Obituaries reporting the death of Dobie Gray this week focused on his big hit “Drift Away” and his ’60s breakthrough “The In Crowd.” The casual observer might be left with the impression that Gray was a one-hit wonder in two successive decades.
The truth is that Dobie Gray was something of a pioneer, an
African-American coming to Nashville and working with country session players like Reggie Young, David Briggs and Troy Seals on some outstanding albums that bridged genres. His work with Mentor Williams was the best of his career, and the Drift Away and Loving Arms albums – still available as imports – were full of soulful adult pop, with country underpinnings.
Gray joined us a few years ago for one of the Freedom Sings concerts held annually in Nashville at the Bluebird Cafe. He was in great voice, sang “Drift Away” and was a warm and gracious performer.
His body of work – from the early “go-go” recordings to his ’70s resurgence to his country recordings in later years – is well worth exploring.
