Robert Cray
NewMusicforOldFolks says …
Every time I hear a Robert Cray song I think about how he was the bass player for Otis Day & The Knights in Animal House. It's like former Major League manager Don Zimmer. Every time I saw a picture of him or he was mentioned my first thought was "metal plate in his head." (Zimmer took a fastball to the noggin in the '50s). It's probably not fair to either of them, but those pieces of trivia seem to stick with me. But there's a lot more to Cray than Animal House. Strong Persuader was probably the first straight Blues album I ever owned, and it's still in heavy rotation. Robert Cray has been around a long time and is a master of the craft. He's not as flashy as some other guitar greats, but his solos never sound forced or out of place in the song. Guitar players don't get any smoother than Robert Cray, and he's a great singer too.
Artist's Info
Website: robertcray.com
See him live: Tour dates
Record company: Mascot Label Group
Genre: Blues
If you like this, look into: Keb' Mo', Robben Ford, Jimmie Vaughan
Bio (from the artist's website)
Open ears and an open mind are the essence of singer, guitarist and songwriter Robert Cray’s approach to writing, recording and playing music. He has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. In just over 40 years Cray and his band have recorded 20 studio releases, 15 of which have been on the Billboard charts, and played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world. There are five Grammys with Cray’s name on them, and he has a suitcase full of W.C. Handy blues awards. Four years ago Cray was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. On Aug. 28 the Mascot Label Group celebrated the vibrancy of the Cray Band’s rocking rootsy blues, soul-filled ballads and timeless R&B with the release of 4 Nights of 40 Years Live. Through clips of concerts from the 80s and four recent shows, the evolution from the Cray Band unfolds. Comments by Cray and band members add depth. And interviews with Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmie Vaughan and Buddy Guy put the band in perspective. The Three-piece set is available in a variety of formats – 2 LPs + Mp3, 2 CDs + DVD, Blu-Ray + 2 CDs and digitally. (more)
Spotify sampler
Recordings
Most Recent
IN MY SOUL (2014): Sometimes even the most consistent artists need to shake things up a bit. In Robert Cray's case, that means shuffling his lineup — he retained longtime bassist Richard Cousins but brought in drummer Les Falconer and keyboardist Dover Weinberg — and bringing in producer Steve Jordan, who last worked with Cray on 1999's Take Your Shoes Off. There's a reason this record is called In My Soul: Jordan assists Cray in moving toward Memphis soul, dedicating the entire record to slow, sultry burners that emphasize his mellow vocals and dexterous grooves. This may primarily be a mood record but the individual songs are also quite strong, whether it's the originals ("Fine Yesterday" is so gorgeous it makes heartbreak seem welcome) or sharply chosen covers. Among the latter is a cleanly funky reading of Otis Redding's "Nobody's Fault But Mine," which features Falconer on co-lead vocals, an unusual change of pace for Cray that also signals how the veteran guitarist has been revitalized by his change in companions. He's willing to lay back into his soul but will also cede the spotlight, knowing that the groove is the main thing. — AllMusic.com
4 NIGHT OF 40 YEARS LIVE (2015): Contemporary blues icon Robert Cray celebrates his 40 years of performing with an incredible live release, 4 Nights of 40 Years Live. This album was recorded at Venture, Belly Up, Saban Theatre and his rehearsal studio in Dec 2014. Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain 90 minutes of concert footage from multiple camera angles creating an incredible perspective. It also contains personal in-depth interviews with Robert Cray, his band members and testimonials from legends as Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, Jimmie Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt.
Others
Who's Been Talkin'? (1980)
Bad Influence (1983)
False Accusations (1985)
Showdown! (recorded with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland) (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)
Live from Across the Pond (2007)
Live at the BBC (2008)
This Time (2009)
Cookin' in Mobile (2010)
Nothin But Love (2012)
