Artist:Crystal Lewis
Song:Only Fools
Album:Fearless
Singer Crystal Lewis was popular in CCM in the late 90s. Several singles topped the Christian charts and she won Dove awards. The 2000 album Fearless was an attempt to cross over to mainstream pop. Though it was nominated for a Grammy, the album was unsuccessful and Crystal returned to CCM. She was born Sept. 11, 1969 in Corona, CA. Her father was a minister and she grew up singing in his church. Crystal appeared in the 1985 movie musical Hi-Tops. This was an independent film aimed at the Christian market. While working on the film, she met a member of the band The Lifers. She joined the band and they changed their name to Wild Blue Yonder. They released a 1986 album on the CCM label Frontline. The album was produced by Daniel Amos leader Terry Scott Taylor and Crystal appeared on the 1986 Daniel Amos album Fearful Symmetry. When Wild Blue Yonder split up, Frontline signed Crystal to a solo contract. She was 17 years old. She recorded three albums for Frontline. On the 1989 album Joy, Brian Ray played guitar on a couple of tracks. For the 1990 album Let Love In, Ray and Crystal wrote songs together. They married, left Frontline and started their own Metro One label. Only Fools first appeared on the 1992 album Remember. Ray wrote the song and produced the album. Meanwhile Crystal appeared in the 1992 Nickelodeon sketch comedy series Roundhouse. Crystal started having success in the late 90s when her albums were distributed by Word's Myrrh label. After several #1 Christian hits, they must have thought they could cross over to pop. Because for the 2000 album Fearless, Crystal signed with Interscope. This could have been Kirk Franklin's idea as Crystal appeared on a couple of his albums. Ray produced and wrote most of the songs with Crystal. Franklin wrote and produced one song. Though Fearless was nominated for a Grammy, the album didn't sell and Crystal returned to CCM. Crystal hasn't been as successful in CCM since then. She and Ray divorced after 28 years of marriage. She started her own label for the 2019 album Rhapsody. The album was produced by jazz trumpeter Tony Guerrero. So I guess she's a jazz singer now. Crystal's daughter Izzi Ray and son Solomon Ray have both written songs for mom. Here's Crystal Lewis performing Only Fools.
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