Crystal Waters
Sunrise: November 19, 1961
Deptford Township, New Jersey USA
Crystal Waters is an American house and dance music singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice, catchy melodies, and pioneering contributions to the genre. Born on November 19, 1961, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Waters grew up in a musically inclined family; her great-aunt was the legendary singer Ethel Waters. Originally aspiring to be a jazz singer, she studied business and computer science at Howard University but soon found her way into the music industry as a songwriter. Her breakthrough came in the early 1990s with the release of her debut single "Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)" in 1991, which became a global dance anthem known for its infectious keyboard riff and Waters's iconic vocal refrain, "La da dee, la da da."
"Gypsy Woman" was a massive success, reaching the top ten in over a dozen countries and establishing Waters as a major figure in the house music scene. The song's unique blend of deep house beats, soulful vocals, and socially conscious lyrics—highlighting homelessness—set it apart from other dance tracks of the time, showcasing Waters’s ability to merge meaningful content with danceable music. She followed this success with her debut album, *Surprise* (1991), and later with hits like "100% Pure Love" from her second album, *Storyteller* (1994), which solidified her status in the dance music world. "100% Pure Love" spent 45 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, one of the longest chart runs in history at the time, and became a defining track of the decade.
Throughout her career, Crystal Waters has continued to release music that resonates with dance music fans worldwide, collaborating with a variety of producers and artists in the house, electronic, and pop music realms. She has remained relevant in the ever-evolving music industry, not only through her own releases but also by frequently performing at clubs, festivals, and LGBTQ+ pride events, where her music has become a staple. Waters's contributions to house music have been widely recognized, and she has been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including several Billboard Music Awards and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards.
Crystal Waters's legacy is defined by her ability to create music that transcends the dance floor, infusing her tracks with personality, narrative, and an unmistakable groove. Her distinct vocal style, characterized by a blend of warmth and clarity, continues to make her one of the most enduring voices in dance music. With a career that spans over three decades, Waters remains a celebrated and influential figure, known for her classic hits and her ongoing dedication to creating music that makes people move and feel.
Crystal Waters is a Energizing singer/songwriter whose seven number one club hits include the Top Ten pop hit "Gypsy Woman" (1991)
Crystal Waters (born November 19, 1961) is an American house and dance music singer and songwriter, best known for her 1990s dance hits "Gypsy Woman", "100% Pure Love", and 2007's "Destination Calabria" with Alex Gaudino. All three of her studio albums produced a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as one of the most successful dance artists of all time.[3] Her accolades include six ASCAP Songwriter awards, three American Music Award nominations, an MTV Video Music Award nod, four Billboard Music Awards and twelve No. 1 Billboard Dance Chart hits. Her hit song "Gypsy Woman” has been sampled hundreds of times. Though her music sales have yet to be re-certified, Waters has sold over 7 million records worldwide.
Junior Waters, a famed jazz musician and his wife Betty. Her great-aunt, Ethel Waters, was one of the first black American vocalists to appear in mainstream Hollywood musicals.[5] Her family moved to New Jersey for a while but they again moved to Washington, D.C. At age eleven she began writing poetry and took her writing seriously enough to be inducted into the Poetry Society of America when she was 14, the youngest person ever to receive that honor.
She studied business and computer science at Howard University, but her creative work as a musician dropped off as she found less time for it. After earning her college degree in 1989, Waters secured a job as a probation officer with the Washington, D.C. parole board, making a living that would support her two daughters. One of her daughters, Ella Nicole, is a singer-songwriter who was discovered in 2014 and managed by Samonee K. founder of Argo Vibes.