Jazz, Funk, & Blues Weekend: Robert Cray

Robert Cray is a blues guitarist and singer. Robert has led his own band and won five Grammy Awards. In 1986, Robert released his fourth album, Strong Persuader, produced by Dennis Walker, which received a Grammy Award, while the crossover single “Smokin’ Gun” gave him wider appeal and name recognition. Under the pseudonym “Night Train Clemons”, he recorded with Ted Hawkins in 1986. He was invited by Keith Richards to join the backing band for Chuck Berry in the 1987 film, Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock ‘N’ Roll, directed by Taylor Hackford. By then, Cray was an opening act for such major stars as Eric Clapton and sold out larger venues as a solo artist. Cray has generally played Fender guitars (Telecasters and Stratocasters) and there are two signature Robert Cray Stratocasters models available from Fender.