Five-time Grammy award winning legend and Blues Hall of Fame Inductee Robert Cray heads into the studio this month to record a new album scheduled for release later this year. Cray’s new album will be released on the internationally renowned Mascot Label Group.
“I’m very proud to add the legendary Robert Cray to the Provogue roster,” says Label President Ed van Zijl. “Not only is Robert an artist of the highest calibre, he has worldwide name recognition that garners a tremendous amount of respect. We are honoured and dedicated to deliver a first-class campaign worthy of Robert's talent.”
Never content with interpreting his music the same way twice, Cray's daring innovations have placed him at the top of the business. His distinct guitar style that has become a signature blend of rhythm and blues, pop, rock, soul and traditional blues helping introduce old and new fans to a more contemporary blues sound.
Producing for the multimillion selling Cray will be famed rock producer Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Joe Bonamassa, The Black Crowes). “I’m really enthusiastic about collaborating with Kevin, says Cray. “He’s done some amazing work in the past and I like the direction we’re taking for this album.”
“What an absolute honour to work with Robert Cray,” adds Shirley. “I've been a fan since Strong Persuader. He’s an extraordinary talent. It's really such a treat for me! My goal and challenge with this record, is to tap into the edgy vitality and spontaneity of a live Robert Cray performance, and wrap it up as a studio recording, with a big Blues bow!”
London BluesFest 2012
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Tuesday 26 June
BluesFest Presents: Robert Cray
Tickets on sale Friday 16 March at 9:00am
Box Office: 0844 477 2000
Tickets: £27.50 / Doors: 7pm
www.ticketweb.co.uk
www.bluesfestlondon.com, www.o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk
Shepherds Bush Green, London, W12 8TT
Glasgow O2 ABC
Thursday 28 June
Box Office: 0844 844 0444
Tickets: £27.50 / Doors: 7pm
www.ticketweb.co.uk
www.ticketmaster.co.uk, www.o2abc.co.uk
300 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JA
Birmingham Town Hall
Friday 29 June
Box Office: 0121 345 0600
Tickets: £29.50 / Doors: 7pm
Tickets pre-sale: Friday 16 March at 9:00am: www.thsh.co.uk
General on sale date: Saturday 17 March at 9am
www.ticketweb.co.uk, www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ
This will be the 21st release for Cray since he first arrived on the scene with Who’s Been Talkin’ before hitting the Billboard Top 20 with the album Strong Persuader (a moniker quickly given Cray) featuring the smash single Smoking Gun. Recently President Obama was credited for “pulling a Robert Cray” and a “strong persuader” when it came to touting his healthcare reforms.
Since the release of Smoking Gun, Cray went on to collaborated with some of the world’s greatest blues guitarists including Albert Collins, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and BB King. Cray continues to perform with Clapton, taking the stage at his annual Crossroads concert. In addition to Clapton and King, Cray has written for Tony Bennett and worked with an array of artists from Tina Turner, Keith Richards, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry and Bonnie Raitt, to name a few.
The New York Times says, “His voice, alternately smooth and craggy, is often richer and more emotive than Mr. Clapton’s, and he knows the best ways to use it,” while Guitar Player Magazine says, “Robert Cray is not only making great music he's making history.”
He has his own signature line of Fender Guitars and just last year (still in his fifties) was, according to the Blues Foundation, one of the youngest ‘living legends” to be inducted into the 2011 Blues Hall of Fame.
Since the release of his last studio album , the Grammy nominated This Time (2009) and his live album Cookin’ in Mobile (2010), Robert Cray has toured extensively with The Robert Cray Band, performing on various TV shows including Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The Robert Cray Band features childhood friend and bassist Richard Cousins, longtime Cray band member - keyboardist Jim Pugh, and drummer Tony Braunagel who joined the band in 2007.
Cray has received 5 Grammys, 15 Grammy nominations, and has performed thousands of sold-out shows worldwide. He made his film debut performing in the classic National Lampoon’s Animal House and was featured in Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues series. He has appeared in Tina Turner's TV special Break Every Rule, the Chuck Berry tribute Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, and the Rolling Stones' pay-per-view video Voodoo Lounge.
ROBERT CRAY - ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS
Robert Cray – Official Website
www.robertcrayband.com
Robert Cray – Official Facebook
www.facebook.com/robertcraymusic
Mascot Label Group – Official Website
www.mascotlabelgroup.com
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