)
Single
―
Peak chart positions
44
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1978
1978
Year
1978
Single
"Starting All Over Again"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1979
1979
Year
1979
Single
"The Melody of Life"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"All This Love That I'm Giving"
"All This Love That I'm Giving"
Year
"All This Love That I'm Giving"
Single
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
63
1981
1981
Year
1981
Single
"Funky Sensation"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
22
Peak chart positions
15
Peak chart positions
92
1982
1982
Year
1982
Single
"Keep the Fire Burning"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
60
Peak chart positions
5
Peak chart positions
―
"I Need to Be with You"
"I Need to Be with You"
Year
"I Need to Be with You"
Single
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1984
1984
Year
1984
Single
"Do You Know What I Mean?"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
83
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
1993
1993
Year
1993
Single
"All This Love That I'm Giving" (with Music and Mystery)
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
36
2000
2000
Year
2000
Single
"Gittin' What I Want"
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
92
Peak chart positions
―
Peak chart positions
―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Year
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||
| US Pop | US R&B | US Dance | UK | ||
| 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. | |||||
References
- "Artist Biography"https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gwen-mccrae-mn0000651549/biography
- Mixmaghttps://mixmag.net/read/beloved-disco-funk-singer-gwen-mccrae-died-aged-81-news
- Soulwalking.co.ukhttps://web.archive.org/web/20021225054140/http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Gwen%20McCrae.html
- "Gwen McCrae interview (Part 1)"https://ftp2.grandis.nu/funkyflyy/gwen.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/arts/music/gwen-mccrae-dead.html
- Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventieshttps://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=M&bk=70
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-24-ca-2418-story.html
- "Classic Soul - Gwen McCrae"https://web.archive.org/web/20040225113530/http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/gwenmccrae.htm
- British Hit Singles & Albums
- Soul Sourcehttps://www.soul-source.co.uk/articles/soul-articles/a-review-of-gwen-mcrae-feat-soulpower-all-stars-r445/
- SoulTrackshttps://www.soultracks.com/gwen_mccrae.htm
- Time Out New Yorkhttps://www.timeout.com/newyork/clubs/funky-sensation-an-all-star-benefit-for-gwen-mccrae
- "R.I.P. soul and disco star Gwen McCrae"https://soultracks.com/news-gwen-mccrae-dies/
- "Gwen McCrae - Awards"https://web.archive.org/web/20130927020234/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gwen-mccrae-mn0000651549/awards
- Music VFhttps://musicvf.com/Gwen+McCrae.art
- Official Charts Companyhttps://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24887/gwen-mccrae/