Davell Crawford

Davell Crawford, a vocalist and keyboardist rooted in New Orleans, upholds the piano legacy established by figures such as Professor Longhair and James Booker. As the grandson of James "Sugar Boy" Crawford, the prominent R&B performer from the 1950s, he released his first album, Let Them Talk, through Rounder Records in 1995. This work showcases his deep roots in gospel, R&B, and jazz, with particular emphasis on his expressive approach to ballads, supported by Crescent City luminaries like drummer Herman Ernest III and saxophonist Alvin "Red" Tyler.

Having started on piano at age seven, Crawford embarked on his initial European tour during his early teenage years. His grandfather, unaware to him as a musician at the time, presented him with keyboards at eleven years old. In line with fellow emerging artists from New Orleans, he fuses funk, gospel, and R&B elements across his instrumental work, compositions, and vocal performances. Among his discography are Let Them Talk from 1995, Just Friends in 1996, B-3 and Me from 1998, and Love Like Yours and Mine in 1999.