Crystal Waters’ biggest song, “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” became an instant dance hit after it was released on April 3, 1991. “Gypsy Woman” was also known as the la da da dee la da da song. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and earned Waters three American Music Awards nominations.
“Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” was written by Waters and Nathaniel S. Hardy and was included on her debut album Surprise. Ms. Waters later said she wrote the song after observing a homeless woman in full makeup singing to herself in front of the Mayflower hotel in Washington, DC.
-
She wakes up early every morning
Just to do her hair now
Because she cares yeah
Her day oh wouldn’t be right
Without her make up
She’s never without her makeup
She’s just like you and me
But she’s homeless, she’s homeless
As she stands there, singing for money
La da dee la dee da, la da dee la dee da
Waters, who was born in Philadelphia, also had pop success with “100% Pure Love” (1994). She grew up in Washington, DC, where she majored in computer science at Howard University.
As a young girl, Waters was surrounded by music. Her father, Junior Waters, was a famed jazz musician; and her great aunt is jazz vocalist Ethel Waters.
Crystal took up poetry writing at age 11. She became the youngest person inducted into the Poetry Society of America at age 14.
