Music Metrics Vault

Dobie Gray

Data updated on 2025-03-28 22:48:35 UTC
Best known for his 1973 smash "Drift Away," Dobie Gray was a versatile vocalist who could handle soul, country, and pop, not to mention musical theater. Gray's origins are somewhat ill-defined; different sources alternately list his birth name as Leonard Victor Ainsworth or Laurence Darrow Brown, and his Texas birthplace as Brookshire or Simonton. His likely birth date is July 26, 1940 (though some sources list 1942 or 1943). Whatever the case, Gray grew up in a family of sharecroppers, and discovered gospel music through his grandfather, a Baptist minister. He also soaked up the R&B and country music of his surroundings, and in the early '60s he moved to Los Angeles to seek his fortune.

Before adopting the name Dobie Gray, he recorded several singles under the names Leonard Ainsworth, Larry Curtis, and Larry Dennis. His seventh single, "Look at Me," became his first chart hit in 1963, but his true breakout was a 1965 recording of "The 'In' Crowd," whose Motown-style bounce distinguished it from jazzman Ramsey Lewis' celebrated version. Gray hit the Top 20 with "The 'In' Crowd" and also had some success with the follow-up, "See You at the Go-Go"; this period -- spent mostly on the small, poorly distributed Cordak, Charger, and White Whale labels -- was the most soul-oriented of his career. It would be some time before Gray returned to the charts; in the meantime, he pursued a concurrent acting career, eventually spending two and a half years with the Los Angeles production of Hair. During his Hair years, Gray also sang with the band Pollution, which recorded two albums on Prophecy beginning in 1971.

In 1972, Gray resurfaced as a solo artist on MCA, with producer/songwriter Mentor Williams in his camp. Gray promptly scored the biggest hit of his career with the Williams-penned "Drift Away," which hit the Top Five in early 1973 and remains an oldies-radio staple today. The subsequent "Loving Arms," written by Tom Jans, grew into a much-covered repertory item, recorded by singers from the realms of rock, country, and R&B. Gray's own sound was shifting more toward country as well, and when he moved to Capricorn in 1975, he recorded in Nashville with new songwriting collaborator Troy Seals (he eventually relocated there permanently). Gray's popularity in Europe and Africa was growing steadily, and he managed to talk South African authorities into allowing him to play to integrated audiences during the apartheid era.

Gray's tenure in Nashville was marked by a commercial downturn, but his increased activity as a songwriter -- mostly in a country vein -- resulted in covers by the likes of Don Williams, Charley Pride, George Jones, and John Denver, among others. The disco-flavored "You Can Do It" became his final Top 40 hit in 1978, the same year he recorded the first of two LPs for Infinity. When Infinity went bankrupt, Gray concentrated exclusively on songwriting for a few years, then re-emerged on Capitol in the mid-'80s as a full-fledged country artist. He made the lower reaches of the country charts with singles like "That's One to Grow On" and "From Where I Stand," but found it impossible to break through to a wider country audience, and again faded from view after two albums. In 1997, Gray released Diamond Cuts, a mix of new songs and re-recorded past hits. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Genres

: northern soul

Total plays

182.3 million
Updated on 2025-03-28

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

1,164,619

Followers

52,492

Top Cities

  1. Australia
    25,229 listeners
  2. Australia
    19,646 listeners
  3. Australia
    19,879 listeners
  4. Australia
    12,487 listeners
  5. United States
    12,260 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Drift Away
Drift Away
128,714,010 3:58 1973-01-01
Drift Away
Drift Away
12,589,037 3:54 1976-01-01
Out On The Floor - Single Version
Out On The Floor - Single Version
10,700,482 2:54 2001-01-01
Out on the Floor
Out on the Floor
10,700,482 2:56 1965-01-01
Drift Away (Rerecorded Version)
Drift Away (Rerecorded Version)
8,799,278 4:37 1969-01-01
Lean on Me
Lean on Me
718,237 4:17 1969-01-01
Lean On Me
Lean On Me
718,237 4:18 2010-02-24
Loving Arms
Loving Arms
632,017 2:57 1973-10-01
The "In" Crowd
The "In" Crowd
601,741 2:56 1965-01-01
The "In" Crowd
The "In" Crowd
594,278 2:49 2002-08-01
The "In" Crowd
The "In" Crowd
527,841 2:55 2008-02-05
Drift Away
Drift Away
326,539 4:02 1972-01-01
Loving Arms (Rerecorded Version)
Loving Arms (Rerecorded Version)
266,095 3:06 1969-01-01
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - Live
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - Live
216,801 6:55 1980-01-01
I Can See Clearly Now
I Can See Clearly Now
210,477 3:10 1969-01-01
I Can See Cearly Now
I Can See Cearly Now
210,477 3:12 2010-02-24
Good Old Song
Good Old Song
201,752 3:24 1973-10-01
Loving Arms
Loving Arms
159,835 2:49 1995-01-01
Everything Is Beautiful
Everything Is Beautiful
145,042 4:07 2007-08-28
There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)
There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)
136,447 3:14 1973-10-01
Feelings
Feelings
133,360 3:32 2007-01-16
The In Crowd
The In Crowd
123,815 2:44 2001-01-01
Soul Days
Soul Days
121,648 3:46 1969-01-01
Got My Heart Set On You
Got My Heart Set On You
120,465 3:26 2001-01-01
Got My Heart Set on You - Rerecorded
Got My Heart Set on You - Rerecorded
120,465 3:26 2013-12-17
I Got My Heart Set on You
I Got My Heart Set on You
120,465 3:26 1969-01-01
I've Got My Heart Set on You
I've Got My Heart Set on You
120,465 3:28 2013-07-01
I've Got My Heart Set On You
I've Got My Heart Set On You
120,465 3:28 2010-02-24
Slip Away
Slip Away
110,679 2:55 1969-01-01
What a Wonderful World
What a Wonderful World
110,032 3:56 1969-01-01
What A Wonderful World
What A Wonderful World
110,032 3:58 2010-02-24
When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman
100,407 4:38 2000-01-01
When A Man Loves A Woman
When A Man Loves A Woman
100,407 4:38 2009-06-30
Cupid
Cupid
100,236 2:54 1969-01-01
The Time I Love You The Most
The Time I Love You The Most
98,647 3:15 1973-01-01
If I Ever Needed You
If I Ever Needed You
89,362 3:55 1969-01-01
We Had It All
We Had It All
87,467 4:05 1969-01-01
We It All
We It All
87,467 4:06 2010-02-24
Love Is On The Line
Love Is On The Line
85,330 2:38 1973-10-01
You Are So Beautiful
You Are So Beautiful
84,538 2:15 1971-01-01
The In Crowd
The In Crowd
82,931 2:55 2010-02-24
The 'In' Crowd (Rerecorded Version)
The 'In' Crowd (Rerecorded Version)
82,931 2:53 1969-01-01
The in Crowd
The in Crowd
82,931 2:55 2013-07-01
It's Not Because We Didn't Try
It's Not Because We Didn't Try
76,100 4:07 1969-01-01
Rose Garden - Single Version
Rose Garden - Single Version
71,728 2:53 2001-01-01
So High (Rock Me Baby & Roll Me Away)
So High (Rock Me Baby & Roll Me Away)
67,088 3:12 1974-01-01
Crazy
Crazy
66,113 3:59 1969-01-01
A Showman's Life
A Showman's Life
65,812 3:34 2000-01-01
People Get Ready
People Get Ready
64,718 4:11 2000-01-01
Slow Rain
Slow Rain
64,489 3:44 1969-01-01
(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right
(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right
61,810 4:00 2000-01-01
Streets Of Fire
Streets Of Fire
58,577 3:57 2010-02-24
Streets on Fire
Streets on Fire
58,577 3:57 1969-01-01
Streets of Fire
Streets of Fire
58,577 3:57 2013-07-01
Look At Me
Look At Me
58,262 2:36 2001-01-01
Look at Me
Look at Me
58,262 2:35 1955-12-19
I Can't Stop Now (Guest appearance by Dobie Gray)
I Can't Stop Now (Guest appearance by Dobie Gray)
55,158 2:39 1972-01-01
Blue Angel
Blue Angel
54,582 3:37 2000-01-01
Let Go
Let Go
51,154 3:26 2020-09-23
I Can Live with That
I Can Live with That
49,610 3:30 1969-01-01
I Can Live Without That
I Can Live Without That
49,610 3:32 2013-07-01
I can Live Without That
I can Live Without That
49,610 3:32 2010-02-24
Ain't That Good News
Ain't That Good News
49,451 3:08 1969-01-01
Lovin' The Easy Way
Lovin' The Easy Way
47,421 2:52 1973-10-01
That's One to Grow On
That's One to Grow On
46,103 3:56 2013-01-01
Let Me Go Till I'm Gone
Let Me Go Till I'm Gone
44,480 2:41 2001-01-01
See You At The Go-Go
See You At The Go-Go
44,303 2:56 2001-01-01
See You at the Go Go
See You at the Go Go
44,303 3:01 2008-02-05
Don’t Lose Heart
Don’t Lose Heart
41,538 4:24 2017-11-17
A Change Is Gonna Come - Live at the Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN - January 1981
A Change Is Gonna Come - Live at the Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN - January 1981
40,457 4:48 1981-01-01
Walk with Love
Walk with Love
38,872 2:54 1965-01-01
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
38,272 4:06 2000-01-01
The You Can Tell Me Goodbye
The You Can Tell Me Goodbye
38,272 4:06 1969-01-01
If Love Must Go
If Love Must Go
37,487 3:53 2020-09-23
Until the Dream Becomes Real
Until the Dream Becomes Real
36,490 3:34 1969-01-01
Until The Dream Becomes Real
Until The Dream Becomes Real
36,490 3:34 2010-02-24
I'm Only Speaking My Heart
I'm Only Speaking My Heart
35,384 3:54 1969-01-01
See You at the Go Go
See You at the Go Go
34,080 2:58 1965-01-01
It's Over
It's Over
31,029 2:52 1969-01-01
Be a Man
Be a Man
30,059 2:10 1965-01-01
Blue Ribbons
Blue Ribbons
29,243 2:30 1965-01-01
That's One To Grow On
That's One To Grow On
28,830 3:20 2001-01-01
You Can Do It
You Can Do It
26,930 4:13 2001-01-01
Loving Arms
Loving Arms
26,831 3:05 2005-01-01
Easy Come, Easy Go
Easy Come, Easy Go
26,490 3:31 2020-09-23
Mississippi Rolling Stone
Mississippi Rolling Stone
26,155 3:15 1973-10-01
Bring Me Downtown
Bring Me Downtown
24,892 3:59 2009-10-27
Watch Out For Lucy - Single Version
Watch Out For Lucy - Single Version
24,602 3:23 2001-01-01
Sweet Lovin' Woman
Sweet Lovin' Woman
23,038 2:40 1973-01-01
A New Ray Of Sunshine
A New Ray Of Sunshine
22,741 3:15 2001-01-01
Reachin' For The Feeling
Reachin' For The Feeling
22,553 3:13 1973-10-01
City Stars
City Stars
22,218 3:32 1973-01-01
We Had It All
We Had It All
21,707 2:34 1973-01-01
Honey, You Can't Take It Back - Single Version
Honey, You Can't Take It Back - Single Version
21,545 2:14 2001-01-01
In Hollywood
In Hollywood
20,971 2:56 1965-01-01
Monkey Jerk
Monkey Jerk
20,272 2:09 1965-01-01
A Good Woman's Love
A Good Woman's Love
20,108 3:04 1989-07-25
Right About Now
Right About Now
19,708 3:51 2000-01-01
Uptown Saturday Night
Uptown Saturday Night
18,187 3:10 2001-01-01
Mr. Engineer
Mr. Engineer
18,063 2:39 1965-01-01
Rose
Rose
17,862 3:49 1973-10-01
Feelin' in My Heart
Feelin' in My Heart
16,019 1:55 1965-01-01
Hey Dixie
Hey Dixie
15,432 3:05 1974-01-01
Monkey Jerk
Monkey Jerk
14,217 2:06 1969-01-01
Broken in Two
Broken in Two
12,929 2:26 1965-01-01
Guess Who
Guess Who
12,764 2:54 2020-09-23
The In Crowd
The In Crowd
12,461 2:50 1987-01-01
The "In" Crowd
The "In" Crowd
12,461 2:56 2005-01-01
Old Time Feeling
Old Time Feeling
11,721 3:07 1974-01-01
Love To Burn
Love To Burn
11,714 3:01 2000-01-01
Love to Burn
Love to Burn
11,714 3:00 1969-01-01
Delia
Delia
11,512 2:12 2020-09-23
Good Times
Good Times
11,260 3:60 2000-01-01
Watch Out For Lucy
Watch Out For Lucy
10,937 3:14 1974-01-01
We Had It All
We Had It All
10,824 2:56 2016-10-28
Find 'Em, Fool 'Em & Forget 'Em
Find 'Em, Fool 'Em & Forget 'Em
10,360 4:49 2020-09-23
What A Lady
What A Lady
10,144 2:51 2020-09-23
No Room to Cry
No Room to Cry
10,130 2:52 1965-01-01
What A Way To Go
What A Way To Go
9,701 2:11 2004-01-01
L.A. Lady
L.A. Lady
9,463 2:56 1973-01-01
Easy Loving Lady
Easy Loving Lady
9,321 2:59 2020-09-23
Joy To The World
Joy To The World
8,877 1:54 2007-09-24
Now That I'm Without You
Now That I'm Without You
8,430 3:22 1973-01-01
That's How You Treat a Cheater
That's How You Treat a Cheater
7,535 2:40 1965-01-01
Roll On Sweet Mississippi
Roll On Sweet Mississippi
7,250 3:56 1974-01-01
Walk with Love
Walk with Love
6,979 2:55 2008-02-05
Blue Ribbons
Blue Ribbons
6,875 2:31 2008-02-05
Feelin' in My Heart
Feelin' in My Heart
6,627 2:02 1969-01-01
Eddie's Song
Eddie's Song
6,398 2:46 1973-01-01
Rockin' Chair
Rockin' Chair
6,035 3:28 1973-01-01
Caddo Queen
Caddo Queen
5,579 3:25 1973-01-01
Mr. Engineer
Mr. Engineer
5,545 2:41 2008-02-05
Never Gonna Give You Up
Never Gonna Give You Up
5,539 3:34 1976-01-01
That's How You Treat the Cheater
That's How You Treat the Cheater
5,327 2:41 2008-02-05
Honey, You Can't Take It Back
Honey, You Can't Take It Back
4,885 2:14 2004-01-01
Can You Hear Me Now (feat. Dobie Gray)
Can You Hear Me Now (feat. Dobie Gray)
4,799 3:04 2017-11-06
No Room to Cry
No Room to Cry
4,663 2:53 2008-02-05
Tears Falling From My Tears
Tears Falling From My Tears
4,529 1:60 2020-09-23
In Hollywood
In Hollywood
4,337 2:56 2008-02-05
Broken in Two
Broken in Two
4,233 2:27 2008-02-05
Be a Man
Be a Man
4,215 2:10 2008-02-05
Drive On, Ride On
Drive On, Ride On
4,174 3:14 2020-09-23
Walkin And Whistlin
Walkin And Whistlin
3,992 2:35 2020-09-23
The 'In' Crowd
The 'In' Crowd
3,328 2:51 1969-01-01
Comfort And Please You
Comfort And Please You
2,778 3:07 2020-09-23
I Never Had It So Good
I Never Had It So Good
2,478 3:33 1973-10-01
Kissin´Doll
Kissin´Doll
2,171 2:11 2020-09-23
Mellow Man
Mellow Man
2,103 3:28 2020-09-23
Lay Back
Lay Back
1,914 2:26 1973-01-01
Drift Away - Karaoke Version In the Style of Uncle Kracker
Drift Away - Karaoke Version In the Style of Uncle Kracker
1,870 3:44 2010-11-30
Lover´s Sweat
Lover´s Sweat
1,862 2:41 2020-09-23
Loving Arms - Afro Remix
Loving Arms - Afro Remix
1,797 4:13 2013-12-13
You And Me
You And Me
1,700 2:57 1973-10-01
Do You Really Have A Heart
Do You Really Have A Heart
1,506 3:05 2003-01-01
Let the Good Times Roll
Let the Good Times Roll
1,256 3:58 1969-01-01
When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman
1,144 4:37 1969-01-01
Walk with Love
Walk with Love
1,062 2:51 1969-01-01
People Get Ready
People Get Ready
1,014 4:11 1969-01-01
Blue Ribbons for Her Curls
Blue Ribbons for Her Curls
< 1000 2:27 1969-01-01
Look at Me
Look at Me
< 1000 2:37 1969-01-01
Be a Man
Be a Man
< 1000 2:06 1969-01-01
No Room to Cry
No Room to Cry
< 1000 2:49 1969-01-01
See You at the Go Go
See You at the Go Go
< 1000 2:57 1969-01-01
Mister Engineer
Mister Engineer
< 1000 2:37 1969-01-01
In Hollywood
In Hollywood
< 1000 2:52 1969-01-01
Broken in Two
Broken in Two
< 1000 2:24 1969-01-01
That's How You Treat a Cheater
That's How You Treat a Cheater
< 1000 2:38 1969-01-01
If Loving You Is Wrong
If Loving You Is Wrong
< 1000 3:60 1969-01-01
Right About Now
Right About Now
< 1000 3:50 1969-01-01
A Showman's Life
A Showman's Life
< 1000 3:34 1969-01-01
Blue Angel
Blue Angel
< 1000 3:36 1969-01-01
Paradise Road
Paradise Road
< 1000 5:26 2022-08-25
How Can You Live All Alone
How Can You Live All Alone
< 1000 3:15 1974-01-01
Turning On You
Turning On You
< 1000 3:18 1974-01-01
Can You Feel It
Can You Feel It
< 1000 3:07 1974-01-01
Performance
Performance
< 1000 2:57 1974-01-01
The Music's Real (Mentor's Song)
The Music's Real (Mentor's Song)
< 1000 3:14 1974-01-01

New releases

If Love Must Go
If Love Must Go
2020-09-23
[A. IM Media]
Streets Of Fire
Streets Of Fire
2020-06-09
[Simonton Records]
Streets Of Fire
Streets Of Fire
2020-06-09
[Dobie Gray]
Dobie Gray/Silver Collection 2
Dobie Gray/Silver Collection 2
2016-10-28
[Universal Music (Pty) Ltd.]
When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman
2014-09-22
[LocoBop]
The In Crowd (Rerecorded Version)
The In Crowd (Rerecorded Version)
2013-12-17
[Serenity Records]
Best of Dobie Gray
Best of Dobie Gray
2013-07-01
[Sony/ATV Europe Ltd]
The In Crowd
The In Crowd
2010-09-23
[Crusader/Charger]
Best Of Dobie Gray
Best Of Dobie Gray
2010-02-24
[Sony/ATV Europe Ltd]
Best Of The Best
Best Of The Best
2009-07-03
[Gusto Records]
Dobie Gray - His Very Best
Dobie Gray - His Very Best
2008-04-21
[K-Tel]
The in Crowd
The in Crowd
2008-02-05
[Maselow]
Echoes of Time
Echoes of Time
2003-02-01
[K-Tel]
Ultimate Collection: Dobie Gray
Ultimate Collection: Dobie Gray
2001-01-01
[Hip-O (UC)]
Soul Days
Soul Days
2000-01-01
[LocoBop]
The Soulful Sound of Dobie Gray
The Soulful Sound of Dobie Gray
1997-01-01
[Geffen*]
Hey Dixie
Hey Dixie
1974-01-01
[Geffen]
Loving Arms
Loving Arms
1973-10-01
[Geffen]
Drift Away
Drift Away
1973-01-01
[Geffen]
The 'In' Crowd - An Anthology
The 'In' Crowd - An Anthology
1969-01-01
[Smith & Co.]
Dobie Gray Sings For 'In' Crowders that go 'Go Go'
Dobie Gray Sings For 'In' Crowders that go 'Go Go'
1965-01-01
[Crusader/Charger]