Veteran R&B flutist, arranger, producer, and orchestrator David Crawford is entering a new creative chapter with music that looks back while reaching forward.
On Friday, August 21, Crawford released a vibrant instrumental interpretation of Al Green’s timeless classic “Let’s Stay Together,” transforming the soulful 1971 No. 1 hit into an upbeat, flute-driven groove filled with bright, whimsical energy. The song also found renewed success when Tina Turner recorded her own version in 1983, but Crawford’s interpretation gives the familiar love song a distinctly personal and contemporary feel.
For Crawford, however, the song carries memories that reach far beyond its melody.
“I was in love with an older woman, and a friend of mine in the same apartment complex was going through a breakup at the exact same time,” Crawford recalls. “We were devastated. We’d sit together, have a drink, and play Al Green records. ‘Let’s Stay Together’ became our crying song. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything. I still love the song, and I finally decided to record it.”
That emotional history makes Crawford’s joyful arrangement all the more compelling. Rather than simply recreating a beloved classic, he takes a song once associated with heartbreak and turns it into a celebration of memory, movement, and musical possibility.
The release follows Crawford’s earlier 2026 single, “Africa Nouveau,” an original composition that will also appear on his forthcoming debut album, Something Borrowed, Something New. More singles are expected ahead of the album, suggesting that Crawford’s latest chapter is only beginning.
But music is just one part of Crawford’s creative mission this month. He is also introducing young readers to the Bible with his first children’s book, Kids Bible Compass. Designed to guide children through both the Old and New Testaments, the book is accompanied by Singing the Books of the Bible, an original musical companion that uses melody and storytelling to make scripture engaging and memorable for young audiences.
The combination of music, storytelling, and education reflects the breadth of Crawford’s artistic background. Raised in Compton, California, he earned a master’s degree in music from the California Institute of the Arts and has built a career spanning performance, recording, arranging, orchestration, and conducting.
His extensive credits include work with legendary artists such as Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Bill Withers, Isaac Hayes, Vesta, Stevie Wonder, Ahmad Jamal, and The Temptations. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Afro American Chamber Music Society Orchestra, Santa Monica Symphony, and Burbank Philharmonic.
Crawford’s arranging and conducting résumé is equally distinguished. He arranged and conducted Rene & Angela’s “My First Love,” a song that went on to sell two million copies, further establishing his ability to move seamlessly between R&B, orchestral music, and sophisticated musical arrangements.
Now, decades into a career shaped by some of music’s most influential voices, Crawford is creating work that belongs entirely to him. “Let’s Stay Together” connects his personal history to one of popular music’s enduring songs, while Kids Bible Compass and Singing the Books of the Bible open a new creative door for children and families.
Together, the projects reveal an artist embracing both sides of his musical journey: honoring the songs and experiences that shaped him while creating something new for the generations coming behind him.
David Crawford’s latest work is ultimately about more than a new single or a first book. It is a reminder that creativity can evolve with us, turning old memories into new music and transforming lifelong passions into something that can be shared with others.
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