Henry Gray (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Gray
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Gray playing at the Festival International, Lafayette, Louisiana, spring 2010
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 19, 1925 Kenner, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 2020 (aged 95) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
| Instruments | Blues piano, singer |
| Years active | 1930s–2019 |
| Associated acts | Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf |
Henry Gray (born January 19, 1925 – died February 17, 2020) was an American blues piano player and singer. He was born in Kenner, Louisiana. Henry Gray played music for more than 70 years. He performed with many famous artists, including Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. He made over 58 albums during his career. He is known for helping to create the special sound of Chicago blues piano.
In 2017, Henry Gray was honored by being added to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Contents
Henry Gray's Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Henry Gray was an only child. Soon after he was born, his family moved to a farm in Alsen, Louisiana. This was a few miles north of Baton Rouge. He lived there during his childhood.
Henry started learning piano when he was eight years old. He took lessons from a neighbor, Mrs. White. He also loved listening to music on the radio and records at home. A few years later, he began playing piano and organ at his local Baptist church. His family eventually bought a piano for their house.
Playing the blues was not something his family encouraged. But Henry played blues at Mrs. White's house. By the time he was 16, he was playing blues at a club in Alsen. His father was not keen on the job at first. However, he became supportive when he saw how much money his son was earning.
In 1943, during World War II, Henry joined the United States Army. He was sent to the South Pacific. While in the Army, he often entertained other soldiers by playing the piano and singing. Henry received a medical discharge from the army shortly before the war ended. He returned to the United States in 1946. After a short time in Alsen, he moved to Chicago. He had relatives there, including a new baby sister, Annette, born in 1951.
Henry Gray's Music Career
Playing Blues in Chicago: 1946–1968
When Henry Gray arrived in Chicago, he spent a lot of time in the city's music clubs. He would listen to the best piano players and try to learn from them. Sometimes, he got hired for smaller performances. One day, while playing at a club, he caught the attention of Big Maceo Merriweather. Merriweather was an important jazz and blues piano player.
Merriweather became Henry's friend. He greatly influenced Henry's "two-fisted playing" style. This means he played with both hands at the same time, creating a powerful sound. Merriweather also introduced Henry to several bands and club owners. Because of this, Henry got steady jobs with groups like Little Hudson's Red Devil Trio. He also played with guitarist Morris Pejoe.
Later, Henry became a "session musician." This means he played piano on recordings for other artists. He recorded with Jimmy Reed, Bo Diddley, Billy Boy Arnold, and others. His first recording was in 1952 with Jimmy Rogers. Henry also worked with Little Walter sometimes.
In 1956, Henry Gray joined Howlin' Wolf's band. He was Wolf's main piano player for twelve years. He played with Wolf in live shows and on recordings. During this time, Henry also recorded for Chess Records. He played with many famous blues musicians. These included Sonny Boy Williamson II, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy. He also made recordings on other labels in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1963, Henry performed with Elmore James on the night James passed away.
Returning to Louisiana: 1968–2019
Henry Gray left Howlin' Wolf's band in 1968. He returned to Alsen, Louisiana, because his father had passed away. He wanted to help his mother with their family business, a fish market. Henry became a very important part of Louisiana's music scene. His big, lively piano sound became part of the region's "swamp blues" style.
Besides playing music, Henry worked for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. He worked as a roofer from 1968 to 1983. In the mid-1980s, he recorded several songs for the Sunland label. Some of these were with harmonica player Whispering Smith. These are some of the last great traditional blues records made on 45-rpm discs.
From the mid-1980s until 2019, Henry Gray performed at many music festivals. He played at almost all of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festivals. He also performed at the Chicago Blues Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. He played at nearly every Baton Rouge Blues Festival. He also visited the San Francisco Blues Festival and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.
Henry Gray often traveled to Europe to play at festivals and concerts. You can hear him on several European music releases. In 1988, Blind Pig Records released his first main album in the United States, called Lucky Man. The album was produced by guitarist Steve Freund. It combined Chicago blues with bayou boogie music. In 1990, Henry recorded the album Louisiana Swamp Blues. In 1998, he played for Mick Jagger's 55th birthday party in Paris.
In 2003, Henry Gray was featured in Clint Eastwood's film Blues Piano. This film was part of Martin Scorsese's seven-part series The Blues. It was shown on public television in the United States. In 2006, Henry was featured in a concert with Jerry Lee Lewis and Marcia Ball. This concert was recorded for a DVD called Falsifyin'. That same year, Henry starred in the movie The Glass Chord. He played an older musician with Alzheimer's disease.
Henry Gray continued to tour by himself and with his band, Henry Gray and the Cats. He appeared in the 2015 documentary film I Am the Blues. In June 2017, Henry went into a studio with his great-grandson DeAndre Tate. They recorded the album 92 with The Creole Cats band. The album was named "92" because that was Henry's age at the time.
Henry Gray's Personal Life
In 1989, Henry Gray's home near Baton Rouge was destroyed by a tornado.
He was married to Rivers Gray. They had three children and eight grandchildren together.
After surgery for a collapsed lung, Henry Gray had a mild heart attack on February 20, 2017. He was 92 years old. Even after these health issues, Henry Gray kept playing the blues. On October 10, 2019, his family confirmed that he was receiving hospice care in Baton Rouge. Henry Gray passed away on February 17, 2020, at the age of 95.
Awards and Honors for Henry Gray
In 1998, Henry Gray was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. This was for his album A Tribute to Howlin' Wolf.
Between 2002 and 2017, Henry Gray was nominated for six Blues Music Awards. These awards are very important in the blues music world.
Henry Gray received the 2006 National Heritage Fellowship. This is a top honor for folk artists in the United States. It is given by the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2016, Blues Blast Magazine gave Henry Gray a Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2017, Henry Gray was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Selected Albums by Henry Gray
- Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 2, 1990 (Wolf Records)
- Don't Start That Stuff, 1996 (Last Call Records)
- Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest, 1999 (Lucky Cat Records)
- Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues, 2001 (Hightone Records)
- Watch Yourself, featuring Lil' Buck Sinegal, 2001 (Lucky Cat Records)
- Henry Gray and the Cats: Live in Paris, CD/DVD, 2003 (Lucky Cat Records)
- The Blues of Henry Gray & Cousin Joe, 2004 (Storyville Records)
- Times Are Gettin Hard, 2009 (Lucky Cat Productions)
- 92, 2017 (MusicMatters Records)
With Howlin' Wolf
- More Real Folk Blues (Chess, 1953-56 [1967])
Images for kids
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Henry Gray playing at the Festival International in Lafayette, Louisiana, 2010.
