Arvella Gray Explained

Arvella Gray
Birth Name:James Dixon
Alias:Blind Arvella Gray
Birth Date:January 28, 1906
Birth Place:Somerville, Texas
Death Place:Chicago, Illinois
Genre:Blues, Folk and Gospel
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:Guitar

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

Gray was born James Dixon, in Somerville, Texas.[2] 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. 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.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Lewis . Catherine P. . Blind Arvella Gray - The Singing Drifter . 18 May 2019 . Paste Magazine . 22 November 2005.
  2. Web site: Doc Rock . The 1980s . The Dead Rock Stars Club . 2015-11-04.
  3. Book: The Guinness Who's Who of Blues. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1995. Second. 0-85112-673-1. 151.
  4. Web site: Blind Arvella Gray, The Singing Drifter . Conjuroo.com . 2015-11-04.