1974 – Present 📍 Columbus, Georgia, United States

The Robert Cray Band

Soul Blues Contemporary Blues Blues Rock

Five-time Grammy-winning powerhouse whose silky Stax-influenced soul vocals, pristine Fender Stratocaster tone, and multi-platinum hit Strong Persuader propelled blues back into mainstream pop culture.

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👥 Personnel & Lineage (2)

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Robert Cray

Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar

1974 – Present

Also Played In:

John Lee Hooker ➔

Richard Cousins

Bass

1974 – Present

⏳ Past Members (3)

Peter Boe

Keyboards

1983 – 1989

David Olson

Drums

1974 – 1989

Jim Pugh

Keyboards

1989 – 2014

📜 Archival Liner Notes & Thank-Yous

Physical Vinyl Inserts

★ Thanked by The Robert Cray Band (0)

Peer Inscriptions

Archival vinyl thank-you list being verified from original pressing inserts.

✦ Peers Who Thanked The Robert Cray Band (0)

Reverse Backlinks

No reciprocal peer thank-yous indexed in current archive slice.

⚡ Lineage Architecture & Historical Context

The Historical Lineage of The Robert Cray Band

The Robert Cray Band emerged out of Columbus, Georgia, United States starting in 1974, contributing distinctive energy to the Soul Blues and Contemporary Blues landscape. Anchored by personnel including Robert Cray, Richard Cousins, Peter Boe, David Olson, the band forms vital family tree connections across the scene, notably through Robert Cray (also of John Lee Hooker). Their recorded output is documented across catalog releases on Mercury Records and HighTone Records, acting as a tangible historical bridge in the independent music ecosystem.

🎵 Sonic Blueprint: Soul Blues and Contemporary Blues personnel framework centered around out of Columbus, Georgia, United States. Documented with 5 archival members and 9 direct musical bridges.

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Archival Entry Points & Significance

To explore The Robert Cray Band's place in the knowledge graph, begin by examining their personnel roster and shared scene bridges. Immediate lineage hops connect directly to John Lee Hooker (Shared member Robert Cray), Cinderella (Label roster peer on Mercury Records), Scorpions (Label roster peer on Mercury Records). Their audio engineering lineage connects to Dennis Walker. Use the interactive Bridge Finder below to calculate the shortest path between The Robert Cray Band and other scene originators.

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⚡ Next Hop Navigation

Where to Dig Next From The Robert Cray Band

Follow the tangible personnel threads, launch a bridge challenge, or explore curated guided trails

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🔀 Immediate Bridge Peers

Shortest 1-hop connections linking The Robert Cray Band to scene contemporaries:

The Robert Cray Band ➔ John Lee Hooker Bridge ➔ The Robert Cray Band ➔ Cinderella Bridge ➔ The Robert Cray Band ➔ Scorpions Bridge ➔ The Robert Cray Band ➔ Cinderella Bridge ➔

🗺️ Related Guided Trails

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Curated narratives and step-by-step lineages exploring this scene's history:

Chicago & British Blues Boom 1954 – 1970

Chicago Electric Blues to the British Blues Explosion

How electrified Delta blues records pressed at Chess Studio in Chicago crossed the Atlantic to ignite John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Fleetwood Mac, and Derek and the Dominos.

5 Steps • Playlist Read Essay ➔