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Photo: Alex G (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)
Contemporary Blues
Robert Cray
Born: 1953-08-01• United States• Active: 1974–present
Contemporary BluesSoul Blues
Still on the road in 2026 with the Robert Cray Band, fifty years after it started in Eugene, Oregon.
Instruments
Electric guitar, Vocals
Labels
Tomato Records, HighTone Records, Alligator Records, Mercury, Rykodisc, Provogue/Mascot, Nozzle/Thirty Tigers
from
Tacoma, Washington
Born
1953-08-01
Musical Influence
Robert Cray proved a blues guitarist could reach pop radio without turning into a rock star — Strong Persuader crossed over on the strength of restraint, not volume, and cleared a path that soul-inflected blues players from Keb' Mo' to Gary Clark Jr. would later walk through. Five Grammys and a Blues Hall of Fame induction later, the sound of "Smoking Gun" still defines what disciplined, radio-friendly blues can sound like (Kilde: Wikipedia, Grammy.com).
Influences
Albert CollinsFreddie KingMuddy WatersO.V. Wright
Family and personal life
Parents
His father served in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia at the time of Robert's birth; the family moved frequently before settling in the Tacoma, Washington area.
Formative experiences
- •1953: Born Robert William Cray in Columbus, Georgia, to a military family that moved frequently. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
- •Denbigh High School, Newport News, Virginia: Plays in his first band, The One-Way Street. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
- •Lakes High School, Lakewood, Washington: Family settles in the Tacoma area. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
- •Around age 20: Forms his own band after seeing Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters play live. (Kilde: Wikipedia)
- •1974: The Robert Cray Band forms in Eugene, Oregon. (Kilde: robertcray.com)
- •1986: Strong Persuader crosses over to pop radio via "Smoking Gun." (Kilde: Wikipedia)
Instruments & Equipment
Stories & Anecdotes
"Appeared, uncredited, as a bassist in the 1978 film National Lampoon's Animal House. (Kilde: Wikipedia)"
"Invited by Keith Richards to back Chuck Berry in the 1987 concert film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll. (Kilde: Wikipedia)"
"Played "Sweet Home Chicago" alongside Stevie Ray Vaughan at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in 1990 — Vaughan's final performance before his death that night. (Kilde: Wikipedia)"
"Canceled his participation in Eric Clapton's 2022 Europe tour following a dispute over the lyrics of Van Morrison's "Stand and Deliver." (Kilde: Wikipedia)"
Collaborators
Showdown! (1985) — a three-way collaboration that won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Recording.
Supported Clapton on a full world tour in 2006–2007.
"Sweet Home Chicago" at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, 1990 — Stevie Ray Vaughan's final show.
Appeared on Hooker's albums Boom Boom, The Healer and Mr. Lucky.
Watch & Listen
Featured
Smoking Gun
RobertCrayVEVO
Watch & Listen
Henter videoer fra YouTube…
Discography
| Year | Title | Producer | Studio | Label | Chart | Sales | Musicians | YouTube | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Who's Been Talkin' | — | — | Tomato Records | — | — | — | Debut album, recorded before the band had a settled lineup. | |
| 1983 | Bad Influence | — | — | HighTone Records | — | — | — | Second album; title track later covered by Eric Clapton. | |
| 1985 | False Accusations | — | — | HighTone Records | — | — | — | Continued building his reputation as a songwriter ahead of the crossover. | |
| 1985 | Showdown! | Bruce Iglauer, Dick Shurman | — | Alligator Records | — | — | — | Three-way collaboration with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. Won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Recording (1986). | |
| 1986 | Strong Persuader | Bruce Bromberg, Dennis Walker | — | Mercury | — | — | — | Breakthrough album; the single "Smoking Gun" crossed over to pop radio. | |
| 1988 | Don't Be Afraid of the Dark | — | — | Mercury | — | — | — | Follow-up to Strong Persuader, continuing the same horn-driven sound. | |
| 1990 | Midnight Stroll | — | — | Mercury | — | — | — | Leaned further into soul arrangements with the Memphis Horns. | |
| 1999 | Take Your Shoes Off | Steve Jordan | — | Rykodisc | — | — | — | Won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album (2000). | |
| 2012 | Nothin but Love | — | — | Provogue/Mascot | — | — | — | Return to a leaner, band-driven sound after several years away from new studio material. | |
| 2017 | Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm | — | — | Provogue/Mascot | — | — | — | Recorded in Memphis with Hi Rhythm Section, the band behind Al Green's classic recordings. | |
| 2020 | That's What I Heard | — | — | Nozzle/Thirty Tigers | — | — | — | His most recent studio album to date. |
Famous songs
01Smoking Gun
02Right Next Door (Because of Me)
03Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
04Nothin' but a Woman
05I Guess I Showed Her
Awards & Recognition
1986
Grammy Award, Best Traditional Blues Recording
Showdown!, with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland
1997
Grammy Award, Best Rock Instrumental Performance
"SRV Shuffle"
2000
Grammy Award, Best Contemporary Blues Album
Take Your Shoes Off
2011
Blues Hall of Fame
2017
Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance
External links
Booking / Contact
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