I discoved his music, all by myself way back in late 1980’s, while stopping to a record shop to buy something different, I went to buy Robert Gray album, after hearing some songs at a friends place. the mood, the voice spoke to me.
The Robert Cray Band performing Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark, from the album named the same.
The most commercially and critically successful blues artist of his generation, Robert Cray took his music to the upper reaches of the pop and rock charts when many major blues acts were counting their sales in the tens of thousands. On the strength of his breakthrough album, 1986’s StrongThe most commercially and critically successful blues artist of his generation, Robert Cray took his music to the upper reaches of the pop and rock charts when many major blues acts were counting their sales in the tens of thousands
Dead of the night baby
We’re finally alone
I’ll pull up the shades
If you’ll unplug the phone
Put on some music
Marvin Gaye’s real nice
Once we get settled
I’ll turn off the lights
Don’t be afraid of the dark
Don’t be afraid of the dark
I’ll be there to hold you
Don’t be afraid of the dark
It might be scary
Til your eyes adjust
Don’t fear the shadows
Me you can trust
I’m at my best
In a pitch black room
Hold on tight baby
You’ll feel the power soon
Don’t be afraid of the dark
Don’t be afraid of the dark
I’ll be there to hold you
You might tremble
You might shake
Scream out loud
You may even pray
I know which moves
Suit you right
You’ll beg for more
You’ll forget about the night
One of the most important things that set Cray apart from his peers on the blues scene in the ’80s and ’90s was his focus on songwriting rather than guitar heroics. While he was an impressively strong player, his soloing was clean and concise for the most part, without excessive showboating, and his songs were more closely related to vintage Southern soul in their storytelling and sense of character than in the typical 12-bar paeans to whiskey and women favored by most blues acts of the era. 1983’s Bad Influence was the album that first earned Cray a major buzz among blues enthusiasts, while 1986’s Strong Persuader was a near flawless set of songs that made him a star and allowed him to cross over to the mainstream on his own terms. ( All Music)
Lepis is hosting Saturday Classics, you can add your own link here Saturday Classics
On Her page she writes: This blog is back with hosting the Classics after few years break. This time we’ll be playing on Saturdays and you can link straight here on this own page. Rules: There are no rules, as long as the song you play is a classic in your mind. Linking open 8 am and closes 12 pm.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 