Davell Crawford: The Genius of Ray Charles

 

Davell Crawford, the piano Prince of New Orleans, celebrates the genius of Ray Charles and the 50th Anniversary of his influential recording, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. Released in 1962, the album became a rapid critical and commercial success and many critics argue that this is Charles’ best studio album. Amid the height of the African-American civil rights struggle, the album’s combination of soul and country music bent racial barriers within popular music in the United States.

Davell Crawford, a native of New Orleans, shares with Ray the same deep musical roots of Gospel, R&B, Blues and Jazz. Since the age of seven, Davell has been introducing his unique blend of traditional American roots music to venues worldwide. Crawford is credited with keeping the styles of such artists as Louis Armstrong, James Booker, Ray Charles and the sounds of New Orleans thriving, while infusing his own infectious musical style and personality.