Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. (December 21, 1934 – January 29, 2009) was an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter. Crawford was musical director for Ray Charles before embarking on a solo career releasing many well-regarded albums on Atlantic, CTI and Milestone.
Crawford was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He began formal piano studies at the age of nine and was soon playing for his church choir. His father had brought an alto saxophone home from the service and when Hank entered Manassas High School, he took it up in order to join the band. He credits Charlie Parker, Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges as early influences.
Crawford appears on an early 1952 Memphis recording for B.B. King with a band including Ben Branch and Ike Turner.
In 1958 Crawford went to college at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at TSU, he majored in music studying theory and composition, as well as playing alto and baritone saxophone in the Tennessee State Jazz Collegians. He also led his own rock 'n' roll quartet, "Little Hank and the Rhythm Kings". His bandmates all thought he looked and sounded just like Hank O'Day, a legendary local saxophonist, which earned him the nickname "Hank". This is when Crawford met Ray Charles, who hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles' band—becoming its musical director until 1963.
Cold rain, cold heart
I felt it comin' from the start
One touch, one feel
I knew it just wasn't real
So clear, to see
You wanted something but it still wasn't me
So long, goodbye
My turn to leave, it's your turn to cry
Who you gonna reach for in the morning
Who you gonna reach for in the night
When I'm gone
You'll be left with all the loneliness around you
Who you gonna get to hold you tight
When I'm gone
One dream, one night
Feel it fading with a glimmer of light
So close, so far
A love that could have been ours
No room, for me
Well you can have all the freedom you need
`Cause love comes and love goes
Where I'm goin', you'll never know
Who you gonna reach for in the morning
Who you gonna reach for in the night...oh
When I'm gone
You'll be left with all the lonliness around you
Who you gonna get to hold you tight
When I'm gone
I remember the night that we met, oh
And the moment I looked in your eyes
When you touched me I started to sweat, yeah
My heart started to beat from the heat in the night
(Solo)
When I'm gone
Who you gonna reach for in the morning
Who you gonna reach for in the night, oh
When I'm gone
You'll be left with all the lonliness around you
Who you gonna get to hold you tight
When I'm gone
When I'm gone (when I'm gone)