E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Kevin Winter / Getty Images file
Dobie Gray in 2004
Singer Dobie Gray, who had an enormous hit with 1973's "Drift Away," has died at age 71.
Gray's personal website confirms the news. No cause of death was listed.
According to Gray's site, he was born into a sharecropping family in Texas in 1940 and grew up surrounded by music. He later moved to Los Angeles and for a time worked with Sonny Bono, then A&R manager for Specialty Records. He also worked as an actor.
Gray's other songs included "Look at Me," "The 'In' Crowd," and "Loving Arms," but nothing hit as big as the wonderfully wistful "Drift Away," which sold over a million copies. It was actually first recorded by little-known John Henry Kurtz, but it was Gray's version that is most remembered. It's often played as a last song at concerts.
The song is almost best known not by its title, but by the repeated lyric, "Gimme the Beat, Boys," often misheard as "Gimme the Beach Boys." Gray's website even features a "Nancy" comic strip in which Sluggo sings the "Beach Boys" version of the lyric, then argues with Nancy about the actual words.
"Drift Away" has been covered by everyone from Elvis Presley to Ray Charles. The Rolling Stones reportedly recorded it, but never released their version, and rumors that the Beatles recorded the tune are false (they had already broken up by the time Gray recorded it). In 2003, Gray himself sang the final verse on Uncle Kracker's version of the song, which spent a record-setting 28 weeks atop the U.S. adult contemporary chart.
Listen to Gray's original version below.
Do you have fond memories of Dobie Gray and "Drift Away"? Tell us in the comments.
Related content:
Leave a Comment:
In early 70's, While attending college in Milwaukee, I got a Summer Job working in the Mountains of Eastern Ky. Culture shock! Mountains blocked all but a few local stations (country). No 8-track, or cassette player. I found a spot on top of a mountain where at night I could recieve a super station from Chicago. At least once a week, I would drive up there and sit for two or three hours and not leave until I heard "Drift Away". It was like a life line to sanity. The song means a lot to me.
Beautiful story. Epitomizes the song. Thanks for sharing.
This song came out when I was a freshman in high school. I rode the bus to school, and on our bus, the driver would play the radio as we drove the bus route. This was one of the songs that was played quite frequently, and still today, everytime I hear this song, I'm back on the bus riding to school. Another one from the same time period, which I would put in the same category, was "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers.
I'm sure many people feel the same about the songs they grew up with during high school, but for me, nothing tops the 70's decade for music. There were lots of problems in that decade to be sure, but music was fantastic.
Rest in Peace Dobie, and thanks for the memories.
Very sad news ...
thoughts and prayers for his family
The Stones did indeed record "Drift Away"...I have a bootleg of it somewhere...it's pretty good.
Search Youtube and you will find the Rolling Stones version of Drift Away. An awesome version, but nothing will ever capture the emotion and feeling that Dobie did. Dobie's vocals were amazing. RIP and thanks for the music.
I have always loved "Drift Away"--it is one of my all-time favorite songs. The version by Uncle Kr acker and Dobie Gray was also great. If I am in my car and pulling into my destination, I sit in the car with the radio cranked up until the song is finished. My sincere condolences to his family and all the followers of this great song!
There was no song that captured the spirit of rock and roll better than "Drift Away" R.I.P. Dobie!
I have written several of my own songs, with Dobie Gray's voice in reference. That dreamy, soulful voice will always live on forever with "Drift Away". R.I.P.
My first-ever music purchase was the single "Drift Away" when I was a child back in the 70s (I don't recall where I got the cash, I probably used used money left to me by the Tooth Fairy!). I played that little record over and over and over. I was so happy that Uncle Kracker had the presence of mind to include the master himself on his version...really makes that song. Again.
1973 was the last year i was in the Navy, my ship was at the old Hunters Point Naval shipyard (long gone now). When Nixon was re-elected, the rock station KSAN played "Drift Away" over and over for eight straight hours with NO INTERRUPTIONS of any kind.
Saw Dobie Gray in the Philly airport years ago. He had a satin jacket on. I called out his name in recognition and he smiled broadly. The 'In Crowd' man who later sang one of the greatest songs in Rock n' Roll history - 'Drift Away'. I put it on a compilation CD for my daughter who only knew the Uncle Kracker version. Drift Away but not forgotten - Dobie Gray. Rock on.
Must have been a young person that wrote this article because "The In Crowd" was also a huge hit when I was coming up back in the "60s. There is also a great video on an old VHS tape I have of Dobie singing that song on the old Shindig rock & roll show...
Dobie Gray will be greatly missed and i he is inducted into The Rock n Roll Hall, if not he should because of his 1973 mega hit "Drift Away." Man, I love the hell out of that song!
Dobie Gray will be greatly missed and I hope was inducted into The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, if not he should be because of his mega hit "Drift Away." Man, I love the hell out of that song.
I remember listening to Dobie Gray's album (loved every song on it, including Drift Away) over and over again until my parents went crazy. Ahhhh, those were the days when songs had meaning and an actual tune!
Drift away my friend, and bless your soul. R.I.P. Dobie, you will never be forgoten