Arvella Gray
Birth nameJames Dixon
Also known asBlind Arvella Gray
BornJanuary 28, 1906
Somerville, Texas
DiedSeptember 7, 1980(1980-09-07) (aged 74)
Chicago, Illinois
GenresBlues, Folk and Gospel
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar

Blind Arvella Gray (January 28, 1906 - September 7, 1980)[1] was an American blues, folk and gospel singer and guitarist.[2]

Gray was born James Dixon, in Somerville, Texas.[1] He spent the latter part of his life performing and busking folk, blues and gospel music at Chicago's Maxwell Street flea market and at rapid-transit depots.[3] In the 1960s, he recorded two singles for his own Gray label, including "Freedom Rider" backed with "Freedom Bus."

Gray's only album, The Singing Drifter (1973),[3] was reissued on the Conjuroo[4] record label in 2005. The reissue was produced by Cary Baker, who wrote the liner notes for the original vinyl LP, released by Birch Records.

Gray died in Chicago, Illinois, in September 1980, at the age of 74.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Doc Rock. "The 1980s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  2. ^ Lewis, Catherine P. (November 22, 2005). "Blind Arvella Gray - The Singing Drifter". Paste Magazine. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 151. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
  4. ^ "Blind Arvella Gray, The Singing Drifter". Conjuroo.com. Retrieved November 4, 2015.

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