Robert Cray Songs List
Tin-eared critics have frequently damned him as a yuppie blues wannabe whose slickly soulful offerings bear scant resemblance to the real down-home item. In reality, is one of a precious few young blues-based artists with the talent and vision to successfully usher the idiom into the 21st century without resorting either to slavish imitation or simply playing rock while passing it off as blues. Just as importantly, his immensely popular records helped immeasurably in jump-starting the contemporary blues boom that still holds sway to this day. Blessed with a soulful voice that sometimes recalls '60s great and a concise lead guitar approach that never wastes notes, 's rise to international fame was indeed a heartwarming one. For a guy whose 1980 debut album for Tomato, proved an instant cutout, his ascendancy was amazingly swift - in 1986 his breakthrough album for Mercury (containing 'Smoking Gun') won him a Grammy and shot his asking price for a night's work skyward.
Was born on August 1, 1953 in Columbus, Georgia. An Army brat who grew up all over the country before his folks settled in Tacoma, Washington in 1968, listened intently to soul and rock before becoming immersed in the blues (in particular, the icy Telecaster of, who played at 's high school graduation). Formed his first band with longtime bassist in 1974. They soon hooked up with as his backup unit before breaking out on their own. The cinematic set caught a brief glimpse of (even if they weren't aware of it) when he anonymously played the bassist of the frat party band in National Lampoon's Animal House.
's Tomato set, also featuring the harp of, was an excellent beginning, but it was the guitarist's 1983 set for HighTone, that really showed just how full of talent was. Another HighTone set, preceded the emergence of the Grammy-winning 1985 guitar summit meeting album for Alligator, which found the relative newcomer more than holding his own alongside and Texan. Earned two Grammys in two years and made a familiar face even on video-driven MTV. Unlike many of his peers, continued to experiment within his two presiding genres, blues and soul, on sets for Mercury such as in 1990, in 1992, and in 1993. After switching to Rykodisc in the late '90s, released in 1999 and in 2001, proving that the 'bluenatics' (as he amusedly labels his purist detractors) have nothing to fear and plenty to anticipate from this innovative, laudably accessible guitarist.
Touring regularly with the likes of and, stayed active in the studio as well, signing with Sanctuary Records and releasing in 2003, in 2005, a pair of live albums, in 2006 and in 2008, and, which was issued by Vanguard Records a year later. Released his third live album in four years, in 2010. The material featured on the album was taken from a single performance at the Saenger Theatre in Mobile, Alabama in February of that year. The -produced, a solid outing featuring narrative songs that circled around the trials and tribulations of love, appeared in 2012. Nearly two years later, he announced the details of, his 17th album with.
Released in the spring of 2014, saw reuniting with producer, who had previously helmed, and settling into a deep, soulful groove. Topped Billboard's blues chart, and on its supporting tour gave a celebratory 40th anniversary concert that was recorded and released in 2015 as. In 2016, he worked once again with producer on an album recorded with in the label's old studio in Memphis. Aptly titled Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, the album appeared in April 2017.