Born February 18, 1919, in Dawson, Alabama, Bob Crews was born into a farming family on the infamous Sand Mountain, home of many well known gospel singers. Attending the singing schools that were held in many of the local churches, it was no surprise that Bob became a singer. He was able to learn the rudiments of music and began to read and sing shaped notes.
In 1937, while Bob was still attending High School, he began singing with the Sugar Hill Quartet, who performed on the popular radio broadcasts of WBJY Radio. The quartet later changed their name to the Heflin Quartet. Each Sunday WJBY Radio’s listening audience would be blessed by a 30 minute performance of the Heflin Quartet. The shows emcee, Bob Crews, not only emceed but, also, wrote and delivered the commercials for the program. It was not long before Bob became well known for the sweet tone his voice added to the four part harmony of Southern Gospel Music and he was recruited by many other Quartets.
After his high school graduation Bob took a job in construction that carried him throughout Alabama and into Georgia, and eventually, he wound up on a project to develop the atomic bomb in Oak Ridge, TN. Soon that career would be interrupted by WW II and service to our country in both the Navy and Marine Corps construction battalions. Stationed in the South Pacific and later in Japan, his unit was poised for the invasion of Japan but the war was ended with the dropping of the atomic bomb and the invasion was called off. Bob had been warned by his superiors that it was likely that he would not come back from that tour of duty, but he would tell you quickly that it was because of the dropping of that bomb that he survived. Bob gave a sense of possibility, toughness and duty to serve others to those who served with him in WW II.
Bob returned home to the US and shortly thereafter received a call from C. R. Melton inviting him to return to his first love, singing gospel music. Bob sang with the All-American Quartet until he was invited by Fred C. Maples to join with the renowned Harmoneers Quartet of Knoxville, TN. In 1949, the Harmoneers moved to Atlanta, GA. Their one of a kind harmony generated a sound like no other could duplicate. They had the best lead singer a quartet could have, Bob Crews. After Fred Maples retired from the quartet he wrote Bob a letter stating, “Thank you for helping make the Harmoneers one of the greatest of all time”.
In the mid 50’s Jimmy Jones organized a group called the Deep South Quartet and invited Bob to join the group as their lead singer. He enjoyed singing with Cat Freemen, Brownie Jones, Jimmy Jones and Wally Varner. There was a lot of singing and a lot of fun to be had with this group as the traveled the road.
Bob never lost his desire to sing with the Harmoneers and later in the 50’s, he reorganized the group. Even with the changes that had to be made they were a good quartet. Bob always wanted this group to be remembered. Younger people would often approach him with a smile and say, “I always wanted to meet you because my Mom and Dad would make me sit all night long in that auditorium listening to you guys sing”. This always brought a smile to his face.
Bob and wife, Norma, enjoyed 34 years in the music ministry. Norma being a talented pianist added flame to Bob’s already searing love for music and the music industry. The years of sharing their love for each other and their love for music made for a particularly blessed life for the couple. In retirement, Bob cherished the additional time he had with Norma, his wife, and singing on the popular Bill Gaither Gospel videos. Although times and age had slowed his steps, he continued to bless the lives of others by sharing his love and passion for Southern Gospel Music. Bob continued his singing even in the year’s of his declining health. He was music director of Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Hiram, GA. for several years. At first, being a quartet man with 5 guys, he wasn’t quite sure that he wanted the task of directing a choir but he grew to love the job and was wonderful at the task.
Though it seemed that Crews had lived a charmed and exciting life, like everyone else, there were peaks and valleys. Perhaps, the toughest time in Bob’s life was in 1994 when his only son, Bob Jr. drowned. As any parent would, Bob missed his son and their relationship throughout the remainder of his life. Through the years Bob had endured his share of health problems first suffering a heart attack, then a bout with cancer and, finally, a severe stroke, but through it all, he still had a passion for his most beloved gospel music. His life was an emotional journey, but he followed his heart with an old-fashioned faith in the redemptive power of music. Bob lost his battle with his health on March 19, 2007, and went home to be with the Lord, and to lend the sweet tones of that unforgettable voice to the Heavenly Choir.
Singing to Bob Crews was like country to a horse...You can take the horse out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the horse.
