FRENCH CREEK (WV) – Upshur County native Ed Crawford, an award-winning southern gospel recording artist will be performing Sunday morning, September 29, 2019, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the French Creek United Methodist Church, church officials have announced.
With 40 plus years of full-time Gospel ministry, Ed Crawford has recently added his newest solo titles “Beyond The Trials” and “talkin’ ‘bout HIM” to the list of over 40 recording projects in which he has been involved.
Crawford is best known for his role in reorganizing the Singing Americans in 1978 and for his position as baritone singer for The Kingsmen from 1979-1989, where he earned the nickname, Big Ed.
Big Ed CrawfordFounding Big Ed Crawford Ministries in 1990, Crawford has spent the past 29 years ministering as a solo evangelist in churches throughout the nation bringing his Southern Gospel artistry to the people through Word and song.
Crawford’s baritone vocals have been heard in performances throughout the United States and abroad including the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, and Mexico.
He has performed at the White House and on the stages of The Grand Ole Opry, the National Quartet Convention, also at the opening of the World’s Fair with then President Ronald Reagan. Crawford has also performed for television audiences of Great American Gospel, TBN, PTL, Crook and Chase, The Ralph Emery Show, Gospel Country, and the Music City Showcase.
In addition, he has been involved with concerts such as the Bonifay, Florida All Night Singing, Lions Club All Night Singing in Waycross, GA, World’s Largest All-Night Indoor Singing in Tuscaloosa, AL, and the Shriners’ Benefit Concert in Columbia, SC, to name a few.
“Throughout my career, I feel I have been one of the most blessed individuals in the world,” said Crawford.
“I have collaborated with such notable world evangelists as Bill Stafford of Chattanooga, TN, Bill Sturm of Tulsa, OK, Greg Casto of Cleveland, TN, and Sonny Holland of Clinton, LA.”
Other denominational leaders with whom Crawford has ministered include Dr. Laurence Rhoades of West Union, OH., Dr. John Phillips of West Chester, Scotland, Dr. Jerry Spencer from Dothan, AL, and former ambassador Bill Riddick, all of whom he considers his mentors and models for his personal life and ministry.
When reflecting upon Crawford’s talent and his lifelong devotion to the music industry and to furthering the Gospel through Word and song, that he has received numerous forms of recognition is no surprise.
As a founding and charter member of the United States Association of Gospel Entertainers and Musicians (USAGEM), Crawford is the recipient of the prestigious USAGEM Diamond Award for lifetime achievement and was voted USAGEM’s Male Vocalist of the Year. In addition, Crawford was nominated the GMA Male Vocalist of the Year and he subsequently received eight consecutive nominations as the Singing News Baritone of the Year.
Crawford’s passion with gospel music began to glimmer as a young man.
“At age 13 I heard my first quartet sing,” Crawford said.
“It was a group called The Prophets Quartet and I knew then that’s what I wanted to do one day.”
Aside from recognition for his vocal abilities, Crawford has also been bestowed what he considers perhaps the highest honor by having been named 1984’s “Gentleman of Gospel Music”, a title that has followed him now for over 40 years.
“We invite everyone from our community to come out and join us as we worship our Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and song with our brother Big Ed,” said David Fisher, the church pastor.
“There is no cost for admission to this concert, however a love offering will be collected to offset the expenses that Ed has incurred to minister to us in word and song.”
To learn more about Big Ed Crawford, you can visit his website that is filled with vintage video clips from his days performing with The Kingman, at www.bigedcrawford-min
