19 Jun

Singer Dobie Gray

written by Guest Author in Blog | No comments

IT’S ALL IN THE SONG
No other industry in recent memory has undergone as many changes as this business of Music. Despite its flaws, though, – its ups and downs – those of us who’ve managed to survive its fickle nature; very few would trade it for any other profession.

For most of my decades-long career I’ve mainly been regarded as a Record Company’s pigeonhole-enigma. That predilection does have its positive side, though, garnering for me, a diverse and international following.

Unlike many others, I’ve had very few world-renown records, but the ones I have had are well remembered: The “In” Crowd, Loving Arms and the unforgettable, Drift Away, which many people think I wrote. But that credit belongs to Mentor Williams – brother of the composer, Paul Williams. Now, thanks to the Internet, much of the music that Mentorand I – and other producers – have recorded: nineteen albums and CDs all told – is being heard and appreciated for the first time.Most people are interested in how “Drift Away” came about – it’s a long story, so I won’t go into it here. I’ll just say that I was a staff-writer, along with Mentor and Paul at A&M’s Publishing Company, Almo/Irving, when the song was created. It has been a career song for me, and it resulted in a spectacular comeback in 2002, when I was asked to record it with the rap artist, Uncle Kracker. Although, hesitant to do so at the time, I’m glad to say that the new version has helped to sustain my career, in that, I’ve gained a younger and totally new audience.

To you, Barry, I offer my very best wishes for the success of your new Blog, and here’s hoping that the Brady Bunch’s popularity from all those years of airing follow you in all your future endeavors.

-Dobie

Dobie Gray reached number 5 on the Billboard charts with “Drift Away” in March of 1973. Thirty years later, the song returned to the top ten when Dobie re-recorded it with Uncle Kracker. Barry recorded his own cover of “Drift Away” for the album “The Return of Johnny Bravo”, and also performed the song in his recent off Broadway show “Growing Up 70s.”