Vocalist, Songwriter, Actor. Best known for his hit "Drift Away" (1973). Born Lawrence Darrow Brown (some sources state name as Leonard Victor Ainsworth), into a family of sharecroppers, his love for gospel music was sparked by his grandfather who was a Baptist minister. He embarked upon a recording career during the early 1960s, as he moved to Los Angeles and came under the guidance of Sonny Bono, leading to the single "Look at Me" (1963), which cracked the Billboards 100 Pop Chart. His breakthrough hit would be "The 'In' Crowd" (1965), which reached number 13 and by the close of the decade, he was seriously involved in an acting career, partaking in a Los Angeles production of "Hair", as well as "A Raisin In The Sun" and "Look Homeward Angel." During the early 1970s, he resumed recording with the ensemble Pollution and again solely, reaching his pinnacle with the gold record "Drift Away" (peaking at number 5 in 1973). Gray returned to his acting roots with a starring role in the low-budget picture "Mean Mother" (1974), and began to gravitate musically towards the country genre, relocating to Nashville in 1975, where he launched a successful association with Troy Seals. He experienced his final Top-40 hit with the disco-style "You Can Do It" (1979) and during the 1980s and beyond, he focused fully on songwriting and performing as a country artist.
Vocalist, Songwriter, Actor. Best known for his hit "Drift Away" (1973). Born Lawrence Darrow Brown (some sources state name as Leonard Victor Ainsworth), into a family of sharecroppers, his love for gospel music was sparked by his grandfather who was a Baptist minister. He embarked upon a recording career during the early 1960s, as he moved to Los Angeles and came under the guidance of Sonny Bono, leading to the single "Look at Me" (1963), which cracked the Billboards 100 Pop Chart. His breakthrough hit would be "The 'In' Crowd" (1965), which reached number 13 and by the close of the decade, he was seriously involved in an acting career, partaking in a Los Angeles production of "Hair", as well as "A Raisin In The Sun" and "Look Homeward Angel." During the early 1970s, he resumed recording with the ensemble Pollution and again solely, reaching his pinnacle with the gold record "Drift Away" (peaking at number 5 in 1973). Gray returned to his acting roots with a starring role in the low-budget picture "Mean Mother" (1974), and began to gravitate musically towards the country genre, relocating to Nashville in 1975, where he launched a successful association with Troy Seals. He experienced his final Top-40 hit with the disco-style "You Can Do It" (1979) and during the 1980s and beyond, he focused fully on songwriting and performing as a country artist.
Bio by: C.S.
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DOBIE GRAY
(Lawrence D. Brown)
SUNRISE
JULY 26, 1940
SUNSET
DEC 6, 2011
A beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend to your loving family and to all the friends and fans you have touched, both in your personal life and around the world. Your love, legacy and music will live on in our heart forever.
"Wanna get lost in your rock 'n roll and DRIFT AWAY"
We love you Dodie
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