Interview with Stacey "Sarah's Girl" Crawford

By Monique Thomas

*Stacey Richardson Crawford, also known as Sarah’s Girl, is an accomplished, polished and gifted R&B vocalist who has been recognized as one of the industries best kept secrets. Although Stacey’s style is often compared to the legendary Gladys Knight, Stacey adds a breath of fresh air to today’s music, with a sound of her own. She has captivated audiences throughout the country and has had the pleasure of performing at such renowned venues as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, numerous House of Blues’ venues across the nation, BB Kings, many prestigious casinos including the infamous MGM Grand, Madison Square Garden, the NFL’s Player’s Association at the XXXIX Superbowl in Jacksonville, Florida and nearly all major theaters in the US.

It is not surprising that this extraordinary entertainer would share the stage with well known stars such as Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Babyface, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, India.Arie, Jill Scott, Kenny G, Bob Dylan, Cassandra Wilson and John Legend. She has also performed with such great gospel artists like Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child and many others, all while singing background for Grammy Award winning mega stars like the late Gerald Levert and R&B singer Anthony Hamilton. She has also performed in countless concert tours, with such stars as Luther Vandross, the O’Jays, Carlos Santana, Anita Baker and the late comedian Bernie Mac. One of her most memorable performances was when she was asked by Paul Shaffer of the Letterman Orchestra from, The Late Show with David Letterman, to sing along with his band at the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. During this prestigious event, she was afforded the chance to sing with legends that were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame such as Little Anthony and the Imperials, Bobby Womack and Ronnie Woods of the Rolling Stones.

Cocoa Cure: Who’s “Sarah’s Girl” and why have you chosen to perform under that
moniker?

SG: My name is Stacey Richardson Crawford who is the proud daughter of Sarah Elisabeth Weeden Richardson who was my mother; a musician, socialite, choir director, my cook, stylist, chauffeur, mentor, and best friend. I chose to use the name Sarah’s Girl because I posses so much of her spirit and I am her “mini me”. It is a privilege to honor her memory by using that moniker because without her persistence in pushing me beyond my limitations and dedication to making me reach my fullest potential; I would have never been able to become who I am today.

CC: For all the fans who miss him dearly, please share a bit of your
experience working with the late Gerald LeVert.

SG: Gerald was the ultimate teddy bear. His laughter was infectious and his generosity was a clear indication of the genuine person that he was. When I first met him, we spent hours on the phone watching game shows together, laughing at the ridiculous answers that he would come up with. I am so happy that I was able to work with him for my first time in that capacity of the music industry because he was a perfectionist. We would practice for hours on end until the show was as pristine as it could be. Because of his drive, I try to incorporate what he brought to the stage as a total package from the band to the singers, costumes, choreography, and in my own performance. He was, and will always be, one of the best performers that has ever graced the stage and I strive to become the kind of performer that he was, and I still miss his presence everyday.

CC: How did you determine you were ready to become a solo vocalist?

SG: I started singing solo at four years old in front of a large congregation and never really stopped until I started singing background years later. My entire life I was upfront. I sang for weddings, funerals, private engagements, concerts and in church by myself almost my entire life. I was always a soloist, so now I’m just going back to what I used to do before I sang background.

CC: Describe your debut, “All About Me.”

SG: “All About Me- is a compilation of events in my life that happened to me and the people in my circle. Every song comes from personal experience and things that me and/or my friends have gone through. I tried to stay as positive with the project as possible because there is so much negativity in music; I just wanted to portray a “light at the end of the tunnel” because I know that it exists. I have been told by some people that they usually don’t listen to secular music because of the content, but enjoy this CD. I wanted to keep it family friendly so that if you are listening to the CD in the car with your children, you won’t have to switch to the next song because there is questionable content. I think that is important.

CC: You’ve been described as a “breath of fresh air with a timeless sound”. How do you think your music fits into today’s musical landscape?

SG: I try to bring issues to the table that we go through in our daily lives. I fully believe that our experiences make us who we are, and if they don’t break us, they only make us stronger. Every problem we face has a lesson that we can learn from. Life is only what we make it, we can choose to be miserable, or we can swallow the disappointments and keep it moving. I think that by staying true to instrumentation and relevant issues, good content, and giving the music a fresh but vintage soulful sound, the music can live on forever.

*Sarahsgirl.com