Dobie Gray, a renowned American singer, songwriter, and actor, was born on July 26, 1940, in Simonton, Texas, to a family of sharecroppers. His birth name was variously cited as Lawrence Victor Ainsworth or Laurence Darrow Brown. Gray's Baptist minister grandfather introduced him to gospel music, which had a profound impact on his early life.
As a child, Dobie listened to country/western and rhythm-and-blues music, laying the foundation for his eclectic musical style. In the early 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he began his music career. His seventh recorded single, "Look at Me", was his first chart success, followed by the hit song "The 'In' Crowd" in 1965.
Gray's subsequent song, "See You at the Go-Go", was only a modest success, but he continued to hone his craft and explore other creative outlets. He took acting classes and appeared in various stage productions, including "A Raisin in the Sun," "The Amen Corner," "Look Homeward Angel," "Rhinoceros," and the popular musical "Hair." He even sang with the band Pollution in the early 1970s.
In 1973, Gray scored his biggest hit with the mellow and soothing "Drift Away," which reached #5 on the pop charts and has since become a staple on classic rock radio stations. The song has been covered by numerous major artists, including Elvis Presley and Ray Charles.
Dobie's acting career continued to flourish, with roles in the blaxploitation feature "Mean Mother" (1973) and the comedy "Out of Sight" (1966). He also made appearances on radio and TV commercials for prominent companies like Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Allstate, Chevrolet, Buick, and Kraft.
In the mid-1970s, Gray's sound shifted from soul to country, and he relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. He had modest country chart hits with songs like "That's One to Grow On" and "From Where I Stand." Gray also enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter, penning tracks for artists such as Charley Pride, George Jones, Johnny Mathis, Conway Twitty, John Denver, B.J. Thomas, and Tammy Wynette.
Throughout his career, Dobie Gray toured extensively, performing in Europe, Australia, and Africa. He was a pioneer in integrating audiences in South Africa during the apartheid era. His songs have been featured on the soundtracks of films like "Uptown Saturday Night" (1974),"Casey's Shadow" (1978),"Casino" (1995),and "Wonderland" (2003).
In 2003, Gray collaborated with rap artist Uncle Kracker on a hip-hop cover of "Drift Away," which peaked at #1 on the charts for 28 weeks. Sadly, Dobie Gray passed away at the age of 71 on December 6, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee, due to cancer.
