Robert Cray helped reenergize the blues scene in the 1980s with a fresh, appealing blend of blues and soul music that even crashed the pop charts. Between 1986 and 1999 his consummate vocals and guitar work graced 10 albums that hit the “Billboard 200” charts, including four that won Grammys and three that earned Blues Music Awards or W.C. Handy Awards. For Cray, the son of an Army quartermaster born in Columbus, Georgia, on Aug. 1, 1953, the journey to stardom began in Tacoma, Washington, when he and schoolmate Richard Cousins began playing in bands together. A following developed in the Pacific Northwest and in 1978 Cray recorded the first of five albums under the aegis of producer Bruce Bromberg. With his second LP, Bad Influence, Cray became the talk of the blues world, garnering four Blues Awards in 1984 for best vocalist, album, single, and song. Amidst a heavy touring schedule, the Robert Cray Band continued to make recordings that stretched the boundaries of blues and, with Strong Persuader, established Cray as a pop icon. Cray has continued to deliver crowd-pleasing live performances while producing his own albums, consistently ranking high on the blues charts. With his induction Cray becomes the youngest member of the Blues Hall of Fame. Two of his albums – Strong Persuader and False Accusations – are now in the Hall of Fame, as well as his historic Showdown! collaboration with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland.
