Crystal grew up singing in her father’s church. In 1984, at the age of 15, Lewis auditioned for a children’s musical called Hi Tops, written and produced by Ernie and Debbie Rettino, creators of Psalty, the Singing Song Book. Lewis passed the audition and was able to go into the studio and participate in the Soundtrack recording with the rest of the cast members. While working with the musical, Lewis met a member of the rockabilly band, The Lifters. After becoming friends with the members of that band, Lewis was asked to join. Soon after, the band changed its name to Wild Blue Yonder. Lewis also met her husband, Brian Ray, through her association with the band.
Wild Blue Yonder was together for two years and recorded a single full length album Wild Blue Yonder, produced by Daniel Amos frontman Terry Scott Taylor, for Frontline Records in 1986. She would also sing on D.A.’s album Fearful Symmetry in 1986, and Taylor’s solo album A Briefing for the Ascent in 1987. After Wild Blue Yonder disbanded, Frontline offered Lewis a solo recording contract at the age of 17. Beyond The Charade, her first solo project, was released in 1987.
Crystal’s success continued in 1998 with two more #1 hit songs such as “Lord I Believe in You” and “Not the Same” off of her Gold release. Some versions of Gold also included the Kirk Franklin song “Lean on Me” which featured Crystal’s vocals alongside other artists’ such as Bono and Mary J. Blige. Later that year, Crystal won Dove Awards for “Female Vocalist of the Year” as well as “Spanish Language Album of the Year” for La Belleza De La Cruz.
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