Claude Gray
Encyclopedia
Claude Gray is an American country music
singer-songwriter and guitar picker best known for his 1960 hit "Family Bible," which has been covered by many different artists.
from 1950 to 1954. Upon his return to home, he worked as a salesman for the rest of the decade. He began a recording career in 1959, after working as a radio announcer in Kilgore, Texas
, and performing as a disc jockey in Meridian, Mississippi
.
for $100. Gray then recorded the song, and released it as a single." It peaked at #10 on the country charts. In 1961, "I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)," was released, which peaked at #4, and was followed by the biggest hit of Gray's career, the #3 "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)," which was penned by Roger Miller
. Gray's final top ten hit came in 1967 with "I Never Had the One I Wanted," which was also his final charted song upon re-release in 1979.
In the late 1970s, Gray co-wrote with Walt Breeland, a controversial song entitled "The Ballad of Jimmy Hoffa." Gray's record label at the time (Mercury Records
) refused to allow him to record the song, but he eventually recorded it for Ol' Podner Records, who subsequently released it directly to the Teamsters
. In 1986, he released a cover of Neil Diamond
's "Sweet Caroline
."
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer-songwriter and guitar picker best known for his 1960 hit "Family Bible," which has been covered by many different artists.
Early life
Gray started his singing career while attending High School in his hometown of Henderson, Texas. After school, he served in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1950 to 1954. Upon his return to home, he worked as a salesman for the rest of the decade. He began a recording career in 1959, after working as a radio announcer in Kilgore, Texas
Kilgore, Texas
Kilgore is a city in Gregg and Rusk Counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the home of Kilgore College, and was also the childhood home of famous classical pianist Van Cliburn...
, and performing as a disc jockey in Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Career
Gray was approached by D records in 1959, and recorded "I'm Not Supposed," which was released as his first single. The song made the Cashbox country charts. The following year, Gray and two friends purchased the song "Family Bible" from Willie NelsonWillie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
for $100. Gray then recorded the song, and released it as a single." It peaked at #10 on the country charts. In 1961, "I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)," was released, which peaked at #4, and was followed by the biggest hit of Gray's career, the #3 "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)," which was penned by Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
. Gray's final top ten hit came in 1967 with "I Never Had the One I Wanted," which was also his final charted song upon re-release in 1979.
In the late 1970s, Gray co-wrote with Walt Breeland, a controversial song entitled "The Ballad of Jimmy Hoffa." Gray's record label at the time (Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
) refused to allow him to record the song, but he eventually recorded it for Ol' Podner Records, who subsequently released it directly to the Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
. In 1986, he released a cover of Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
's "Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline
"Sweet Caroline" is a pop song written and performed by Neil Diamond and officially released on September 16, 1969, as a single. It was later released on December 9, 1972 as a part of Diamond's Hot August Night album. There are three distinct mixes of this song...
."
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Songs of Broken Love Affairs | Mercury | |
| 1962 | Country Goes to Town | ||
| 1967 | Claude Gray Sings | 45 | Decca |
| 1968 | Easy Way | ||
| Treasure of Love | Hilltop | ||
| 1972 | Presenting | Million | |
| 1978 | If I Ever Need a Lady | Koala |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1958 | "My Tears Are Inside" | singles only | |||
| "Late Again" | |||||
| 1959 | "I'm Not Supposed" | ||||
| "Best Part of Me" | |||||
| 1960 | "Family Bible" | 10 | |||
| "My Party's Over" | |||||
| "Homecoming in Heaven" | |||||
| 1961 | "I'll Have Another Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)" | 4 | 84 | Songs of Broken Love Affairs | |
| "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)" | 3 | ||||
| 1962 | "Let's End It Before It Begins" | 26 | singles only | ||
| "You Take the Table (And I'll Take the Chairs)" | |||||
| "Daddy Stopped In" | 20 | ||||
| 1963 | "Knock Again, True Love" | 18 | |||
| "First Love Never Dies" | |||||
| "I'm Gonna Lie Again" | |||||
| 1964 | "Eight Years (And Two Children Later)" | 43 | |||
| "Too Many Rivers" | |||||
| 1965 | "Kinderhook Bill" | ||||
| "Thank You for the Ride" | |||||
| 1966 | "Mean Old Woman" | 22 | |||
| "I Never Had the One I Wanted" | 9 | Claude Gray Sings | |||
| 1967 | "Because of Him" | 45 | Easy Way | ||
| "If I Ever Need a Lady (I'll Call You)" | 67 | ||||
| "How Fast Them Trucks Can Go" | 12 | Claude Gray Sings | |||
| 1968 | "Your Devil Memory" | Easy Way | |||
| "Night Life" | 31 | 25 | |||
| "The Love of a Woman" | 68 | single only | |||
| 1969 | "Don't Give Me a Chance" | 41 | Easy Way | ||
| "Take Off Time" | 34 | singles only | |||
| 1970 | "The Cleanest Man in Cincinnati" | 54 | |||
| "Everything Will Be Alright" | 40 | 27 | |||
| 1971 | "Angel" | 41 | |||
| "Baton Rouge" | |||||
| 1972 | "Jeannie" | Presenting | |||
| "What Every Woman Wants to Hear" | 66 | ||||
| 1973 | "Woman Ease My Mind" | 58 | |||
| "Loving You Is a Habit I Can't Break" | |||||
| 1976 | "Rockin' My Memories (To Sleep)" | 88 | singles only | ||
| 1977 | "We Fell in Love That Way" | 92 | |||
| "It'll Do" | |||||
| 1978 | "Slow Dancing" | ||||
| "If I Ever Need a Lady" (re-recording) | 68 | If I Ever Need a Lady | |||
| 1979 | "I Never Had the One I Wanted" (re-recording) | 78 | |||
| "How Fast Them Trucks Can Go" | singles only | ||||
| "It Ain't the Wakin' Up" | |||||
| 1981 | "Every Night Sensation" | ||||
| "He's Just an Illusion" | |||||
| 1982 | "Let's Go All the Way" (w/ Norma Jean Norma Jean (singer) Norma Jean Beasler , better known as Norma Jean, is an American country music singer who was a member of The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961–1967. She had a number of country singles in the Top 10 and Top 20 between 1963 and 1967, including "Go Cat Go" and "The Game of Triangles", and was... ) |
68 | |||
| "Who Sent My Ex to Texas" | |||||
| 1986 | "Sweet Caroline" | 77 |