Dobie Gray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dobie Gray
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Gray in the Netherlands, 1974
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lawrence Darrow Brown |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | July 26, 1940 Simonton, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 2011 (aged 71) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, R&B, Pop, Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1960–2011 |
| Labels | Decca, White Whale Infinity |
| Associated acts |
|
Dobie Gray (born Lawrence Darrow Brown; July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011) was an American singer and songwriter. His music covered many styles, including soul, country, and pop. He was famous for his hit songs "The 'In' Crowd" in 1965 and "Drift Away" in 1973. "Drift Away" sold over a million copies and is still played on the radio a lot today.
Contents
About Dobie Gray
Dobie Gray was born in Simonton, Texas. His birth name was most likely Lawrence Darrow Brown. Records show he was born in 1940 to Jane and Jethro C. Brown. Some people think his birth name might have been Leonard Victor Ainsworth. He used this name on some of his early recordings.
His family worked as sharecroppers, which means they farmed land owned by someone else and shared the crops. Dobie learned about gospel music from his grandfather, who was a Baptist minister.
His Music Career
In the early 1960s, Dobie Gray moved to Los Angeles. He wanted to be an actor but also sang to earn money. He recorded songs for different small record companies. He used names like Leonard Ainsworth, Larry Curtis, and Larry Dennis. Later, music producer Sonny Bono helped him get a deal with Stripe Records. They suggested he use the name "Dobie Gray." This name was a nod to a popular TV show at the time called The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.
First Hits
Dobie Gray had his first success in 1962 with his song "Look At Me." It reached No. 91 on the Billboard music chart. His first album, Look!, did not sell very well.
He found greater success in 1965 with his song "The 'In' Crowd." This song became very popular, reaching No. 13 on the main US pop chart. It also hit No. 11 on the US R&B chart and No. 25 in the UK. After that, his song "See You at the Go-Go" also made it onto the Hot 100 chart. He released an album called Dobie Gray Sings for 'In' Crowders That Go 'Go Go'.
Acting and New Bands
Dobie Gray kept recording music, but his songs didn't always become big hits. He also worked as an actor for several years. He spent two and a half years performing in the Los Angeles production of the musical Hair.
In 1970, while working on Hair, he joined a band called Pollution. He was the singer and played percussion. The band released two albums that mixed soul music with psychedelic rock.
Drift Away and Nashville
In 1972, Dobie Gray signed a deal with Decca Records. He went to Nashville to record an album with producer Mentor Williams. One of the songs they recorded was "Drift Away." This song became a huge hit, reaching No. 5 on the US pop chart. It is still Dobie Gray's most famous song. "Drift Away" sold over 1 million copies and earned a gold record award.
He released three albums with MCA Records: Drift Away, Loving Arms, and Hey, Dixie. However, Dobie Gray later said that the record company didn't know how to promote a Black artist who sang country music.
In the mid-1970s, he moved to Nashville for good. He started writing songs for many other artists. Some of these artists included Ray Charles, George Jones, and Don Williams.
Touring and Later Career
Dobie Gray also toured around the world in the 1970s. He performed in Europe, Australia, and Africa. He was especially popular in South Africa. He made sure that when he performed there, people of all races could attend his concerts together. This was during a time when apartheid (a system of racial separation) was in place. He was one of the first artists to play for mixed audiences there.
In the mid-1980s, Dobie Gray started recording country music again. He had two songs on the US country chart in 1986–87. One of them, "That's One to Grow On," reached No. 35. He also sang on many TV and radio commercials.
In 2003, "Drift Away" became a hit again! Dobie Gray sang the song as a duet with Uncle Kracker. This new version reached No. 9 on the pop chart. It also stayed at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for a record-breaking 28 weeks.
His Passing
Dobie Gray passed away on December 6, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 71 years old. He had complications from cancer surgery. He was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park And Mausoleum in Nashville. Dobie Gray left all his music earnings to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Tennessee School for the Blind.
See also
- List of soul musicians
- List of disco artists (A-E)
- List of Decca Records artists
