Most interviewers have asked Robert Cray if he considers himself a blues guitarist. The answer that I have been able to find is that Cray draws inspiration from the blues, but also incorporates Soul, R&B, and Gospel into a lot of his own music. This mash up of music styles have helped Cray define his signature sound. And whether or not you are a fan of Robert Cray’s music, it’s difficult for any blues music listener to not recognize Robert Cray once he plays his Fender Strat or Tele and steps up to the mic. Robert Cray has written and recorded several blues and crossover hit songs during his career and continues to encourage music fans all over the world to listen to the blues. I found a few of Cray’s “bluesier” performances on YouTube that I would like to share with you. I hope you enjoy the videos because I had fun putting them together.
The first video comes from a performance at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival. Robert Cray performs his soulful song, “Time Makes Two.” Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h53va2AIuYU.
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This next live performance features one of the songs from Robert Cray’s hit album, “Strong Persuader.” The song is called, “Right Next Door,” check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcpH4k0iugk&feature=related.
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The last performance I found for this post features a live jam with Robert Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughan in Dallas, TX 1987. Unfortunately, there isn’t a video of the performance, since it’s from a live radio broadcast. Check out this great version of the song, “New Blood,” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoHvs6_2KmA.
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GuitarWorld put together a great article about Robert Cray back in 1989 when he was really hitting the music scene hard. If you get the chance, I encourage you to follow the link to read the whole article, but I pulled the last little bit of it because it features some information about Cray’s rig. If you’re a gear hound like me, check this out at http://www.guitarworld.com/robert-cray-discusses-albert-collins-gear-and-his-new-album-1989-guitar-world-interview?page=0,0.
A Robert Cray Axology
FOR HIS FINE debut album, Who’s Been Talkin’, Cray played a Gibson 345 stereo guitar. It gave him a darker sound than he’s currently getting on Stratocasters.
“I had a real deep sound on that album because of all the low end I’d get with the humbuckers, and from the fact that I’d play a lot on the bass pickup. But then maybe a year after that record was recorded, I switched to a Stratocaster. The Gibson was cool ’cause it had a six-position switch, but it was really too much on the low end and too bright at the high end. And I especially like that Fender sound for rhythm playing. I’ve been a Fender man ever since.”
His main ax is an ugly green ’64 Strat with jumbo frets. He recorded most of Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark with that one, alternating with a ’57 sunburst Strat (pictured on the cover of last year’s Grammy Award-winning Strong Persuader). On tour, he also carries a new American Standard Strat that contains the pickups from another ’64 Strat he had. He also has a red Japanese reissue Strat with low-impedance pickups. The American Standard Strat has a maple fingerboard; the rest of Cray’s guitars are fitted with rosewood.
Live, Cray plays through two Fender Super Reverb amplifiers. In the studio, he uses a set-up of a Super Reverb and a Twin Reverb. On stage, he sets his volume on five, the treble and middle on 10 and the bass at about four. The bright switch remains on and the reverb is set at about three, though he says, “I’m looking for a different reverb sound now … maybe an SPX90 or some Lexicon system.”
Until then, the guitar roadie will continue to walk out on stage and crank up the reverb during Cray’s solo on “I Can’t Go Home,” then turn it back down to three before heading for the wings. It’s a primitive method, but then Cray hasn’t yet gone in for any pedals or effects whatsoever. “I’m just a plain o1′ guy,” he laughs. “Just straight to the amp for me and I’m off and running.”
He uses D’Addario strings, fairly heavy gauge — .O11, .013, .018, .028, .036 and .046. He plays with extra heavy tortex picks and will occasionally reach in with his third or fourth finger to pull at the strings, a la Albert Collins.
Cray doesn’t use the wang bar, but shakes the strings pretty nicely with a natural vibrato he’s developed. “I worked that out a long time ago from listening to B.B. King stuff,” he says. “And also, I used to play with real heavy strings, like a .013 on the high E. I didn’t know they made lighter strings for the longest time, so I just kept struggling with these heavies. Now, if I ever pick up a guitar with light gauge strings and really let loose on a .009, it goes right off the neck.
Robert Cray is one of the current blues sensations that is still touring the world, so look out for him in a show near you. Cray always has a great band backing him up and puts on a great live show. I hope you enjoyed this feature about Robert Cray; be sure to stay tuned for more artist features like this coming your way!
Thanks,
Griff
15 replies to "The Signature Sound Of Blues Guitarist, Robert Cray"
Just saw Robert Cray last night (Dec 9, 2015) in Sacramento, CA and he and the band were fantastic. He plays with so much soul and emotion. Can’t say enough good things about him (and his band). If he comes to your town go for sure. If you are a student of Griff’s I know you won’t be disappointed with a Robert Cray performance.
So I want to know who was the guitar roadie on the north american tour 1987…. My boyfriend says that he played with B.B. King….. Cray was a good friend of his… Will someone please tell me his name..
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Saw Robert Cray band at the coliseum in fort wayne indiana as a back up to Huey Lewis in the early eighties. I have followed the band since then and they beat huey all to hell.
Robert opened with “I Shiver” and closed with “Time Makes Two”. Interestingly, he switches out his strats after each and every song so that (presumably) the tuning is just right.
Thanks for the article. I’m going to see Robert on Friday!
I had the priviledge of seeing Robert at Antones in Austin a little over a year ago and
he had two amps onstage that night alternating between two strats. Both of these
amps were Vox.
Thanks, Griff, great selections. also enjoy the gear talk.
WOW stevie ray and robert cray. im ok now . thats one i wish id been at?
Griff:
One of the many things I like about you and your videos, is that you have no problem letting everyone see other artists. I’ve always thought Robert Cray was kind of overlooked and underated. When I was a young maiden and still in a band, we did “Smokin’ Gun” and it always went over really well. I wish I had found the blues sooner. By the way, I’ve learned some solid things from you and consider you one of the best. I’m retired now but still playing my Strat, and will probably die with it in my hands. Thank you Griff, excellent job.
Hi Griff
Thanks for posting this. There’s some great music and info here. I’ve not listened to Robert Cray enough. I will have to remedy that.
Hi Griff,
I just wanted to let you know that I am really enjoying your slow blues course. I’ve been playing many years, and my blues. And was even voted #1 in the capital region of NYS last year, but I’ll tell you I’m challenged to play the root note string , right facing minor, left facing minor, and the same for major as fast as you would like to see it. My brain has really gotten rusty!
I took an hour last night to make “flash cards” as you suggested and will begin quizzing myself tonight.
What a great course, and you are an excellent teacher- you’ve exposed a weakness of mi e and that will hekp me know what to focus on to become a great player!
Regards,
Andrew
Thanks, Griff. This was really great.
I remember going to a show in Portland, OR sometime in the late 70’s where, I believe the headiner was either Albert Collins or King, and the warm-up band was Robert Cray. The place was packed, and then after a couple sets Robert was asked to announce that Albert wasn’t going to make it. Well, the whole place seemed to empty in a hurry, and so we moved to a better seat and got to watch Robert up close for the rest of the night. After the initial shock of playing to an “empty” house he settled down and played his heart out. I’ve been abig fan of his ever since.
Griff, Thanks for this! I’m a huge fan of Robert Cray!