Dobie Gray

Dobie Gray
Gray in the Netherlands, 1974
Background information
Birth name	Lawrence Darrow Brown
Also known as	Leonard Ainsworth Larry Curtis Larry Dennis Larry Brown
Born	(1940-07-26)July 26, 1940 Simonton, Texas,U.S.
Died	December 6, 2011(2011-12-06)(aged 71) Nashville,Tennessee,U.S.
Genres	Soul,R&B,pop,country
Occupation(s)	Singer,songwriter,record producer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1960–2011
Labels	Decca,White WhaleInfinity
Website	www.dobiegray.com

Dobie Gray(bornLawrence Darrow Brown;July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011) was an American singer and songwriter. Gray's music spanned multiple genres, includingsoul,country,pop,andmusical theater.His hit songs included "The 'In' Crowd"in 1965 and"Drift Away"."Drift Away "was one of the biggest hits of 1973, has sold over one million copies, and remains a staple of radioairplay.

Dobie Gray was a member of the cast of "Hair" at the Aquarius Theater in Hollywood, CA from 1968 to 1969.

Background

Gray was born inSimonton, Texas.His birth name was most likely Lawrence Darrow Brown,listed inFort Bend Countybirth records as being born in 1940 to Jane and Jethro C. Brown. Other sources suggest he may have been born Leonard Victor Ainsworth,a name he used on some early recordings.

His familysharecropped.He discoveredgospel musicthrough his grandfather, aBaptistminister.

Career

In the early 1960s Gray moved toLos Angeles,intending to pursue an acting career while also singing to make money. He recorded for several local labels under the namesLeonard Ainsworth,Larry Curtis,andLarry Dennis,beforeSonny Bonodirected him toward the small independent Stripe Records. They suggested that he record under the name "Dobie Gray", an allusion to the then-popularsitcomThe Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.

His first taste of success came in 1962 when his seventh single "Look At Me", on the Cor-Dak label and recorded withbassistCarol Kaye,reached No. 91 on theBillboardHot 100.

However, his first albumLook!failed to sell.Greater success came in early 1965 when his original recording of "The 'In' Crowd"(recorded later that year as an instrumental byRamsey Lewisand also covered in 1965 byPetula Clark) reached No. 13. Written by Billy Page and arranged by his brotherGeneand produced by Fred Darian,Gray's record reached No. 11 on the USR&B chartand No. 25 in theUK.The follow-up, "See You at the Go-Go", recorded with such top session musicians as Kaye,Hal Blaine,andLarry Knechtel,also reached the Hot 100, and he issued an album,Dobie Gray Sings for 'In' Crowders That Go 'Go Go,' which featured some self-penned songs.

Gray continued to record, albeit with little success, for small labels such as Charger andWhite Whale,as well as contributing to movie soundtracks.He also spent several years working as an actor, including two and a half years in the Los Angeles production ofHair.

In 1970, while working there, he joined the bandPollutionas singer and percussionist. They were managed by actorMax Baer Jr.(best known as "Jethro" inThe Beverly Hillbillies) and released two albums of soul-inspired psychedelic rock,Pollution IandPollution II.The band included singerTata Vegaand guitarist/singer James Quill Smith. He also worked atA&M Recordsondemorecordings with songwriterPaul Williams.

In 1972, he signed arecording contractwithDecca Records(shortly before it became part ofMCA) to make an album with producerMentor Williams—Paul's brother—inNashville.Among the songs they recorded at theQuadrafonic Sound Studios,co-owned by session musiciansNorbert PutnamandDavid Briggs,was Mentor Williams' "Drift Away",featuring a guitar riff byReggie Young.Released as a single, the song rose to No. 5 on the US pop chart and remains Dobie Gray's signature song.It placed at No. 17 in theBillboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1973,sold over 1 million copies, and was awarded agold discby theRIAAon July 5, 1973.The follow-up, a version ofTom Jans' much-covered song "Loving Arms",hit No. 61. Gray also released three albums with MCA,Drift Away,Loving Arms,andHey, Dixie,but later stated that MCA were unsure of how to market the albums -- "They didn't know where to place a black guy in country music."

In the mid-1970s, he moved permanently to Nashville and signed withCapricorn Records,writing songs in collaboration withTroy Seals.His last solo hit singles were "If Love Must Go", No. 78 in 1976, and "You Can Do It", No. 37 in 1978.He increasingly concentrated on songwriting, writing songs for a variety of artists includingRay Charles,George Jones,Johnny Mathis,Charley Pride,andDon Williams.He also toured in Europe, Australia and Africa in the 1970s. He performed in South Africa only after persuading theapartheidauthorities to allow him to play to integrated audiences, becoming the first artist to do so.His popularity in South Africa continued through numerous subsequent concert tours.

In 1981, Dobie Gray was included on a Word Records/Myrrh Contemporary Christian Music showcase called Premier Performance. Dobie was featured on two selections: "Everything To Me" and Walter Carter's "Last Train to Glory".

Dobie Gray re-emerged as a recording artist forCapitol Recordsin the mid-1980s, recording with producerHarold Shedd.He placed two singles on the UScountry chartin 1986–87, including "That's One to Grow On" which peaked at No. 35.His country albums includedFrom Where I Standin 1986, and he made several appearances atCharlie Daniels' popularVolunteer Jamconcerts.He also sang on a number of TV and radio jingles.Gray sang the song "Paradise Road", which appeared in the 1988 filmBlind Justice,starringChristopher Cazenove,Patrick Shai,Oliver ReedandEdita Brychta.

In 1997, he released the albumDiamond Cuts,including both new songs and re-recordings of older material.

In 2000,Wigan CasinoDJ Kev Roberts, compiledThe Northern Soul Top 500,which was based on a survey ofNorthern soulfans.Gray's "Out on the Floor",a 1966 recording which would become a British hit in 1975, peaking at No. 42.

"Drift Away" became a hit again in 2003, when he covered the song as a duet withUncle Krackeron the latter'sNo Stranger to Shamealbum. The re-recording peaked at No. 9 one week to the day after Gray's 63rd birthday and placed at No. 19 in theBillboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003as well as logging a record-setting 28 weeks atop theAdult Contemporarychart in 2003–04.

Death

Gray died on December 6, 2011, of complications from cancer surgery inNashville, Tennessee,aged 71.His remains were buried atWoodlawn Memorial Park And Mausoleumin Nashville. Upon his passing, he bequeathed 100% of his musical assets and royalties in trust to benefitSt. Jude Children's Research Hospitaland theTennessee School for the Blind.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Chart positions			Label
		US	US R&B	AUS
1963	Look	—	—	—	Stripe
1965	Dobie Gray Sings for "In" Crowders That Go "Go-Go"	—	—	—	Charger
1970	Pollution(as lead singer)	—	—	—	Prophecy/Atlantic
1971	Pollution II(as lead singer)	—	—	—
1973	Drift Away	64	—	63	Decca/MCA
	Loving Arms	188	—	—	MCA
1975	Hey Dixie	—	—	94
	New Ray of Sunshine	—	—	—	Capricorn
1977	Let Go	—	—	—
1978	The Best of Dobie Gray	—	—	—	Gallo
	Dobie Gray & Mary Wells	—	—	—	Gusto Inc.
	Mellow Man	—	—	—	Capricorn
	Midnight Diamond	174	72	89	Infinity
1979	Dobie Gray	—	—	—
1981	Welcome Home	—	—	—	Equity/Robox
	Premiere Performance	—	—	—	Myrrh
1986	From Where I Stand	—	—	—	Capitol/EMI
1987	Love's Talkin'	—	—	—
1996	Dobie Gray: His Very Best	—	—	—	Razor & Tie
1998	Diamond Cuts	—	—	—	Dobie Gray Prods.
2001	Soul Days	—	—	—	CDMemphis
	Dobie Gray: The Ultimate	—	—	—	Universal Hip-O
	Songs of the Season	—	—	—	Dobie Gray Prods.
2005	Dobie Gray: A Decade of Dobie (1969–1979)	—	—	—	UMG/Select-O-Hits
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Source:

Chart singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions									Certifications (sales threshold)
		US	US R&B	US AC	US Country	AUS	CAN	CAN AC	CAN Country	UK
1963	"Look at Me"	91	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1965	"The 'In' Crowd"	13	11	—	—	—	8	—	—	25
	"See You at the Go-Go"	69	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1969	"Rose Garden"	119	—	—	—	—	89	—	—	—
1973	"Drift Away"	5	42	12	—	44	7	—	—	—	US:Gold
	"Loving Arms"	61	81	7	—	—	67	2	—	—
	"Good Old Song"	103	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1974	"Watch Out for Lucy"	107	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975	"Roll On Sweet Mississippi"	—	—	—	—	84	—	—	—	—
	"Out on the Floor"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	42
1976	"If Love Must Go"	78	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Find 'Em, Fool 'Em & Forget 'Em"	94	71	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1979	"You Can Do It"	37	32	—	—	96	58	—	—	—
	"The In Crowd"	—	—	—	—	—	—	47	—	—
1986	"That's One to Grow On"	—	—	—	35	—	—	—	—	—
	"The Dark Side of Town"	—	—	—	42	—	—	—	48	—
	"From Where I Stand"	—	—	—	67	—	—	—	—	—
1987	"Take It Real Easy"	—	—	—	82	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country

Featured singles

Year	Single	Artist	Peak chart positions						Album
			US	US Country	US Adult	US AC	US Pop	NZ
1985	"One Big Family"	Heart of Nashville	—	61	—	—	—	—	single only
2003	"Drift Away"	Uncle Kracker	9	—	2	1	10	25	No Stranger to Shame

Music videos

Year	Video	Director
1985	"One Big Family"(Heart of Nashville)	Steve Von Hagel

See also

• List of soul musicians
• List of disco artists (A-E)
• List of Decca Records artists

External links

• Official website
• Dobie Graydiscography atDiscogs
• Dobie GrayatIMDb
• Dobie GrayatFind a Grave