Henry Gray (piano & lead vocals), Earl " the Bishop " Christopher (drums), Brian "BB" Bruce (harmonica), Jackie Bruce ( background vocals and percussion), Marty Christian (guitar) & Andy Cornett (bass & harmonica and manager)
Influences
Big Maceo
Sounds Like
Two-fisted Piano Boogie-Woogie & Chilling Chicago & Louisiana Blues
Henry Gray is one of the few remaining working master architects of Post World War II Blues piano. His mentor was Big Maceo Merriwether (Chicago Breakdown). Gray is most known for his work as Howlin' Wolf's pianist from 1956-1968. In 2006, the National Endowment of the Arts awarded our nations top honor for a "traditional folk artist", the Natioanl Heritage Fellowship, to Henry for his life's work and contribution to his love, the Blues. He has worked and recorded with Elmore James, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers, Dusty Brown, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Honeyboy Edwards, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester, Skip James, Muddy Waters, Billy Boy Arnold, Hubert Sumlin, Jody Williams, Raful Neal,Tabby Thomas, Larry Garner, and Lil Buck Sinegal to name a few. Once you familiarize yourself with Gray's works, you will begin to hear how Gray's style influenced many blues pianists.
Gray may be the one of a few, if not, the only bluesman to have worked with three great blues producers the Chess Brothers, Willie Dixon , and J. D. Miller (Excello). Gray has a 1998 Grammy nomination for his work on TelArc's " A Tribute to Howlin' Wolf." He appeared in Clint Eastwood's "Blues Piano", one of seven parts to Martin Scorcese's 2003 "The Blues" series. In 1998, Mick Jagger welcomed Henry and several other Blues Master's to play his 55th birthday in Paris.
Gray was born in Kenner, (New Orleans) Lousiana on Jan 19, 1925. His family moved to the Baton Rouge area before he was two. Gray still lives in Baton Rouge and continues to bring his two-fisted rollickin' boogie-woogies and chilling blues to the world. Henry invites you to visit www.henrygray.com. as well.
My debut single ROLLIN' IN THE HEY is currently #83 on the Music Row Breakout Chart and is poised to move into the top 75 WITH A BULLET!!!. Request it at your local radio station today and CLICK ON THE ALBUM COVER BELOW TO BUY THE ENTIRE CD FOR A LIMITED TIME FOR ONLY $5.00.
Ciao,HENRY ,Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,and stupendous voice. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy neal
Thank you very much for the add. I've heard so many of the fine blues artists you played with and my appreciation for the blues continues to grow as I learn more about its history as well as the stories of the artists who've made such a ccontribution.
