Dobie Gray R I P....

Well what a great shame I would think every soul fan on the planet would have at least one recording by him let's face it we've all danced to one of his records at least once in our lives God bless Dobie Gray .I don't know how to put sound files on computers but if anyone could put "What a way to go" on here I think it would be nice.Best regards Simon.

Well what a great shame I would think every soul fan on the planet would have at least one recording by him let's face it we've all danced to one of his records at least once in our lives God bless Dobie Gray .I don't know how to put sound files on computers but if anyone could put "What a way to go" on here I think it would be nice.Best regards Simon.

Sad News RIP Dobie Gray

Sad News RIP Dobie Gray

Very sad news indeed, here's to the man that put down some of the foundations of soul scene. RIP Dobie Gray

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dobie back in 99 for Signal and recently for Smooth Radio. A very talented man indeed. RIP Larry.

Here's the Wiki rundown on the greet man.....

Dobie Gray (July 26, 1940 - December 6, 2011)[1][2] was an African American singer and songwriter, whose musical career spanned soul, country, pop and musical theater. His hit records included "The 'In' Crowd" in 1965, and "Drift Away", which was one of the biggest hits of 1973, sold over one million copies, and remains a staple of radio airplay.[1]

Contents  [hide] 

1 Life and career

2 Death

3 Discography

3.1 Singles

3.2 Featured singles

4 See also

5 References

6 External links

[edit]Life and career

Gray was born near Houston, Texas, by his own account in Simonton although some sources suggest the nearby town of Brookshire.[3][4] His birth name was probably Lawrence Darrow Brown,[4][5] who is listed in the Fort Bend County Birth Records as being born in 1940 to Jane P. Spencel and Jethro Clifton Brown. Other sources suggest he may have been born Leonard Victor Ainsworth,[1] a name he used on some early recordings.

His family were sharecroppers, and he discovered gospel music through his grandfather, a Baptist minister.[3] In the early 1960s he moved to Los Angeles, intending to pursue an acting career but also singing to make money. He recorded for several local labels under the names Leonard Ainsworth, Larry Curtis, and Larry Dennis, before Sonny Bono directed him towards the small independent Stripe Records. They suggested that he record under the name "Dobie Gray", an allusion to the then-popular sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.[4] His first taste of success came in 1963, when his seventh single "Look At Me", on the Cor-Dak label, recorded with bassist Carol Kaye,[6] reached # 91 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5][7] However, Gray's first album, Look!, failed to sell.[6] Greater success came in early 1965 when his original recording of "The 'In' Crowd" (later recorded by Ramsey Lewis) reached # 13 on the chart. Written by Billy Page, arranged by his brother Gene,[8] and produced by Fred Darian,[5][9] Gray's record reached # 11 on the US R&B chart, and # 25 in the UK. The follow-up, "See You at the Go-Go", recorded with such top session musicians as Kaye, Hal Blaine and Larry Knechtel, also reached the Hot 100, and he issued an album, Dobie Gray Sings For 'In' Crowders That Go Go Go, which featured some self-penned songs.[6]

Gray continued to record, though with little success, for small labels such as Charger and White Whale, as well as contributing to movie soundtracks.[7] He also spent several years working as an actor, including 2½ years in the Los Angeles production of Hair.[1][4] In 1970, while working in Hair, he joined a band, Pollution, as singer and percussionist. They were managed by actor Max Baer Jr. (best known as "Jethro" in The Beverly Hillbillies), and released two albums of soul-inspired psychedelic rock, Pollution I and Pollution II.[6][10] The band also included singer Tata Vega and guitarist/singer James Quill Smith. After that, he worked at A & M Records on demo recordings with songwriter Paul Williams.[4]

In 1972, he won a contract with Decca Records, shortly before it became part of MCA, to make an album with producer Mentor Williams, Paul's brother, in Nashville. Among the songs that they recorded at the Quadrafonic Sound Studios, co-owned by session musicians Norbert Putnam and David Briggs, was Mentor Williams' song "Drift Away", featuring a guitar riff by Reggie Young.[4][11] Released as a single, the song rose to # 5 on the US pop charts, and remains Gray's best known song today.[1] The follow-up, a version of Tom Jans' much-covered song "Loving Arms", made # 61 in the chart. Gray also released three albums with MCA, Drift Away, Loving Arms, and Hey, Dixie, but later stated that MCA were unsure of how to market the albums - "They didn't know where to place a black guy in country music."[4]

In the mid-1970s he moved permanently to Nashville and signed for Capricorn Records, writing songs in collaboration with Troy Seals.[1] His biggest hit singles in the late 1970s were "If Love Must Go", # 78 in 1976, and "You Can Do It", # 37 in late 1978, his last solo chart hit to date.[5] He increasingly concentrated on songwriting, writing songs for a variety of artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Johnny Mathis, Charley Pride and Don Williams.[4][7] Gray also toured in Europe, Australia and Africa in the 1970s. He performed in South Africa only after persuading the apartheid authorities to allow him to play to integrated audiences, becoming the first artist to do so in that country.[1] His popularity in South Africa has continued through numerous subsequent concert tours.[3][4]

He re-emerged as a recording artist for Capitol Records in the mid-1980s, recording with producer Harold Shedd. Gray placed two singles in the US Billboard country chart during 1986 and 1987, including "That's One to Grow On" which peaked at #35.[1][12] His country albums included From Where I Stand in 1986, and he made several appearances at Charlie Daniels' popular Volunteer Jam concerts.[7] He also sang on a number of TV and radio jingles.[4] In 1997, he released the album Diamond Cuts, including both new songs and re-recordings of older material.[1]

In 2000, Wigan Casino DJ, Kev Roberts, compiled The Northern Soul Top 500, which was based on a survey of northern soul fans.[13] Gray's "Out On The Floor", a 1966 recording which had been a British chart hit in 1975, was placed in the Top 10. "Drift Away" became a hit again in 2003, when it was covered by Uncle Kracker on his No Stranger to Shame album. The recording was a duet between Kracker and Gray, who was also featured in the video. It placed nineteenth in the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003.

[edit]Death

On December 6, 2011, his official site stated he had passed away. [14]

[edit]Discography

[edit]Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications

(sales threshold)

US US R&B US AC US Country CAN CAN AC CAN Country UK

1963 "Look at Me" 91 " " " " " " "

1965 "The 'In' Crowd" 13 11 " " 8 " " 25

"See You at the Go-Go" 69 " " " " " " "

1973 "Drift Away" 5 42 " " 7 " " "

US: Gold[15]

"Loving Arms" 61 81 7 " 70 2 " "

1975 "Out on the Floor" " " " " " " " 42

1976 "If Love Must Go" 78 " " " " " " "

"Find 'Em, Fool 'Em & Forget 'Em" 94 71 " " " " " "

1979 "You Can Do It" 37 32 " " 58 " " "

"In Crowd" " " " " " 47 " "

1986 "That's One to Grow On" " " " 35 " " " "

"The Dark Side of Town" " " " 42 " " 48 "

"From Where I Stand" " " " 67 " " " "

1987 "Take It Real Easy" " " " 82 " " " "

" "" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country

[edit]Featured singles

rip dobey...u made some GREAT records

Ditto - A great corner stone of our music with his style transcending Country, Blues & Soul RIP Dobie you were greater then people gave you credit for man,,,,,,,

honey you cant take it back - nother gr8 tune...

very sad news. OOTF was the staple diet of us young lads in the hot summer of '76. a fine record indeed.... the 'off key' sounding piano melody was the hook that made the tune.

Also, i contribute on a drummers' forum , where we had a thread on our 'fave lyrics' in a song.... my reply: "Gimme the beat boys and free my soul, i wanna get lost in your rock n roll and DRIFT AWAY"

RIP

RIP Dobie Gray x

Oh dear, what a shame ..

Rest in peace DG.

Very sad news, spent much of my early youth throwing myself around dancefloors to many of his toons, OOTF will always remind me of great times, great people and great clubs. RIP Dobie, thanks for the memories

i think out on the floor will be played at most venues this weekend

real iconic tune from our scene...

i think out on the floor will be played at most venues this weekend

real iconic tune from our scene...

Mark,

I think It would be a fitting tribute to a record and artist who have legendary status on the northern scene, we all came in somewhere and this record would never have been far away from our beginnings

R.I.P. I bought a demo LP by Dobie Gray for 0.99 cents in New York just a few weeks ago

RIP Dobie Gray gone but will never be forgotten

Extremely Sad News.

R.I.P. Dobie Gray.

The In Crowd was one of the first records in my collection, still got it and play it often.

See You At The Go-Go, Out On The Floor,

Top tune of his for me, always makes me stop and think. Sad news.

very sad , a real corner stone of the N.S scene , but his music will always live on , not a bad legacy

very sad indeed - My thoughts are with the family just before Xmas !

Agree with Mark - Playing a DG record would be a nice tribute!

Honey you cant take it Back ! My fav

Very Sad Indeed!! Great Man R.I.P. Dobie!!

"Drift Away" Would be a nice touch!!

Walking through the doors at Yate and hearing 'Out On The Floor' full blast to an impressionable 15 year old just grabbed me beyond belief so a HUGE THANKYOU DOBIE for the wonderful life experiences with this God's own music we have had and still continue to have.......... XXX

RIP

coincidently , have not danced to Dobie Grey for many years , same reasons as everyone else . except for last Thursday

out on the floor . at my work Christmas party . and enjoyed it .

RIP to another northern soul icon. Out on the floor was one of the first records I and many more TRIED to dance to.

out on the floor drove dancers insane....the incrowd was a mod classic well before as was see you at the gogo and to this the mid 70's added honey you can take it back...all great tunes, easily recognisable, establishing dobie gray as an asset, not just to every djs playbox, but the northern scene in general. he never forgot his roots though and his love of that country style of soul still shone through and kept him in the spotlight for many years after...its comforting that his tunes are still played on radio today proving their endurance and longevity, and distinct appeal to people in all walks of life. r.i.p. dobie gray, a voice silenced only in death but whose memory will prevail.

RIP Dobie. Through your legacy your music will live on.

I always include at least one Dobie Gray track, usually Out On The Floor, in one of my sets. Thanks for the great music you gave us, RIP.

Very sad news - some great, great records

The name DOBIE GRAY is indelibly embedded within the hearts of every true Northern Soul fan...RIP...A man who truly touched our youthful hearts...

Great Artist. RIP Dobie Gray you will be sorely missed...

' GIVE ME THE BEAT BOYS THAT SOOTHES MY SOUL I WANNA GET LOST IN YA ROCK'N'ROLL AND DRIFT AWAY ! '

R.I.P. DOBIE

a sad loss, he'll be missed.

Let's just go for it. No words needed....

his records have to be one of the 1st bought in any soulies collection my self included..... that says volumes

RIP Dobie and thanks for some amazing tunes x

A talented and versatile artist who brought us a 45 that is perhaps the epitome of Northern Soul.

RIP Dobie Gray.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EA7A3Lq6xQ

Yes we,ll have to give it a go at Nuneaton one of the first records i ever danced to before i even new Northern Soul exsisted R.I.P. to a legend Chris & Ann

i think out on the floor will be played at most venues this weekend

real iconic tune from our scene...

Just to state the obvious. Is there a greater feelgood record then "Out on the floor"? One of the first records most of us will have heard in our early days on the scene.

A very talented musician as well as a provider of great mempries.

God bless you Dobie.

Just to state the obvious. Is there a greater feelgood record then "Out on the floor"? One of the first records most of us will have heard in our early days on the scene.

A very talented musician as well as a provider of great mempries.

God bless you Dobie.

have to agree , his is one of the main records we heard as kids that caused the great phrase " wow ,this is for me"

another sad loss r.i.p dobie

Let's just go for it. No words needed....

WONDERFUL!!! I sang this at a karaoke bar in Bulgaria during a ski holiday in 1993....... EVERYBODY sang along to the chorus, it just proves that a classic song is known by all. thanks for posting this. i'm geuinely saddened by DG's passing..............

Just heard this morning that Dobie Gray passed last night in Nashville Tennessee...

he was 71 years old....dont know anymore details than that...R I P...Del..x

Always a tragedy, top Northern Soul man, got to speak to him once, smashing bloke.

Just to state the obvious. Is there a greater feelgood record then "Out on the floor"? One of the first records most of us will have heard in our early days on the scene. A very talented musician as well as a provider of great mempries. God bless you Dobie.

https://youtu.be/-EA7A3Lq6xQ

A miserable, grey, drizzly day here made even more so with this news. RIP Dobie Gray, you touched all of us, without exception.

RIP Dobie. His music will live on forever, everyone knows "Out On The Floor", be it committed soulie or casual fan, and that will never, ever change. Thank you for the music and everything we have because of it.

Out On The Floor 'tonight' and always will be - Keep The Faith!

God Bless and thankyou for one of the 'classics' of our scene.

Tony

WONDERFUL!!! I sang this at a karaoke bar in Bulgaria during a ski holiday in 1993....... EVERYBODY sang along to the chorus, it just proves that a classic song is known by all. thanks for posting this. i'm geuinely saddened by DG's passing..............

First choon i ever heard of this guy....was pre teen..but back in those days..we seem to be more grown up.with more responsiblities...and aware..than most of the 12 year olds now....Only now..we realise that a lot that went on..was oooh soo wrong ..Del....xxxxx

R i p Dobie

One of my faves when I was young, I still find myself humming it now.

Seeya Dobie RIP