Claude Gray
| Claude Gray | |
|---|---|
|
Claude Gray in 1967 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | January 26, 1932 |
| Origin | Henderson, Texas, USA |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | singer/songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar |
| Years active | 1959-present |
| Associated acts | Willie Nelson |
| Website | Claude Gray Official Website |
Claude Gray (born January 26, 1932 [1] in Henderson, Texas) is an American country music singer-songwriter and guitar picker best known for his 1960 hit "Family Bible," which has been covered by many different artists. Gray's other hit, "I'll Just Have Another Cup Of Coffee," was covered and rearranged by Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter Bob Marley, who retitled the song as "One Cup Of Coffee."
Alongside artists such as Ray Price, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson and Chet Atkins, Gray was a purveyor of the Nashville sound, embracing the Countrypolitan movement which paved the way for pop-oriented singers in country music and attracted new audiences to the genre.
Early life
Gray started his singing career while attending High School in his hometown of Henderson, Texas. After school, he served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954. Upon his return to home, he worked as a salesman for the rest of the decade. He began a recording career in 1959, after working as a radio announcer in Kilgore, Texas, and performing as a disc jockey in Meridian, Mississippi.[2]
Career
Gray was approached by D records in 1959, and recorded "I'm Not Supposed," which was released as his first single. The song made the Cashbox country charts.[2] The following year, Gray and two friends purchased the song "Family Bible" from Willie Nelson [3] for $100.[4] Gray then recorded the song, and released it as a single." [2] It peaked at No. 10 on the country charts. In 1961, "I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)," was released, which peaked at No. 4, and was followed by the biggest hit of Gray's career, the No. 3 "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)," which was penned by Roger Miller. Gray's final top ten hit came in 1967 with "I Never Had the One I Wanted," which was also his final charted song upon re-release in 1979.[5]
In the late 1970s, Gray co-wrote with Walt Breeland, a controversial song entitled "The Ballad of Jimmy Hoffa." Gray's record label at the time (Mercury Records) refused to allow him to record the song, but he eventually recorded it for Ol' Podner Records, who subsequently released it directly to the Teamsters.[2] In 1986, he released a cover of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." [2]
Today, Gray continues to tour with The Claude Gray Roadshow, performing shows throughout North America and in parts of Europe, where classic country music remains popular. Recently, Gray has appeared in Branson and is also a performer on the RFD-TV cable television Network.
Personal
Gray stands 6'5" and because of his height, was given the moniker, "The Tall Texan." [2]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Songs of Broken Love Affairs | Mercury | |
| 1962 | Country Goes to Town | ||
| 1967 | Claude Gray Sings | 45 | Decca |
| 1968 | Easy Way | ||
| Treasure of Love | Hilltop | ||
| 1972 | Presenting | Million | |
| 1978 | If I Ever Need a Lady | Koala |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN Country | |||
| 1958 | "My Tears Are Inside" | singles only | |||
| "Late Again" | |||||
| 1959 | "I'm Not Supposed" | ||||
| "Best Part of Me" | |||||
| 1960 | "Family Bible" | 10 | |||
| "My Party's Over" | |||||
| "Homecoming in Heaven" | |||||
| 1961 | "I'll Have Another Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)" | 4 | 84 | Songs of Broken Love Affairs | |
| "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)" | 3 | ||||
| 1962 | "Let's End It Before It Begins" | 26 | singles only | ||
| "You Take the Table (And I'll Take the Chairs)" | |||||
| "Daddy Stopped In" | 20 | ||||
| 1963 | "Knock Again, True Love" | 18 | |||
| "First Love Never Dies" | |||||
| "I'm Gonna Lie Again" | |||||
| 1964 | "Eight Years (And Two Children Later)" | 43 | |||
| "Too Many Rivers" | |||||
| 1965 | "Kinderhook Bill" | ||||
| "Thank You for the Ride" | |||||
| 1966 | "Mean Old Woman" | 22 | |||
| "I Never Had the One I Wanted" | 9 | Claude Gray Sings | |||
| 1967 | "Because of Him" | 45 | Easy Way | ||
| "If I Ever Need a Lady (I'll Call You)" | 67 | ||||
| "How Fast Them Trucks Can Go" | 12 | Claude Gray Sings | |||
| 1968 | "Your Devil Memory" | Easy Way | |||
| "Night Life" | 31 | 25 | |||
| "The Love of a Woman" | 68 | single only | |||
| 1969 | "Don't Give Me a Chance" | 41 | Easy Way | ||
| "Take Off Time" | 34 | singles only | |||
| 1970 | "The Cleanest Man in Cincinnati" | 54 | |||
| "Everything Will Be Alright" | 40 | 27 | |||
| 1971 | "Angel" | 41 | |||
| "Baton Rouge" | |||||
| 1972 | "Jeannie" | Presenting | |||
| "What Every Woman Wants to Hear" | 66 | ||||
| 1973 | "Woman Ease My Mind" | 58 | |||
| "Loving You Is a Habit I Can't Break" | |||||
| 1976 | "Rockin' My Memories (To Sleep)" | 88 | singles only | ||
| 1977 | "We Fell in Love That Way" | 92 | |||
| "It'll Do" | |||||
| 1978 | "Slow Dancing" | ||||
| "If I Ever Need a Lady" (re-recording) | 68 | If I Ever Need a Lady | |||
| 1979 | "I Never Had the One I Wanted" (re-recording) | 78 | |||
| "How Fast Them Trucks Can Go" | singles only | ||||
| "It Ain't the Wakin' Up" | |||||
| 1981 | "Every Night Sensation" | ||||
| "He's Just an Illusion" | |||||
| 1982 | "Let's Go All the Way" (w/ Norma Jean) | 68 | |||
| "Who Sent My Ex to Texas" | |||||
| 1986 | "Sweet Caroline" | 77 | |||
References
- ↑ "Today in History - Jan. 25". Fox News. January 25, 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brennan, Sandra. "Claude Gray". Allmusic.
- ↑ Gray, Jo (June 7, 1988). "Country music show to be one-night stand". Mohave Daily Miner.
- ↑ Ward, Ed (April 30, 2008). "Willie Nelson: The Songwriter at 75". National Public Radio.
- ↑ "Claude Gray > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic.
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