US soul singer Dobie Gray, best known for his hit 1973 song Drift Away, has died aged 71.

The news was announced on the singer's official website, although no cause of death was given.

Gray's only UK chart hit was The 'In' Crowd which peaked at number 25 in 1965.

Drift Away sold more than a million copies in the US and has since been covered by scores of artists including Rod Stewart and Michael Bolton.

Born near Houston to a family of sharecroppers, Gray, whose real name was Laurence Darrow Brown, discovered gospel music through his grandfather, a Baptist minister.

He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s where he met Sonny Bono - the then A&R manager for Specialty Records - who dubbed him Dobie Gray after the then popular sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.

That encounter led to his first single, Look At Me, which was released in 1963 but was not a chart hit, but follow-up The 'In' Crowd shot him to fame.

Gray released 14 singles over his career spanning four decades during which he created and performed soul, country and pop music.

He spent some time in musical theatre, appearing in the Los Angeles production of Hair in the 1970s.

Most recently, Detroit rocker Uncle Kracker covered Drift Away in 2003 in collaboration with Gray.

It reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the adult contemporary chart for a record-setting 28 weeks.

Uncle Kracker paid tribute to the singer, tweeting: "My heart goes out to Dobie's family this evening. RIP Dobie Gray. Thank you for the music. You will not be forgotten."

Oh no... I'm so sad to hear he has drifted away. :\'( :\'( I loved his song "Drift Away", as well as the 2003 revival with Uncle Kracker on lead vocals (although I mostly prefer the original better).

R.I.P. Dobie :\'(

His music was great and uplifting in the songs "Drift Away" and "The In Crowd".

RIP Dobie.  :\'(

I cannot hear the song Drift Away without thinking of Philly. For all of you who were there, I'm sure you remember sitting in Applebees when the song came on and everyone started singing it. I will ALWAYS associate that song with all of you crazies who I met in Philly that weekend in March, 2009.




Cat

The song Drift Away is a classic. R.I.P. Dobie :\'(

I heard a news report on the radio this afternoon saying that his cause of death was cancer. :\'( :\'(

The same news story also said that Mr. Gray has willed much of his property and future earnings to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIuyDWzctgY

Dobie Gray - Drift Away {1973}

Note: Cover version of Drift Away by John Henry Kurtz


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxJv8C8uZ_0

John Henry Kurtz - Drift Away {1972}



Dan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIuyDWzctgY

Dobie Gray - Drift Away {1973}

Note: Cover version of Drift Away by John Henry Kurtz


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxJv8C8uZ_0

John Henry Kurtz - Drift Away {1972}



Dan



such a beautiful song and video.  :)

"(Bud)Reneau said Gray willed much of his property and future earnings to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

"He was a giver," Reneau said."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leQY6hANO_c

Excellent songs that 'Drift Away' and 'The In Crowd' are, this is the one that a lot of British 'Northern Soul' fans will spin in tribute...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzG1-MdxAd0

Excellent songs that 'Drift Away' and 'The In Crowd' are, this is the one that a lot of British 'Northern Soul' fans will spin in tribute...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzG1-MdxAd0


This song has a Motown flavor.

"Drift Away" was also featured in the 2002 movie "Wonderland" about porn star John C. Holmes and a quadruple murder.  8)

Oh no!  This is very sad.  I always loved "Drift Away" - "In Crowd" is good too.  :\'(  :\'(  :\'(

R.I.P. Dobie Gray - you will be missed