Robert William Cray(born August 1, 1953)[3]is an Americanbluesguitarist and singer.[4]He has led his own band and won fiveGrammy Awards.[5]
Robert Cray | |
|---|---|
 Robert Cray in concert, 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert William Cray |
| Also known as | Night Train Clemons |
| Born | August 1, 1953 Columbus,Georgia, U.S. |
| Origin | Newport News,Virginia, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues,blues rock,soul blues |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1974–present[1] |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | TheRobert Crayband |
| Spouse | Susan Turner-Cray[2] |
| Website | robertcray |
Early life
editRobert Cray was born on August 1, 1953, inColumbus, Georgia,while his father was stationed atFort Benning.Cray's musical beginnings go back to when he was a student atDenbigh High SchoolinNewport News, Virginia.While there, he played in his first band, The One-Way Street.[6]His family eventually settled in theTacoma, Washington,area.[3]There, he attendedLakes High SchoolinLakewood, Washington.
Career
editBy the age of 20, Cray had seen his heroesAlbert Collins,Freddie KingandMuddy Watersin concert and decided to form his own band; they began playing college towns on theWest Coast.[4]In the late 1970s he lived inEugene, Oregon,where he formed the Robert Cray Band and collaborated withCurtis Salgadoin the Cray-Hawks. In the 1978 filmNational Lampoon's Animal House,Cray was the uncredited bassist in the house party bandOtis Day and the Knights.[4]
1980s
editCray released the albumWho's Been Talkin'onTomato Recordsin 1980. Two albums onHighTone Recordsin the mid-1980s,Bad InfluenceandFalse Accusations,were moderately successful in the United States and in Europe, where he was building a reputation as a live artist.[4]In 1985, he released the albumShowdown!with his hero Albert Collins andJohnny Copeland.
Cray was signed toMercury Recordsand in 1986 released his fourth album,Strong Persuader,produced by Dennis Walker, which received aGrammy Award,while the crossover single "Smoking Gun"gave him wider appeal and name recognition.[4]Under the pseudonym "Night Train Clemons", he recorded withTed Hawkinsin 1986.[3]He was invited byKeith Richardsto join the backing band forChuck Berryin the 1987 film,Chuck Berry:Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll,directed byTaylor Hackford.[4]In 1987,Tina Turnerinvited Cray to be part of herBreak Every Ruletelevision special.[7][8]
By the late 1980s, Cray was an opening act for such major stars asEric Claptonand sold out larger venues as a solo artist.[4]Cray has generally played Fender guitars (TelecastersandStratocasters) 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 theRobert Cray Standard Stratocasteris a less-expensive model made in Fender'sEnsenada,Mexicoplant.
1990s
editCray had the opportunity to play alongsideJohn Lee Hookeron his albumBoom 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 his 1992 albumMr. Lucky,where Cray plays lead guitar, sings, and banters with Hooker throughout the song.[4]The band also appears on two songs offB.B. King's 1993 duet albumBlues Summit:the duet between King and Cray, which was written by Cray and Dennis Walker specifically for the project and called "Playin' With My Friends", and the duet between King and John Lee Hooker ( "You Shook Me").[9]
In August 1990, Cray played with Eric Clapton,Buddy Guy,Jimmie Vaughan,andStevie Ray Vaughanat theAlpine Valley Music TheatreinEast Troy, Wisconsin,performing "Sweet Home Chicago".This was Stevie Ray Vaughan's final performance beforehe died in a helicopter accident later that night.
Cray was invited to play at the "Guitar Legends" concerts inSeville,Spain at the 1992Expo,where he played a signature track, "Phone Booth".[4]Albert Collinswas also on the bill on this blues night of the "Legends" gigs.
2000–present
editIn 2005, Cray was inducted intoHollywood's RockWalkatGuitar Center.[10]
Cray continues to record and tour. He appeared at theCrossroads Guitar Festival,and supported Eric Clapton on his 2006-2007 world tour.
In 2011, Cray was inducted to theBlues Hall of Fame[11]and received theAmericana Music Lifetime Achievement Award for Performancein 2017.
After controversy with Eric Clapton about lyrics of the song "Stand and Deliver"byVan Morrison,Cray canceled his participation in Clapton's 2022 Europe tour.[12]
Robert Cray Band
edit
Current Members:
- Robert Cray – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals
- Richard Cousins – bass guitar
- George Sluppick– drums
- Dover Weinberg – keyboards
Past Members:
- Peter Boe – keyboards
- Al Chez– trumpet
- Terence F. Clark – drums
- Les Falconer – drums
- Kevin Hayes – drums (1989–2008)
- Wayne Jackson– trumpet
- Tim Kaihatsu – rhythm guitar
- Andrew Love– saxophone
- Ed Manion– saxophone
- Rocky Manzanares – harp
- Tom Murphy – drums
- David Olson – drums
- Mark Pender– trumpet
- Jimmy Pugh – keyboards
- Warren Rand – alto saxophone
- Curtis Salgado– harp
- Karl Sevareid – bass
- David Stewart – keyboards
- Mike Vannice – saxophone
Discography
edit
- Studio albums
- Who's Been Talkin'(1980)
- Bad Influence(1983)
- False Accusations(1985)
- Strong Persuader(1986)
- Don't Be Afraid of the Dark(1988)
- Midnight Stroll(1990)
- I Was Warned(1992)
- Shame + A Sin(1993)
- Some Rainy Morning(1995)
- Sweet Potato Pie(1997)
- Take Your Shoes Off(1999)
- Shoulda Been Home(2001)
- Time Will Tell(2003)
- Twenty(2005)
- This Time(2009)
- Nothin but Love(2012)
- In My Soul(2014)
- Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm(2017)
- That's What I Heard(2020)
References
edit- ^"Band".Robert Cray. 2014-04-01.Retrieved2015-09-06.
- ^David Greenwald (16 February 2015)."Robert Cray on marriage, Oregon roots and why he'll never retire".The Oregonian.Retrieved29 March2024.
- ^abcEagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013).Blues - A Regional Experience.Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 106.ISBN978-0313344237.
- ^abcdefghiStrong, Martin C. (2000).The Great Rock Discography(5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 222–3.ISBN1-84195-017-3.
- ^Cray (2011)."Robert Cray official website".Retrieved3 August2011.
- ^"Guitarist Robert Cray still has the blues".24 July 2014.Retrieved2017-02-07.
- ^"Robert Cray to open blues-filled Egg series | The Daily Gazette".dailygazette.September 2016.Retrieved2020-08-08.
- ^"Robert Cray Band, Paul Cebar".Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin.2019-12-09.Retrieved2020-08-08.
- ^King, B.B. (1993).Blues summit: classic blues, classic artists, classic duets.MCA.OCLC178683365.Retrieved2021-06-05.
- ^"RockWalk Honors BMI Blues Legends".BMI.April 7, 2005.Retrieved2020-11-17.
- ^"Blues Hall of Fame inductees 2011".Blues.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-22.Retrieved2012-03-02.
- ^Edgers, Geoff (November 11, 2021)."What Happened to Eric Clapton?".Washington Post.RetrievedNovember 22,2021.
External links
edit