Gray was born near Houston, Texas, by his own account in Simonton although some sources suggest the nearby town of Brookshire. His birth name was probably Lawrence Darrow Brown, who is listed in the Fort Bend County Birth Records as being born in 1940 to Jane P. Spencel and Jethro Clifton Brown. Other sources suggest he may have been born Leonard Victor Ainsworth, a name he used on some early recordings.
His family were sharecroppers, and he discovered gospel music through his grandfather, a Baptist minister. In the early 1960s he moved to Los Angeles, intending to pursue an acting career but also singing to make money.
He recorded for several local labels under the names Leonard Ainsworth, Larry Curtis, and Larry Dennis, before Sonny Bono directed him towards the small independent Stripe Records. They suggested that he record under the name "Dobie Gray", an allusion to the then-popular sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. His first taste of success came in 1963, when his seventh single "Look At Me", on the Cor-Dak label, recorded with bassist Carol Kaye, reached # 91 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, Gray's first album, Look!, failed to sell.
Greater success came in early 1965 when his original recording of "The 'In' Crowd" (later recorded by Ramsey Lewis) reached # 13 on the chart. Written by Billy Page, arranged by his brother Gene,[8] and produced by Fred Darian. Gray's record reached # 11 on the US R&B chart, and # 25 in the UK. The follow-up, "See You at the Go-Go", recorded with such top session musicians as Kaye, Hal Blaine and Larry Knechtel, also reached the Hot 100, and he issued an album, Dobie Gray Sings For 'In' Crowders That Go Go Go, which featured some self-penned songs.
Gray continued to record, though with little success, for small labels such as Charger and White Whale, as well as contributing to movie soundtracks. He also spent several years working as an actor, including 2½ years in the Los Angeles production of Hair. In 1970, while working in Hair, he joined a band, Pollution, as singer and percussionist. They were managed by actor Max Baer Jr. (best known as "Jethro" in The Beverly Hillbillies), and released two albums of soul-inspired psychedelic rock, Pollution I and Pollution II. The band also included singer Tata Vega and guitarist/singer James Quill Smith. After that, he worked at A & M Records on demo recordings with songwriter Paul Williams.
In 1972, he won a contract with Decca Records, shortly before it became part of MCA, to make an album with producer Mentor Williams, Paul's brother, in Nashville. Among the songs that they recorded at the Quadrafonic Sound Studios, co-owned by session musicians Norbert Putnam and David Briggs, was Mentor Williams' song "Drift Away", featuring a guitar riff by Reggie Young. Released as a single, the song rose to # 5 on the US pop charts, and remains Gray's best known song today. The follow-up, a version of Tom Jans' much-covered song "Loving Arms", made # 61 in the chart. Gray also released three albums with MCA, Drift Away, Loving Arms, and Hey, Dixie, but later stated that MCA were unsure of how to market the albums - "They didn't know where to place a black guy in country music."
In the mid-1970s he moved permanently to Nashville and signed for Capricorn Records, writing songs in collaboration with Troy Seals. His biggest hit singles in the late 1970s were "If Love Must Go", # 78 in 1976, and "You Can Do It", # 37 in late 1978, his last solo chart hit to date. He increasingly concentrated on songwriting, writing songs for a variety of artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Johnny Mathis, Charley Pride and Don Williams. Gray also toured in Europe, Australia and Africa in the 1970s. He performed in South Africa only after persuading the apartheid authorities to allow him to play to integrated audiences, becoming the first artist to do so in that country. His popularity in South Africa continued through numerous subsequent concert tours.
He re-emerged as a recording artist for Capitol Records in the mid-1980s, recording with producer Harold Shedd. Gray placed two singles in the US Billboard country chart during 1986 and 1987, including "That's One to Grow On" which peaked at #35. His country albums included From Where I Stand in 1986, and he made several appearances at Charlie Daniels' popular Volunteer Jam concerts. He also sang on a number of TV and radio jingles. In 1997, he released the album Diamond Cuts, including both new songs and re-recordings of older material.
In 2000, Wigan Casino DJ, Kev Roberts, compiled The Northern Soul Top 500, which was based on a survey of northern soul fans. Gray's "Out On The Floor", a 1966 recording which had been a British chart hit in 1975, was placed in the Top 10. "Drift Away" became a hit again in 2003, when it was covered by Uncle Kracker on his No Stranger to Shame album. The recording was a duet between Kracker and Gray, who was also featured in the video. It ended in the nineteenth place in the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003.
Drift Away
Dobie Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet I look for the light through the pouring rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
And I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame?
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Beginning to think that I'm wastin' time
I don't understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
So I'm countin' on you to carry me through
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feelin' blue
The guitar's comin' through to soothe me
Thanks for the joy that you've given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Rhythm and rhyme and harmony
You've helped me along, makin' me strong
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul (my soul)
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Hey, hey, hey, yeah, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul (my soul)
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Now, now now, won't ya, won't ya take me?
Oh, oh, take me, yeah
I wanna fly
Early in the morning, won't ya take me?
Come on and free my soul, nah, nah, nah
I wanna drift away, yeah
The above lyrics are from Dobie Gray's song 'Drift Away'. The song conveys a feeling of confusion and isolation, yet also a desire to overcome these feelings through the power of music. The lyrics express the singer's search for hope and inspiration amidst a world that seems unkind and unforgiving. He seeks solace in the soulful beats of Rock and Roll, hoping to lose himself in the music and drift away from his troubles.
However, the singer also acknowledges his dependence on the support of others for getting through the tough times. He counts on the 'beat boys' to carry him through his struggles and thanks them for the joy and strength they have given him. The song celebrates the power of music to bring people together and lift them up.
Overall, 'Drift Away' is a song of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. It reinforces the idea that during hard times, we can find comfort and strength in the simple pleasures of life, such as music.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day I'm more confused
Every day I feel more lost and uncertain.
Yet I look for the light through the pouring rain
Despite my confusion, I still search for hope and positivity.
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
I don't want to lose the game of hope and positive thinking.
And I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame?
The stress of my confusion is taking a toll on me.
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to lose myself in music and find release from my worries.
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
I want to be carried away by the power of the music.
Beginning to think that I'm wastin' time
I'm starting to believe that I'm not spending my time wisely.
I don't understand the things I do
I'm unsure of my own actions and motivations.
The world outside looks so unkind
The world seems harsh and unwelcoming.
So I'm countin' on you to carry me through
I'm relying on the power of music to lift me up.
And when my mind is free
When I'm not burdened by negative thoughts and emotions.
You know a melody can move me
Music has the power to uplift me and change my mood.
And when I'm feelin' blue
When I'm sad or depressed.
The guitar's comin' through to soothe me
The sound of the guitar has a calming effect on me.
Thanks for the joy that you've given me
Thank you for bringing happiness into my life through music.
I want you to know I believe in your song
I have faith in the power of music and its ability to heal and uplift.
Rhythm and rhyme and harmony
The elements that make up music.
You've helped me along, makin' me strong
Music has given me strength and helped me navigate difficult times in my life.
Hey, hey, hey, yeah, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul (my soul)
Repeating the desire to lose oneself in music and find release from stress.
Now, now now, won't ya, won't ya take me?
Asking to be taken away by the music.
Oh, oh, take me, yeah
Continuing to express the desire to be carried away by music.
I wanna fly
I want to feel free and unburdened.
Early in the morning, won't ya take me?
Asking for the power of music to be there at any time, day or night.
Come on and free my soul, nah, nah, nah
Asking for the catharsis of music to help unburden me of my stress.
I wanna drift away, yeah
I want to let go of my worries and be carried away by the power of music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mentor Ralph Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
raggityman
Did not know Dobie Gray passed. What a wonderful singer. :( RIP DG
suhoops
I love this song, I always have but when I finally heard the original by John Henry Kurtz my love for the song exploded. I have three favorite songs" Walk A Mile In My Shoes" by Joe South- "If I Can Dream" by Elvis- and "Drift Away" by John Henry Kurtz as well as Dobie Gray. I believe these are the 3 best songs ever written. Give me the beat boys I need to drift away.
Prionic77
Love Dobie and this version's awesome. It gives me goosebumps in a good way. His voice is always so soulful and deep. I wish I could sing with such feeling and heart as he could.
Kimberly Coggins
This is my very favorite relax me song! I love it! Thank you dobie gray! you will always be the best with this song! no remix could ever outdo your original voice!!!!!!!
Buggusmac
He's done a few more versions of this song, this one I've never hear before! BUT then again... I've never heard one from him, that I didn't love. Thanks for another version from the master of a sweet soul!!
Andrew Haine
You can really feel the vibe when playing and singing this
Shauna
All time favourite song, makes me emotional every time I hear it
Allan Dacruz
Love this version, thank-you so much for posting. Au revoir Dobie Gray, you will always live on through your music.
TheGmoney4980
Just Legendary.... A legend the world will never forget... R.I.P. Mr. Dobie Gray. Thanks for the joy you given all of us...
MissCindyElyse
I love this song so so much it holds a special place in my heart.