The McCrary Sisters

Dynamic, powerful and thrilling are just a few words to describe the McCrary Sisters’ live performances. Steeped in tight soulful harmonies, the Sisters will have the audience dancing in the aisles, celebrating life with words of hope and love.

The McCrary Sisters (Ann, Deborah, Regina and Alfreda) are the daughters of the late Rev. Samuel McCrary—one of the original members of the legendary gospel quartet The Fairfield Four. The daughters were raised in harmony, singing at home and at their father’s church, but word soon spread of their individual accomplished voices and each began sharing the family vocal legacy as solo artists with a wide range of performers to include Bob Dylan, Elvis, Isaac Hayes and Stevie Wonder. 

In 2011, the Sisters officially formed their own group, the McCrary Sisters, and have since recorded or performed with The Black Keys, Martina McBride, Eric Church, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Jonny Lang, Robert Randolph, The Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Nashville’s Jonathan Jackson, Mike Farris and many more. They have been featured on Bobby Jones Gospel and TBN’s Jason Crabb Show.

Ann is the oldest sister in a family of eight children and is the backbone of the group. She traveled and sang with The Fairfield Four from the age of 3 until she was 6. Soon after, she worked with various gospel groups on the weekends until she began singing and traveling with the BC&M Mass Choir (Baptist, Catholic, and Methodist) as one of their soloists. As a strong lead vocalist, Ann has performed with the who’s who of contemporary gospel music, including The Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, and many more. Ann was also a member of Bobby Jones’s Nashville Super Choir for 12 years. 

Regina is a true show woman and her tambourine playing skills are legendary. She began her singing career traveling with the BC&M Mass Choir as one of the soloists at the age of 7, and was known throughout the choir’s travels for singing/recording “I Made A Vow” (the recording was nominated for a Grammy). With an award-winning voice, Regina toured and performed for six years with the legendary songwriter Bob Dylan. She recorded three albums with Dylan: Slow Train Coming, Saved, and Shot of Love, also performed with Elvis and Stevie Wonder, and has sung with Bobby Jones and The New Life Singers, and The Nashville Super Choir.

Alfreda rarely sang with her sisters until the group formed, but was still filling rooms with her soulful soprano. She dedicated much of her time singing and preaching in the music ministry industry with her husband Narcisco Lee, at the Old Happy Day Church. Alfreda’s notes can stop an audience and render them speechless. Alfreda has joined her sisters’ singing sessions for Martina McBride, The Black Keys, Dr. John and many others. As the youngest sister of the group, she brings a joyful energy to every performance. 

Deborah, who passed on June 1, 2022, was the deep, low voice of the group. She sang her whole life, and in her early teens she sang in the multi-Grammy-nominated BC&M Mass Choir, has performed “Everything Is Beautiful” with Ray Stevens, sang with Elvis at Madison Square Garden, and performed with Isaac Hayes on Dinah Shore’s TV show. Deborah spent much of her adult life working as a nurse, and dearly loved singing with her sisters, who are carrying on the family legacy in her honor. 

While working with Bob Dylan, Regina McCrary met Dr. John. In 2012, the Sisters performed with Dr. John and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys to promote Dr. John’s Grammy Award-winning album Locked Down, which featured them as background vocalists. 

Recent performance highlights include the being the house backup singers for the Americana Music Awards for more than a decade, backing Don Henley, Loretta Lynn, Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Rosanne Cash and working with celebrity band members Don Was, Buddy Miller and many more. The McCrary Sisters were also featured in live musical tributes to Jerry Garcia, Gregg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dr. John and Mavis Staples. They have performed at the White House, toured the U.K, Scotland and Ireland, and have been part of the Sandy Beaches Cruise with Delbert McClinton and Friends for many years. They were the house singers for Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday concert, filmed at the Hollywood Bowl, with guests including Tom Jones, Keith Richards, and more.

The McCrary Sisters’ albums include Our Journey, All The Way, McCrary Sisters Live, A Very McCrary Christmas,and Let’s Go, which was produced by Buddy Miller and features a song with The Fairfield Four. Their newest album, Love Is the Only Key, was released in July 2025 on McC records. The McCrary Sisters and The Fairfield Four also shared the stage during the taping of the All-Star PBS Pledge Special, Rock My Soul: A Celebration of the Gospel Quartet. This national PBS special featured guest artists Lee Ann Womack, Buddy Miller, Amos Lee, Lucinda Williams and Van Hunt.

A documentary film about the McCrary Sisters is in progress. In September 2025, the McCrary Sisters were presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association, bringing well deserved recognition to this special group, who have been inspiring listeners for decades with their uplifting music and powerful message of spirituality and love.