After listening to a lot of rock and soul, singer/guitarist Robert Cray discovered a passion for the blues in his teens. "When I first started playing guitar, I wanted to be George Harrison - that is, until I heard Jimi Hendrix", Cray once said. His 1986 album Strong Persuader and hit single Right Next Door (Because Of Me) meant a worldwide breakthrough and his first Grammy Award (Cray now has five). With his warm, soulful voice and guitar playing whereby he never wastes a note, Cray is hailed as one of the artists who made the blues once again modern and relevant. Last year, he was inducted to the Blues Hall Of Fame. Funny detail: Cray formed his first band in 1974 with Richard Cousins, the bassist who after a long absence, is now back in his band. The rest of the lineup of The Robert Cray Band consists of keyboardist Jim Pugh and drummer Tony Braunagel.
