Crawford was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He began formal piano studies at age nine and was soon playing for his church choir. His father had brought an alto saxophone home from the service and when Hank entered Manassas High School, he took it up in order to join the band. He credits Charlie Parker, Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges as early influences.
Crawford appears on an early 1952 Memphis recording for B.B. King with a band including Ben Branch and Ike Turner.
In 1958 Crawford went to college at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at TSU, he majored in music studying theory and composition, as well as playing alto and baritone saxophone in the Tennessee State Jazz Collegians. He also led his own rock 'n' roll quartet, "Little Hank and the Rhythm Kings". His bandmates all thought he looked and sounded just like Hank O'Day, a legendary local saxophonist, which earned him the nickname "Hank". This is when Crawford met Ray Charles, who hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles' band—becoming its musical director until 1963.
When Crawford left Ray Charles in 1963 to form his own septet, he had already established himself with several albums for Atlantic Records. From 1960 until 1970, he recorded twelve LPs for the label, many while balancing his earlier duties as Ray’s director. He released such pre-crossover hits as “Misty”, “The Peeper”, “Skunky Green”, and “Whispering Grass”.
He also has done musical arrangement for Etta James, Lou Rawls, and others. Much of his career has been in R&B, but in the 1970s he had several successful jazz albums with I Hear a Symphony reaching 11 on Billboard's Jazz albums list and 159 for Pop albums.
David Sanborn cites Crawford as being one of his primary influences. Crawford is recognized by saxophonists as having a particularly unique and pleasing sound. In 1981, he featured, with fellow horn players Ronnie Cuber and David Newman, on B. B. King's There Must Be a Better World Somewhere.
In 1983 he moved to Milestone Records as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands including guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John. In 1986, Crawford began working with blues-jazz organ master Jimmy McGriff. They recorded four co-leader dates for Milestone Records: Soul Survivors, Steppin’ Up, On the Blue Side, and Road Tested, and toured together extensively.
The new century found Crawford, shifting gears and going for a more mainstream jazz set in his 2000 release The World of Hank Crawford. Though the songs are compositions from jazz masters such as Duke Ellington and Tadd Dameron, he delivers in that sanctified church sound that is his trademark. Followed by The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff (2001), and Back (2007).
Blueberry Hill
Hank Crawford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill
When I found you
The moon stood still
On Blueberry Hill
And lingered until
The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were never to be
Though we're apart
You're part of me still
For you were my thrill
On Blueberry Hill
The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were never to be
Though we're apart
You're part of me still
For you were my thrill
On Blueberry Hill
Hank Crawford’s “Blueberry Hill” is a classic love song that expresses the emotions of one who has found love on a picturesque hill. The first stanza reveals the singer’s elation at finding his “thrill” on Blueberry Hill. He reveals his contentment in finding “you” there. The second stanza goes on to describe the beauty of Blueberry Hill. The singer describes how the moon stood still, and time seemingly stopped when he found his love. Referring to their love as a dream, he expressed how their love came true on the hill.
The bridge of the song describes the beauty of nature at Blueberry Hill. The singer makes mention of the willow tree that plays love’s melody as a simile for the romantic sound that surrounds the couple. Unfortunately, in the third stanza, we see the reality of love. The singer says that all of the promises made were never kept- love’s sweet melody was disrupted by the downfall of the relationship. In conclusion, the singer of the song states that despite the disappointment of the relationship, the love experienced on Blueberry Hill still remains an integral part of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I found my thrill
I experienced immense happiness and excitement
On Blueberry Hill
In a specific, special location called Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill
In a specific, special location called Blueberry Hill
When I found you
When I met you, my happiness increased exponentially
The moon stood still
The moon stopped moving and shining
On Blueberry Hill
In the same special location called Blueberry Hill
And lingered until
And remained stationary there until something happened
My dream came true
My wish was fulfilled, and I was happy
The wind in the willow played
The gentle breeze among the trees produced a soft, musical sound
Love's sweet melody
The sound that was produced by the wind in the willow was love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
But all the promises you have made
Were never to be
Were never fulfilled
Though we're apart
Despite our physical separation
You're part of me still
You will always be a part of me
For you were my thrill
Because it was you who gave me immense happiness and excitement
On Blueberry Hill
In the same special location called Blueberry Hill
The wind in the willow played
The gentle breeze among the trees produced a soft, musical sound
Love's sweet melody
The sound that was produced by the wind in the willow was love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
But all the promises you have made
Were never to be
Were never fulfilled
Though we're apart
Despite our physical separation
You're part of me still
You will always be a part of me
For you were my thrill
Because it was you who gave me immense happiness and excitement
On Blueberry Hill
In the same special location called Blueberry Hill
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., MEMORY LANE MUSIC GROUP
Written by: AL LEWIS, LARRY STOCK, LARRY LAWRENCE STOCK, VINCENT ROSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luiz Vasconcelos da Silva
Super! Extraordinaire!🙏
345weehrs
Awesome!
Andre Salon
Wowwww........this wat i call music....tq
Andre Salon
I just found it...and im glad.....
345weehrs
So so sweet
Brian Groenewald
Awesome woowww
rachel vilakazi
In 2020 whose listening?