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.
The "In" Crowd
Dobie Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I go where the in crowd goes
I'm in with the in crowd
And I know what the in crowd knows
Any time of the year, don't you hear?
Dressin' fine, makin' time
We breeze up and down the street
They make way day or night
They know the in crowd is out of sight
I'm in with the in crowd
I know every latest dance
When you're in with the in crowd
It's easy to find romance
At a spot where the beat's really hot
Oh, if it's square, we ain't there
We make every minute count
Our share is always the biggest amount
Other guys imitate us
But the original's still the greatest
We got our own way of walkin'
We got our own way of talkin', yeah
Anytime of the year, don't you hear?
Spendin' cash, talkin' trash
Girl, I'll show you a real good time
Come on with me and leave your troubles behind
I don't care where you've been
You ain't been nowhere till you've been in
With the in crowd, yeah
Oh, with the in crowd (yeah, yeah, yeah)
We got our own way of walkin', yeah (yeah, yeah, yeah)
We got our own way of talkin' (yeah, yeah, yeah)
In the in crowd
The lyrics of Dobie Gray's song "The In Crowd" captures the sentiment of being part of the popular social group during the 1960s. The singer proudly boasts about being part of the "in crowd," who has access to the latest fashion, music, and entertainment. The song celebrates the idea of being part of a group that is "out of sight," meaning it is admired and respected by others.
The song opens with the singer declaring that he is in the in crowd and goes where they go. He knows what the in crowd knows and is familiar with the latest trends and dances. The group takes pride in being unique and not conforming to mainstream ideas. They only go to places where the beat is hot, and they can show off their unique way of walking and talking. They are confident about themselves and are not afraid to show it.
The song's message resonates throughout generations, with people striving to be part of the popular social group in their schools or workplaces. The desire to fit in and be accepted by others is a universal longing.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in with the in crowd
I am accepted by and associated with the popular group of people
I go where the in crowd goes
I follow and participate in the activities that the popular group is engaged in
And I know what the in crowd knows
I am privy to the knowledge and opinions of the popular group
Any time of the year, don't you hear? Dressin' fine, makin' time
We always look sharp and prioritize having a good time, no matter the season
We breeze up and down the street
We move casually and confidently through public spaces
We get respect from the people we meet
Those who encounter us acknowledge and admire our status and social acceptance
They make way day or night
People will move aside to make room for us, whether it's day or night-time
They know the in crowd is out of sight
They recognize the popularity and influence of our group
I'm in with the in crowd
I reiterate my connection and belonging with the popular group
I know every latest dance
I am up-to-date with the most recent social dance trends
When you're in with the in crowd
Being a part of the popular group makes it easier to find romantic partners
It's easy to find romance
Being a part of the popular group provides a broader pool of potential romantic partners
At a spot where the beat's really hot
We frequent venues where the music is up-tempo and likely to incite dancing
Oh, if it's square, we ain't there
We avoid places and activities that are deemed uncool or out-of-fashion
We make every minute count
We prioritize fun and enjoyment in all aspects of life
Our share is always the biggest amount
We consistently have access to and consume the most desirable commodities and experiences
Other guys imitate us
Our style and behavior are so desirable that others try to replicate them
But the original's still the greatest
Despite attempts to copy us, we remain the most desirable and influential group
We got our own way of walkin'
Our group has a distinct and recognizable way of moving through physical space
We got our own way of talkin', yeah
Our group has a distinct and recognizable way of speaking
Spendin' cash, talkin' trash
We enjoy spending money and making bold, sometimes outlandish statements
Girl, I'll show you a real good time
I can guarantee that being with me will be an exciting, enjoyable experience
Come on with me and leave your troubles behind
Join me and forget any problems or worries you may have
I don't care where you've been
I am not concerned with your past experiences or social status
You ain't been nowhere till you've been in
You have not truly experienced popularity and social acceptance until you have been a part of our group
With the in crowd, yeah
Reiterating the exclusivity of our group
Oh, with the in crowd (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Repeating the name and associated status of our group
We got our own way of walkin', yeah (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Further emphasizing the distinct physical presence of our group
We got our own way of talkin' (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Further emphasizing the distinct verbal presence of our group
In the in crowd
Repeating the name of our exclusive and influential group
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Cloud9
Written by: Billy Page
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@standartenfuhrerhanslanda4867
It’s a whale like K.K itchikawa. Thats the one you gotta’ look for. A couple years ago her knocked some casinos in the Cayman Islands. Another millionaire cheapskate who enjoys free towels, rooms, private jets and 2 million of our money. We got him back though. We told him the plane was on the fritz. Then he missed the commercial flights connecting with japan.
See the trick is with these whales is that they can’t bet small for long. He didn’t think of it as winning 30,000 , he thought of it as losing 90,000. In the end, he gave up a million of his own money.
In Vegas, everybodies gotta watch everyone else.
The dealers are watching the players, the box men are watching the dealers, the pit bosses are watching the box men, the floor manager is watching the pit bosses, the casino manager is watching the casino manager, I’m watching the casino manager, and the eye in the sky is watching us all.
Cut the scene ginger playing craps and stealing chips.
What a move. But for a girl like ginger, love cost money.
@carlaharker9081
I got in trouble in third grade for singing this song really softly to myself in the library in grammar school. The teacher told me we do not sing in the library. I am now retired and I still love this song.
@DCol
And that miserable teacher’s corpse is rotting away 6ft in the ground 😀
@turbodoggur
awesome ! 🙂
@BrendaDrumm
Loved this song since day one I'm now 73 your comment made me smile xx
@ethelstevenslove3165
Carla Harker; Aaaaah so cute 🥰
@wendigo53
... and that's why the library is referred to by Gen Z as the book cemetery.
@tennesseeplowboy6796
What a good man. In his will he left all of his musical assets and royalties to the Tennessee School for the blind and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis.
@aarongoff1111
Mr. Gray said it best...the original's still the greatest!! 🎶🎵💕☺️👍
@christopherphillips8027
Hands down, the best version of this song. RIP Dobie Gray. Next to Drift Away, your greatest song.
@jeankeats3200
Christopher, you NAILED IT!!!!!!!!!! XXXOOO