Robert Cray
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Robert Cray was among artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Thorogood, who got wider radio airplay and regular MTV video exposure during the late 1980s.
He started playing guitar in his early teens. At Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia, his love of blues and soul music flourished as he started collecting records. Originally, Robert Cray wanted to become an architect, but at about the same time he was going to study design in architecture he formed a local band “Steakface”, described as “the best band from Lakewood you never heard of”. Cray on guitar and vocals contributed greatly to Steakface’s set list of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Fleetwood Mac, The Grease Band, Blodwyn Pig, Jethro Tull, Forever More, Spirit, and The Faces.
By the time he was twenty, Cray had seen his heroes Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters in concert, and decided to form his own band. His band started playing college towns on the west coast. After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury Records in 1982. His third release, Strong Persuader, received a Grammy Award, while the crossover single “Smokin’ Gun” gave him wider appeal and name recognition.
He started playing guitar in his early teens. At Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia, his love of blues and soul music flourished as he started collecting records. Originally, Robert Cray wanted to become an architect, but at about the same time he was going to study design in architecture he formed a local band “Steakface”, described as “the best band from Lakewood you never heard of”. Cray on guitar and vocals contributed greatly to Steakface’s set list of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Fleetwood Mac, The Grease Band, Blodwyn Pig, Jethro Tull, Forever More, Spirit, and The Faces.
By the time he was twenty, Cray had seen his heroes Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters in concert, and decided to form his own band. His band started playing college towns on the west coast. After several years of regional success, Cray was signed to Mercury Records in 1982. His third release, Strong Persuader, received a Grammy Award, while the crossover single “Smokin’ Gun” gave him wider appeal and name recognition.
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Top Albums
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Twenty
Robert Cray
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I Was Warned
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Strong Persuader
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Time Will Tell
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Shoutbox
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Plook wrote:
This guy plays very good music
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Akayz7 wrote:
Robert Cray, the man with the smoking gun.
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rafael_freitas wrote:
He is kinda "unknown", at least here in Brazil... UNFORTUNALY!
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alvarozers wrote:
He is such a Bad Influence! haha ... Pretty nice songs, love the way he plays ... Blues It !
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Druid66 wrote:
This guy is incendiary in concert!
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Pyratexo wrote:
Oh Yea, today I can see Robert Cray live!
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gsm007g wrote:
Saw him back in the 1990's with The Memphis Horns... Brilliant!!!
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BluesRok wrote:
Hello Blues Fans! I've been leading several groups here on lastfm for a while, but I don't have the time to lead them anymore. I just abdicated leadership of Gov't Mule and The Movie Group. I'd like to find new leaders for Robert Cray and Concert Stories and The Marshall Tucker Band. If you'd like to lead one, let me know with a message or post in the group shoutbox. These groups deserve leaders who will take an active role in leadership.
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freshiefresh wrote:
"Poor Johnny..came home lookin cool one day" Robert is vintage.
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captinfisher wrote:
Robert Cray an upbeat blues genius
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paggenbach wrote:
Robert Cray Band (125.000 plays, so over a million :D)
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paggenbach wrote:
Awesome gig yesterday! Oh by the way, you forgot the tag Robert Cray Band
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CBassNL wrote:
Right next door is such an epic song.
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Mii85 wrote:
I can't believe Robert Cray has less than 1.000.000 plays. =/ And The Robert Cray Band has only 79,643 plays. 888,212 + 79,643 = 967,855 (still less than 1million)
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Mii85 wrote:
The Making of This Time Album (2009): [Youtube Video]
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pollepet wrote:
alright
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BlackSirius wrote:
Robert Cray is my Bad Influence!
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mirrorball95 wrote:
Perhaps most underrated bluesman after R.L Burnside. Latest album 'This Time' is fucking amazing!
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FRICSO wrote:
So underrated!!!
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Sunzy wrote:
<3 <3
Videos
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Play
Smoking Gun
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Play
Nothin' But A Woman
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Play
Right Next Door (Because of Me)
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Play
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Events
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Feb
23
Robert Cray
Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Morristown, New Jersey, New York, United States
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Recent Activity
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Balodiba, Byeming, Jezzmeister and 15 other people added Robert Cray to their libraries. 6 hours ago
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mtaber3046 tagged Robert Cray with ‘robert cray’. Monday afternoon
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mystykeyz, Hawgpen, Rvpeabs and 11 other people added Robert Cray to their libraries. Sunday afternoon
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Plook tagged Robert Cray with ‘blues’. last week
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travelpassion, Jmabramson, sim210 and 47 other people added Robert Cray to their libraries. last week
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maciekilza tagged Robert Cray with ‘blues’. last month
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maciekilza shared Robert Cray with AhimsaHolyWood. last month
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wwedlock, YurecOgurec, Nissanfanblog and 11 other people added Robert Cray to their libraries. last month
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Combos wrote about Robert Cray – Twenty in a deleted journal. December 2010
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Mii85 created the wiki page for Bad Influence. July 2010
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