Robert Cray
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| Robert Cray | |
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 Robert Cray in concert, 2007 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1 August 1953 Columbus, Georgia United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Years active | 1977-present |
| Labels | Mercury, Vanguard/Nozzle Records |
| Website | Official Site |
| Notable instruments | |
| Robert Cray Signature Model Stratocaster | |
Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia, United States) is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.[1]
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[edit] Career
Cray started playing guitar in his early teens. At Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia, his love of blues and soul music flourished as he started collecting records. Originally, he wanted to become an architect, but around the same time that he began to study architectural design, he formed a local band "Steakface", described as "the best band from Lakewood you never heard of". Cray's guitar and vocals contributed greatly to Steakface's set list of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Fleetwood Mac, The Grease Band, Blodwyn Pig, Jethro Tull, Spirit and The Faces.
By the age of twenty, Cray had seen his heroes Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters in concert and decided to form his own band; they began playing college towns on the West Coast. Eugene, Oregon was home in the late seventies where he formed the Robert Cray Band and collaborated Curtis Salgado in the Cray-Hawks. with In the 1978 film, National Lampoon's Animal House, Cray was the uncredited bassist in the house party band Otis Day and the Knights. After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury Records in 1982. His third album release, Strong Persuader, produced by Dennis Walker, received a Grammy Award, while the crossover single "Smokin' Gun" gave him wider appeal and name recognition.
By now, Cray was an opening act for such major stars as Eric Clapton (who remains a friend to this day), and sold out larger venues as a solo artist. Cray has generally played Fender guitars (Telecasters and Stratocasters) and there are two signature Robert Cray Stratocasters models available from Fender. The Robert Cray Custom Shop Stratocaster is made in the U.S. in the Fender custom shop and is identical to the guitars that Cray currently plays, while the Robert Cray Standard Stratocaster is a less-expensive model made in Fender's Ensenada, Mexico plant.
Cray had the opportunity to play alongside John Lee Hooker on his album Boom Boom, playing the guitar solo in the song "Same Old Blues Again". He is also featured on the Hooker album, The Healer; he plays a guitar solo on the song "Baby Lee". The entire Robert Cray Band backs Hooker on the title track of Hooker's 1992 album "Mr. Lucky", where Cray plays lead guitar, sings, and banters with Hooker throughout the song.
Cray was invited to play at the "Guitar Legends" concerts in Seville, Spain at the 1992 Expo, where he played a signature track, "Phone Booth". Albert Collins was also on the bill on this blues night of the "Legends" gigs.
Cray continues to record and tour. He appeared at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, and supported Eric Clapton on his 2006-2007 world tour. In Fargo, North Dakota, he joined Clapton on backup guitar for the Cream song "Crossroads". In 2011, Cray was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.[2]
[edit] Robert Cray Band
Robert Cray's current band:
- Robert Cray - Guitar/singer
- Tony Braunagel - Drums
- Jim Pugh - Keyboards
- Richard Cousins - Bass guitar
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | US Blues[3] | US[3] | UK[4] |
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| 1980 | Who's Been Talkin'? |
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| 1983 | Bad Influence |
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| 1985 | False Accusations |
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| 1985 | Showdown! (recorded with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland) |
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| 1986 | Strong Persuader |
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| 1988 | Don't Be Afraid of the Dark |
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| 1990 | Midnight Stroll |
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| 1992 | I Was Warned |
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| 1993 | Shame + A Sin |
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| 1995 | Some Rainy Morning |
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| 1997 | Sweet Potato Pie |
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| 1999 | Take Your Shoes Off |
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| 2001 | Shoulda Been Home |
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| 2003 | Time Will Tell |
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| 2005 | Twenty |
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| 2007 | Live From Across The Pond |
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| 2008 | Live At The BBC |
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| 2009 | This Time |
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| 2010 | Cookin' In Mobile |
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[edit] Compilation albums and re-issues
- In Concert - live album - 1999
- Who's Been Talkin' (re-released as Too Many Cooks in 1990, and re-issued as Who's Been Talkin' in 2001)
- Heavy Picks - The Robert Cray Band Collection - 1999 - U.S. Top Blues Albums #9
- The Best Of Robert Cray edition of 20th Century Masters / The Millennium Collection - 2002 - U.S. Top Blues Albums #11
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart[5] | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart[5] | UK Singles Chart[4] |
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| 1986 | "Smoking Gun" |
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| 1987 | "I Guessed I Showed Her" |
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| 1987 | "Right Next Door (Because of Me)" |
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| 1987 | "Nothin' But A Woman" |
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| 1988 | "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" |
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| 1988 | "Night Patrol" |
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| 1989 | "Acting This Way" |
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| 1990 | "Consequences" |
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| 1990 | "The Forecast (Calls for Pain)" |
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| 1992 | "Just a Loser" |
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| 1993 | "1040 Blues" |
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| 1996 | "Baby Lee" (John Lee Hooker with Robert Cray) |
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[edit] See also
- List of blues musicians
- List of electric blues musicians
- List of contemporary blues musicians
- List of soul-blues musicians
- List of guitarists
- List of celebrities who have appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine
- Chicago Blues Festival
- Long Beach Blues Festival
[edit] References
- ^ Cray (2011). "Robert Cray official website". http://www.robertcray.com/band. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ Blues Hall of Fame inductees 2011
- ^ a b c "Allmusic ((( Robert Cray > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p320/charts-awards/billboard-albums.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 125. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b "Allmusic ((( Robert Cray > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p320/charts-awards/billboard-singles.
[edit] External links
- 1953 births
- Living people
- Contemporary blues musicians
- Electric blues musicians
- Soul-blues musicians
- American blues singers
- American male singers
- American blues guitarists
- Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
- African American musicians
- Grammy Award winners
- People from Columbus, Georgia
- Blues Hall of Fame inductees
