Artist:Robert Cray
Song:Right Next Door (Because of Me)
Album:20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Robert Cray
Robert Cray returned the blues to mainstream in the 80s. Right Next Door was one of three chart singles from the 1986 album Strong Persuader. The album was certified 2XPlatinum. Since then, Cray hasn't been as successful but he's still a popular touring act. He was born Aug. 1, 1953 in Columbus, GA. His father was stationed at Fort Benning. Cray had his first band in high school. His family moved to Tacoma, WA and he finished high school there. Cray was influenced by Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters to form his own band and tour the west coast. By the late 70s, he lived in Eugene, OR and formed a band with Curtis Salgado. That band released the album Who's Been Talkin' on Tomato Records. The album died when Tomato went bankrupt. But the producer of that album Bruce Bromberg started HighTone Records. And the 1983 Robert Cray album Bad Influence was their first release. Bromberg and Dennis Walker produced the album. After the 1985 album False Accusations, Bromberg thought that with wider distribution, Cray could be a star. So he made a deal with Mercury Records to distribute the album. It was the same as previous albums. Bromberg and Walker produced and most of the songs were written by them and Cray. There were three chart singles including Right Next Door and the album was certified 2XPlatinum. It also won a Grammy. Cray was on Mercury until 1997. Since then he has recorded for Rykodisc and Sanctuary. His latest album That's What I Heard was released in 2020 on his own label with Universal distribution. This comp covers Cray's Mercury recordings. Robert Cray is always on tour. Check him out if he's coming your way. Here's the video for Right Next Door (Because of Me) by Robert Cray.
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