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Robert Cray | |
|---|---|
 Robert Cray in concert, 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Night Train Clemons |
| Born | Robert William Cray (1953-08-01)August 1, 1953 (age 72) Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
| Origin | Newport News, Virginia, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues,blues rock,soul blues |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1974–present[1] |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | TheRobert Cray band |
Spouse | Susan Turner-Cray[2] |
| Website | robertcray |
Robert William Cray (born August 1, 1953)[3] is an Americanblues guitarist and singer.[4] He has led his own band and won fiveGrammy Awards.[5]
Robert 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 School inNewport News, Virginia. While there, he played in his first band, The One-Way Street.[6] His family eventually settled in theTacoma, Washington, area.[3][7][8] There, he attendedLakes High School inLakewood, Washington.
By the age of 20, Cray had seen his heroesAlbert Collins,Freddie King andMuddy Waters in 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 Salgado in 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]
Cray released the albumWho's Been Talkin' onTomato Records in 1980. Two albums onHighTone Records in the mid-1980s,Bad Influence andFalse 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 Records and 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 Hawkins in 1986.[3] He was invited byKeith Richards to join the backing band forChuck Berry in the 1987 film,Chuck Berry:Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll, directed byTaylor Hackford.[4] In 1987,Tina Turner invited Cray to be part of herBreak Every Rule television special.[9][10]
By the late 1980s, Cray was an opening act for such major stars asEric Clapton and sold out larger venues as a solo artist.[4] Cray has generally played Fender guitars (Telecasters andStratocasters) 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 Stratocaster is a less-expensive model made in Fender'sEnsenada,Mexico plant.
Cray had the opportunity to play alongsideJohn Lee Hooker on 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 onB.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").[11]
In August 1990, Cray played with Eric Clapton,Buddy Guy,Jimmie Vaughan, andStevie Ray Vaughan at theAlpine Valley Music Theatre inEast 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 Collins was also on the bill on this blues night of the "Legends" gigs.
In 2005, Cray was inducted intoHollywood's RockWalk atGuitar Center.[12]
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[13] and received theAmericana Music Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance in 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.[14]
Current Members:
Past Members:
