Cray proves you can go home again.Byline: LEWIS TAYLOR The Register-Guard ROBERT CRAY Robert Cray (born 1 August, 1953, in Columbus, Georgia) is a blues musician, guitarist and singer. Career 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. still has vivid memories of Eugene, the city that served as the launching pad for his musical career during the 1970s. "It was rockin'; the Nighthawks This article is about the painting by Edward Hopper. For other uses, see Nighthawks (disambiguation). Nighthawks (1942) is a painting by Edward Hopper that portrays people sitting in a downtown diner late at night. were holding court," Cray said in a phone interview, recalling the Curtis Salgado-led band that ruled the Eugene Hotel and other downtown blues haunts. "I still see Franklin Boulevard in my head." Now a five-time Grammy Award-winning blues guitarist with 12 albums to his name, Cray has come a long way from rain-soaked Eugene, but he hasn't forgotten where he came from. The soulful bluesman returns to town today for a performance with his band at the McDonald Theatre promoting his latest album, titled (perhaps appropriately for this show) "Shoulda Been Home." "It's cool to be back in the Northwest," Cray said. "When I moved to Eugene, I was 20. Those were fun days and, in a way, I grew up there." Cray's latest album is a more eclectic release than his last CD, the Grammy-winning "Take Your Shoes Off" (1999). "Shoes" was filled with horns and steeped in soul. "Shoulda Been Home" is packed with a little bit of everything. The opening track, "Baby's Arms," is an original Cray ballad with an all-star horn section In a symphony orchestra the horn section is the group of musicians who play the horn (sometimes referred to as the French horn). In non-Classical musical groups, the horn section . "Love Sickness Love sickness has historically been viewed as a mental illness brought on by the intense changes associated with falling in love. Ibn Sena, the 10th century physician considered to be "the father of modern medicine," viewed obsession as the principal symptom and cause of love " is a soulful Sir Mack Rice cover, and "Renew Blues" is a 62-second, pure blues jam. "Out of Eden Out of Eden was a musical group identified with R&B, and with contemporary Christian music. Real-life sisters Lisa Kimmey, Andrea Kimmey-Baca and Danielle Kimmey makes up the soulful Christian trio. ," the most ambitious song on the album, is a nine-minute, gospel-tinged history lesson written by Cray's keyboard player, Jim Pugh Jim Pugh (born February 5, 1964 in Burbank, California) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. A doubles specialist, he won 3 Grand Slam men's doubles titles (2 Australian Open, 1 Wimbledon), and 5 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (3 Australian Open, 1 . Along with Pugh, who has been with the band since 1989, Cray is backed up by Kevin Hayes (drums), who has been on board for more than a decade, and Karl Sevareid (bass). The strong chemistry between band members allowed for some experimenting in the studio, which, Cray says, probably would not have been possible with a different group of musicians. Elmore James' song "Cry for Me, Baby" landed on the album serendipitously after Steve Jordan Steve Jordan may refer to:
"These kinds of things happen with years of playing with one another," Cray said. "It's nice when you have the opportunity to play with different musicians. It's kind of like an `unknowing knowing' what the person next to you is going to do. Magical things happen." Magical things have been happening to Cray ever since he left his home in Tacoma shortly after graduating from high school in the mid-1970s. Along with bass player Richard Cousins, Cray moved to Eugene to live rent-free in Cousins' girlfriend's home. Inspired by the music of Ray Charles For the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see . Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) known by his stage name Ray Charles, was a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues. , Thelonius Monk and T-Bone Walker, Cray became a fixture of the Eugene blues scene. He found a friend in Curtis Salgado Curtis Salgado is a Portland, Oregon-based Blues, R&B, and Soul singer-songwriter-musician. He was born on February 41954 in Everett, Washington. He plays harmonica and fronts his own band as lead vocalist. , a like-minded musician with an outstanding record collection, and, when he wasn't playing in town, he was traveling up and down the coast with his band. Cray and his band shared stages with Salgado's Nighthawks. At times, the two bands performed together as the Crayhawks. By 1978, Cray and Salgado had joined forces. In 1980, Cray's band released its first official album, "Who's Been Talkin'.' The album included Cray originals and blues and soul covers. Salgado and Cray later parted ways, and Cray signed on with High Tone Records. Cray followed up with two additional albums. In 1985, he received his first Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards) are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the record industry. The current President of the Academy is Neil Portnow. for his contribution to "Showdown!" a blues project with Albert Collins This article is about the blues musician. For the English football (soccer) player, see Albert Collins (footballer). Albert Collins (October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993) was a blues guitarist, singer and musician. and Johnny Copeland Johnny Copeland (b. 27 March 1937, Haynesville, Louisiana - d. 3 July 1997, Harlem, New York) was an American blues guitarist and singer. As a teenager influenced by T-Bone Walker he formed the "Dukes of Rhythm" in Houston, Texas, and made his recording debut in 1956, . The album raised the bar for Cray and forever changed his standing in the music world. He signed with Mercury Records and the next year released "Strong Persuader," a Grammy Award-winning album that went double platinum. Cray followed with another Grammy winner, the 1988 release "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark." Nearly every one of his next five Mercury albums earned Grammy nominations. In 1999, Cray signed with Rykodisc and earned his fifth Grammy, for "Take Your Shoes Off." It's still too early to say whether Cray's latest release will be honored with yet another Grammy nomination. But at this point, it's fair to say the thrill of winning is not quite what it used to be. "It was exciting when the first Grammy, with Albert Collins, happened, but sometimes you look at what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. with the awards ceremonies and you sort of wonder," Cray said. `They (the Grammy statues) do look pretty cool, though." ROBERT CRAY BAND WITH: Terry Robb WHEN: 8 p.m. today WHERE: McDonald Theatre, 1010 Willamette St. TICKETS: $27.50 in advance through Fastixx or $30 day of show ALSO: To hear music from Cray's new album, "Shoulda Been Home," call GuardLine at 485-2000 and select category 3475 |
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