Robert Cray

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Robert William Cray (born August 1, 1953)

By the age of 20, 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.^[4] In the late 1970s he lived in Eugene, Oregon, where he formed the Robert Cray Band and collaborated with Curtis Salgado in the Cray-Hawks. In the 1978 film National Lampoon's Animal House, Cray was the uncredited bassist in the house party band Otis Day and the Knights.^[4]

1980s

Cray released the album Who's Been Talkin' on Tomato Records in 1980. Two albums on HighTone Records in the mid-1980s, Bad Influence and False 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 album Showdown! with his hero Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland.

Cray was signed to

In August 1990, Cray played with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, and Stevie Ray Vaughan at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin, performing "Sweet Home Chicago". This was Stevie Ray Vaughan's final performance before he died in a helicopter accident later that night.

Cray was invited to play at the "Guitar Legends" concerts in Seville, Spain at the 1992 Expo, where he played a signature track, "Phone Booth".^[4] Albert Collins was also on the bill on this blues night of the "Legends" gigs.

2000–present

In 2005, Cray was inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk at Guitar Center.^[10]

Cray continues to record and tour. He appeared at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, and supported Eric Clapton on his 2006-2007 world tour.

In 2011, Cray was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame^[11] and received the Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance in 2017.

After controversy with Eric Clapton about lyrics of the song "Stand and Deliver" by Van Morrison, Cray canceled his participation in Clapton's upcoming 2022 Europe tour.^[12]

Robert Cray Band

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

External videos
Oral History, Robert Cray talks about growing up in Washington, and going to the local music store and dreaming about becoming a musician.” Interview date August 8, 2014, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library

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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Cray.

• Robert Cray at
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