George McCrae is a soul and disco singer from West Palm Beach, Florida. Born in 1944, he forms the Jivin' Jets before joining the United States Navy in 1963. After four years, he reforms the group with his wife, Gwen, in the line-up, and they later work as a duo, recording for Henry Stone’s Alston label.

Career

Gwen McCrae gains a solo contract, while George acts as her manager and also sings on sessions and in clubs. He is preparing to return to college to study law enforcement when Richard Finch and Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band ask him to sing the lyrics for a track they have recorded but cannot take to the required high notes. The song is originally intended for Gwen, but she arrives late for the session and George records it alone.

That recording, “Rock Your Baby,” becomes one of the first major hits of the disco era in 1974. It sells an estimated eleven million copies worldwide and reaches number one in the United States, the United Kingdom and many other countries. Rolling Stone votes it the number one song of 1974. McCrae receives a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocalist the following year.

Other recordings

He follows it with further charting singles including “I Can’t Leave You Alone,” which reaches number 10 on the US R&B chart and number 50 on the US pop chart, and “It’s Been So Long,” which also enters the UK Singles Chart Top 10. His 1975 single “I Get Lifted” reaches number 8 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.

He continues to record and tour through the 1980s, especially in Europe, where he remains popular. He also continues to record and manage Gwen McCrae until their divorce in 1976.

Later recognition

The indie rock band Yo La Tengo later covers “You Can Have It All” on their 2000 album And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out.