Greg Crowe Interview

Greg Crowe Interview

with GJ Magazine

By Doug Atteberry

In today's world, Christian Music Artists come and go. It seems like you can't turn around without running into someone who either wants to break into the "Music Business" or has a friend that sings part-time that you "just have to hear." Every once in a while, in the midst of all of this, there comes along someone that is really special, someone that not only has what it takes, to so call "make it," but also has a heart for God and a strong desire to minister to people with the talents that they have been blessed with.

Last year, I received a call from an agent in Nashville telling me that she represented a young man that exemplified all of these things, and we just had to have him in the Kansas City area, like I'd never heard that before! Needless to say, I ignored her, but thanks to her persistence, I eventually listened to Greg Crowe's self-titled CD, and was pleasantly surprised! Now, after having the privilege of hearing Greg Crowe in concert, I am convinced that he is someone special that is destined for greatness in the Christian Music Industry. And he should be. After all, he has all of the right ingredients. Combine a Grammy Award-Winning producer with some great songs, add a strong voice (reminiscent of Michael English) with an ability to captivate an audience regardless of age, race, or religious background, top all of this off with a genuine anointing and you can't help but have "Someone Special." Greg Crow has a ministry that will bless you, talent that will entertain you and a passion for people that will touch you. These three characteristics have virtually guaranteed his success.

Recently I had the opportunity to sit down and visit with Greg and get his thoughts on his career, his new CD, and just life in general. The following is a portion of that interview....

GJ- While your name may be new to many of us and we call you "a new artist," you've been successfully singing for quite some time. How did you get started with your singing career?

GC- I have been singing since I was 15 years old. Everyone can sing on my mother's side of the family, so I learned to sing harmony at an early age. I landed my first job singing professionally with a group called the "Rainbow Quartet."

GJ- I know that you sang with "The Blackwoods." Are there any other groups that you sang with before embarking on your own solo career?

GC- Yes, as I mentioned I started with the Rainbow Quartet, then The Standifer Brothers, The Southmen, and then as you mentioned, I sang with The Blackwood Quartet at their theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. All of them were wonderful and I have lots of great memories.

GJ- You've been labeled by some, as "Mr. Versatility" due to your ability to perform so many different styles of music. How would you classify your music?

GC-I classify my music as Christian! My idea of a great ministry is one that can sing several styles and relate to all ages. I think our music does that. I feel that we sometimes single out one group of people, when we need to minister to everyone.

GJ- Speaking of music styles, what's up with people calling you Elvis?

GC- I am Elvis! Just kidding. We have a lot of fun with that. We have one song that we cut on my last project called "Glorybound Express" that reminds people of Elvis. When I'm in concert, I like to play that up and everyone seems to have a lot of fun with it.

GJ- You mentioned your new CD. Tell us how that all came to be?

GC- The new CD was released in July with Garpax records. I was fortunate enough to have Grammy Award-Winning Producer, Gary S. Paxton, produce this project in addition to writing several songs on the CD. It was really a thrill to work in the studio with Gary. It was a bit intimidating at first, working with a Grammy and Dove award winner, but Gary made me feel real comfortable and was able to get the best out of me. He really poured his heart and soul into this album and for people who know Gary, he always has surprises, my album was no different. He has some really neat arrangements and sounds in unusual spots. He also picked out all of the songs, as well as arranging and producing each song. We had some awesome sessions in Nashville. There were tears shed and prayers answered during our time together. The Spirit of God was truly with us during the whole project.

GJ- What made you choose to go with an independent label rather than with a major record label?

GC- Being a new artist and having always sung with quartets, people didn't really know how it would work out with me going solo. But Gary showed confidence in me from the beginning, he took the chance and it's paid off for both of us. I'm really pleased with the decision that I made. Between working with Gary S. Paxton and Vicki Roberts at Time For Joy, who handles my booking, I believe that I really have been placed in great hands. It's neat working with Godly people, I feel that we're all on the same page and have the same goals- to win people for Christ.

GJ- You just had a single released nation-wide off of this album. How is it doing?

GC- "When God Made You, He was Thinking of Me" Is a Christian love song that tells how thankful we should be that God placed wives and husbands with us for our short time on earth. We're real excited because it's doing very well in the inspirational market. Continue to call your local station and request it!!! It's pretty cool because Christian World just picked it up and has produced a wedding track out of it, so you can find it at your Christian Bookstore as well as on my C.D.

GJ- I was listening to the C.D. and heard this song called "The Flight" that just blew me away tell us a little about that song.

GC- "The Flight" is a song that brings tears to your eyes every time that you hear it. A great songwriter in Nashville by the name of Michael Shiply wrote "The Flight", which is a real life story of a young boy who lost his mother. It's written from the perspective of the man sitting next to him on the plane. The little boy tells how rough it has been since his mom has been gone, but he knows they'll be together again some day. This is a song that we have a lot of confidence in and believe that it stands a good chance of crossing over, much like "Butterfly Kisses" did for Bob Carlisle. Keep listening because it should hit radio stations in Early February.

GJ- I noticed that you've been playing in several of the theaters in Branson, is that something that you plan on continuing?

GC- Branson is a great place to sing. We worked there several times this last year and are looking forward to going back again and again. We've also decided to record part of my new album in Branson and then finish it in Nashville.

GJ- Will Gary S. Paxton be producing your new album as well?

GC- Oh definitely! I think that we have a winning combination and I look forward to working with Gary for a long, long time!

GJ- What is the best thing about being in the music ministry?

GC- I love the music ministry and I thank God everyday for allowing me to continue and showing me the direction in which to go. We've been involved in some great services this last year and had the opportunity of seeing many people come to Christ for the first time and many others make a recommitment. I still get so excited when I see this because I know that is why God has placed me here.

GJ- What's the worst thing?

GC- My eating habits are terrible on the road and I never sleep well in hotels. But the worst thing is being away from my family. I try to take them with me as much as possible, but it doesn't always work out.

GJ- So I take it you're married?

GC- Yes, my wife Patti and I have been married for 10 years. We started dating in the seventh grade and she really has been a blessing to me. We have 3 children, Caitlin who is 7, Collin who is 3, and our new baby, Carson. We live on a farm in Alabama and it's a lot of fun with those three kids running around. God really has blessed me with a wonderful family that totally supports my ministry.

GJ- What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you on the road?

GC- When we were making my first live video, we we're going through the initial run through and the producer said "don't sweat about messing up, we'll stop and start over." I was full of confidence and told them that I wasn't even concerned about messing up. Well, the first section that I was supposed to talk, I introduced the wrong song, then my piano player told the audience "He might look decent, but he's as dumb as dirt"! I wanted to crawl under the stage.

GJ- When your career is over, what would you most like to be remembered for?

GC- I hope that people remember my ministry. If God uses me to touch someone and make a difference in their life, I would feel I had accomplished what God wanted. You know, if all I do is sing well, make people laugh, shake hands and go home, then I have failed miserably. There has to be some substance. Pastors can't afford to bring performers in their church that do not minister. That is what makes us different from any other type of music. We have to share God's word and help it stick. People are starving for something real and I want people to remember me as being real. When they hear my music, I want it to lead them to the throne of God. I want to live the Psalm out that says "O God, you are my God, and earnestly I seek you." That's what I want people to remember about Greg Crowe! If you would like to find out more about Greg Crowe's ministry or would like to schedule him for a concert call Vicki Roberts at 417-889-6918. Also check out Greg's new CD, "Greg Crowe," at your local Christian bookstore.