Biography
General Crook brought a soulful depth and instinctive funkiness comparable to James Brown or Dyke from Dyke & the Blazers, turning out records steeped in groove and genuine emotion without ever resorting to the ordinary, though chart success remained out of reach. Born February 28, 1945, in Mound Bayou, MS, he spent his formative years in nearby Greenville. After finishing high school he left for Chicago at age 17, following the path taken by countless other Mississippi natives.
Seven years afterward he secured a deal with Capitol Records, equipped with songs supplied by the Salty Peppers, the group that later became Earth, Wind & Fire. Maurice White, Wade Flemons, and Donald Whitehead supplied the material for his debut single, "In the Warmth of My Arms" (1969), yet the release only reinforced his standing in the Chicago lounges where he already enjoyed legendary status. A follow-up, "When Love Leaves You Crying" (1970), co-written with John Jones, likewise failed to register, ending the Capitol association on unfavorable terms.
Still in 1970 he moved to the modest Down to Earth label and climbed the R&B charts with "Gimme Some," which peaked at number 22. The following year he returned with "What Time Is It," reaching number 31 on the same tally. These modest entries brought momentary satisfaction, but sustained higher placement and any pop crossover stayed beyond the performer whose birth name might otherwise have steered him toward a military path.
A period with Wand Records yielded three strongly received R&B singles—"The Best Years of My Life" (1973), "Tell Me What 'Cha Gonna Do," and the enduring "There's a Fever in the Funkhouse" (both 1974)—alongside the self-titled album General Crook. He rejoined Down to Earth in 1974, though "What I'm Getting Now and What I'm Used to Ain't the Same" and "Do It for Me" failed to connect. Shifting focus, he devoted himself to producing and songwriting for other artists, including Syl Johnson and Willie Clayton, while issuing sporadic standalone singles such as "Main Squeeze" and "In This Thing Called Love."
Seven years afterward he secured a deal with Capitol Records, equipped with songs supplied by the Salty Peppers, the group that later became Earth, Wind & Fire. Maurice White, Wade Flemons, and Donald Whitehead supplied the material for his debut single, "In the Warmth of My Arms" (1969), yet the release only reinforced his standing in the Chicago lounges where he already enjoyed legendary status. A follow-up, "When Love Leaves You Crying" (1970), co-written with John Jones, likewise failed to register, ending the Capitol association on unfavorable terms.
Still in 1970 he moved to the modest Down to Earth label and climbed the R&B charts with "Gimme Some," which peaked at number 22. The following year he returned with "What Time Is It," reaching number 31 on the same tally. These modest entries brought momentary satisfaction, but sustained higher placement and any pop crossover stayed beyond the performer whose birth name might otherwise have steered him toward a military path.
A period with Wand Records yielded three strongly received R&B singles—"The Best Years of My Life" (1973), "Tell Me What 'Cha Gonna Do," and the enduring "There's a Fever in the Funkhouse" (both 1974)—alongside the self-titled album General Crook. He rejoined Down to Earth in 1974, though "What I'm Getting Now and What I'm Used to Ain't the Same" and "Do It for Me" failed to connect. Shifting focus, he devoted himself to producing and songwriting for other artists, including Syl Johnson and Willie Clayton, while issuing sporadic standalone singles such as "Main Squeeze" and "In This Thing Called Love."
Albums