O guitarrista e cantor de blues Robert Cray nasceu no dia 1º de agosto de 1953 em Columbus (Georgia). Pelo fato de ser filho de um militar, acompanhou a sua família nos seus diferentes destinos, inclusive Alemanha Ocidental (onde recebeu as primeiras aulas de piano). Embora seu pai fosse um grande colecionador de discos, encorajava-o que fosse uma espécie de novo Ray Charles, entretanto corriam os tempos do auge da guitarra: seus amigos da vizinhança tinham guitarra e seu som inundava as emissoras de rádio. Por isso escolheu o caminho da guitarra e começou a se apaixonar pelos bluesmen de Chigago como Magic Man e Buddy Guy. Começou tocanda na banda "One Way Street" pegou a estrada em direção ao sucesso e continua indo em frente.
O resto, meu amigo, é história.
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Robert Cray, born August 1, 1953, Columbus, Georgia,United States is an American blues musician, guitarrist, and singer. According to the book Guinness Rockopedia, "the 1980s 'blues revival' revolved around Cray. His blend of soul vocals and blues guitar work won approval from the 'old guard' - Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Diana Ross - and a younger audience, who pushed him into the platinum bracket." Cray is a multiple Grammy Award winner.
Cray started playingguitar 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 he began to study architectural design, he formed a localband "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. Cray and his long-time bassist Richard Cousins had met in 1974. They soon joined up with Collins as his backing unit, before branching out on their own. In the 1978 film, National Lampoon's Animal House, Cray was the uncredited bassist in the house party band, Otis Day and the Knights. With keyboardist Peter Boe and drummer David Olson, they launched the Robert Cray Band in 1980 with Who's Been Talkin'. It wasrecorded during constant in the U.S. in 1978.
After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury in 1982. It was the connection with the producing and songwriting team of Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker at Hightone that helped to create the mold-breaking music of Bad Influence (1983) and False Accusations (1985). In 1984, The Robert Cray Band completed their first European tour to critical acclaim. Cray's participation with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland on Showdown! (1985, Alligator) and his own 1986 album release, Strong Persuader, again produced by Walker, both received Grammy Awards, while the crossover single "Smoking Gun" gave him wider appeal and name recognition. During 1986 Cray played 170 concerts, including his seventh European tour since 1984, building on his increasing reputation in the UK.
Cray then appeared in the Chuck Berry bio-pic, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, in 1986. One month later Cray won six W.C. Handy Awards at America's seventh National Blues ceremony. April 1987 saw Strong Persuader reach #13 in the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, becoming the first blues album to reach the U.S. Top 20 since 1972. The album went on to sell over one million copies. 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 appeared alongside John Lee Hooker on his album Boom Boom, playing the guitar solo in the song "Same Old Blues Again". He was also featured on the 1989 Hooker album, The Healer; he played a guitar solo on the song "Baby Lee".
Sales ticked over for Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1988), Midnight Stroll (1990), I Was Warned (1992) and Shame + A Sin (1993), dwindling only with 1995's Some Rainy Morning. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark was recorded in Los Angeles, California, and featured David Sanborn on guest saxophone. The title song from the album won Cray his third Grammy, and he guested on Clapton's Journeyman, whilst also being on the bill at Clapton's eighteen show marathon at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 1991 Cray was selected to present Howlin' Wolf's induction trophy to Wolf's widow, Lilly Burnett, at the sixth annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Awards. Later that year Cray took part in the Newport Jazz Festival with B. B. King and John Lee Hooker.
Cray started playingguitar 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 he began to study architectural design, he formed a localband "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. Cray and his long-time bassist Richard Cousins had met in 1974. They soon joined up with Collins as his backing unit, before branching out on their own. In the 1978 film, National Lampoon's Animal House, Cray was the uncredited bassist in the house party band, Otis Day and the Knights. With keyboardist Peter Boe and drummer David Olson, they launched the Robert Cray Band in 1980 with Who's Been Talkin'. It wasrecorded during constant in the U.S. in 1978.
After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury in 1982. It was the connection with the producing and songwriting team of Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker at Hightone that helped to create the mold-breaking music of Bad Influence (1983) and False Accusations (1985). In 1984, The Robert Cray Band completed their first European tour to critical acclaim. Cray's participation with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland on Showdown! (1985, Alligator) and his own 1986 album release, Strong Persuader, again produced by Walker, both received Grammy Awards, while the crossover single "Smoking Gun" gave him wider appeal and name recognition. During 1986 Cray played 170 concerts, including his seventh European tour since 1984, building on his increasing reputation in the UK.
Cray then appeared in the Chuck Berry bio-pic, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, in 1986. One month later Cray won six W.C. Handy Awards at America's seventh National Blues ceremony. April 1987 saw Strong Persuader reach #13 in the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, becoming the first blues album to reach the U.S. Top 20 since 1972. The album went on to sell over one million copies. 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 appeared alongside John Lee Hooker on his album Boom Boom, playing the guitar solo in the song "Same Old Blues Again". He was also featured on the 1989 Hooker album, The Healer; he played a guitar solo on the song "Baby Lee".
Sales ticked over for Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1988), Midnight Stroll (1990), I Was Warned (1992) and Shame + A Sin (1993), dwindling only with 1995's Some Rainy Morning. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark was recorded in Los Angeles, California, and featured David Sanborn on guest saxophone. The title song from the album won Cray his third Grammy, and he guested on Clapton's Journeyman, whilst also being on the bill at Clapton's eighteen show marathon at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 1991 Cray was selected to present Howlin' Wolf's induction trophy to Wolf's widow, Lilly Burnett, at the sixth annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Awards. Later that year Cray took part in the Newport Jazz Festival with B. B. King and John Lee Hooker.
Cray was invited to play at the 'Guitar Legends' concerts inSeville,Spain at the 1992 Ecpo, where he played a signature track, "Phone Booth". Albert Collins was also on the bill on the evening of these 'Legends' gigs. Cray later joined Boz Scaggs, Johnny Rivers and The Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Memphis Horns in Memphis, Tennessee. A Grammy was also awarded in 1997 to Cray for the Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "SRV Shuffle".
Cray continues to record and tour. He appeared at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, and supported 'Slowhand' on his 2006-2007 world tour. In Fargo, North Dakota, he joined Clapton for the Robert Johnson song that ream once recorded, "Crossroads". At Expo 2008 Cray appeared along with Bob Dylan in Zaragoza,Spain.
Cray continues to record and tour. He appeared at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, and supported 'Slowhand' on his 2006-2007 world tour. In Fargo, North Dakota, he joined Clapton for the Robert Johnson song that ream once recorded, "Crossroads". At Expo 2008 Cray appeared along with Bob Dylan in Zaragoza,Spain.
Souce - Wikipédia
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