Chanteur Country US né le 29 Décembre 1924 à Paris (Texas), Billy Gray a formé son premier groupe en 1943. Attiré par le Hillbilly et le Western Swing, il tient la guitare au sein des "Brazos Valley Boys" de Hank Tompson. En 1954, Billy chante en duo avec Wanda Jackson sur Decca Records. Puis il a enregistré en solo durant le reste des années cinquante, toujours chez Decca. Billy Gray est décédé le 27 Mars 1975.

Western swing guitarist Billy Gray was born in december 29,1924 in Paris, TX, and raised in a poor family. As a boy, he worked in the fields to earn money for his first guitar, which he purchased from a local pawnshop. At 19, he organized a band and hosted his own radio show in Paris. For the next few years, he logged a series of tours around Texas and the Southwest, eventually landing in Dallas. There he became the leader of Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys. He and Thompson eventually founded the Texoma Music Publishing Company and the Brazos Valley Publishing Company, and the two co-wrote some of Thompson's greatest hits, including "Waiting in the Lobby of Your Heart," "The New Wears off Too Fast," and "A Fool, a Faker." In 1954, Gray's lone charting hit was issued. "You Can't Have My Love" was a duet with rockabilly screamer Wanda Jackson. The following year, he and his band, the Western Oakies, released Dance-O-Rama, but the album failed at charting any singles. Gray went on to work as a sideman for other bands, including the Nuggets and the Cowtowners, and also appeared on the syndicated TV show Music Country Style. He recorded one more album in 1965 on Longhorn Records, but faded from the public eye soon after. Billy Gray died in March 27, 1975 while undergoing heart surgery.

Talents : Vocals, Guitar

Style musical : Traditional Country, Western Swing

You Can't Have My Love (1954) (Wanda Jackson & Billy Gray)

If You Don't Somebody Else Will (1954) (Wanda Jackson & Billy Gray)

FARTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD (1954)

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS (1955)

TENNESSEE TODDY (1956)

MR. OPPORTUNITY (1957) (Billy Gray & Mimi Roman)

ROTTEN LOVE (1965)

Years in activity :

1910 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 2000 10 20

DISCOGRAPHY

78 t., Singles & EP

1947 78 t. MILTONE 1010 (US) .

Billy GRAY'S HOLLYWOOD BAND BOX REVIEW - Everybody Wants A Little Peace / The Kelly's Morellis And The Lipshitzes
1948 78 t. DELUXE 8160 (US) .

Billy GRAY'S HOLLYWOOD BAND BOX REVIEW - Let’s Spend The Night At The Canaga / Hollywood, U.S.A.
1948 78 t. MILTONE 1160 (US) . Billy GRAY'S HOLLYWOOD BAND BOX REVIEW - Let’s Spend The Night At The Canaga / Hollywood, U.S.A.
1948 78 t. DELUXE 8161 (US) .

Billy GRAY'S HOLLYWOOD BAND BOX REVIEW - Everybody Wants A Little Peace / The Kellys, The Morellis's And The Lipshitzes
1948 78 t. MILTONE 1161 (US) . Billy GRAY'S HOLLYWOOD BAND BOX REVIEW - Everybody Wants A Little Peace / The Kellys, The Morellis's And The Lipshitzes
1948 78 t. DELUXE 8162 (US) .

Billy GRAY'S HOLLYWOOD BAND BOX REVIEW - Atta Conga / Frailach Tantz
1948 78 t. MILTONE 1162 (US) . Billy GRAY'S HOLLYWOOD BAND BOX REVIEW - Atta Conga / Frailach Tantz
195? SP 4 STAR 6695 (US) . Billy GRAY & His OAKIES - Cherokee Rose / Kiss And Run
04/1954 78 t. DECCA 29120 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Pin-Up Girl / Who'll Buy My Tacos
04/1954 SP DECCA 9-29120 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Pin-Up Girl / Who'll Buy My Tacos
05/1954 78 t. DECCA 29140 (US) . Lovin' Country Style (Wanda JACKSON) / You Can't Have My Love (Wanda JACKSON & Billy GRAY)
05/1954 SP DECCA 9-29140 (US) . Lovin' Country Style (Wanda JACKSON) / You Can't Have My Love (Wanda JACKSON & Billy GRAY)
09/1954 78 t. DECCA 29267 (US) . If You Don't Somebody Else Will (Wanda JACKSON & Billy GRAY) / You'd Be The First One To Know (Wanda JACKSON)
09/1954 SP DECCA 9-29267 (US) . If You Don't Somebody Else Will (Wanda JACKSON & Billy GRAY) / You'd Be The First One To Know (Wanda JACKSON)
09/1954 78 t. DECCA 29271(US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Farther On Down The Road / We Just Don't See Things Alike (Anymore)
09/1954 SP DECCA 9-29271 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Farther On Down The Road / We Just Don't See Things Alike (Anymore)
03/1955 78 t. DECCA 29489 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Okie Blondie / I'm Mad At My Heart
03/1955 SP DECCA 9-29489 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Okie Blondie / I'm Mad At My Heart
10/1955 78 t. DECCA 29678 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Harbor Of Love / Girls, Girls, Girls
10/1955 SP DECCA 9-29678 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Harbor Of Love / Girls, Girls, Girls
1955 EP DECCA ED 2233 (US)

Country Music Dance-O-Rama - Vol.7 - part 1 - The Bandera Shuffle / Tippin' In / Snow Deer / Curtain Call
1955 EP DECCA ED 2234 (US) Country Music Dance-O-Rama - Vol.7 - part 2 - Moonlight Cocktail / Tuxedo Junction / Tennessee Stomp / Johnson Rag
02/1956 78 t. DECCA 29800 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Tennessee Toddy / It Could Have Been Me
02/1956 SP DECCA 9-29800 (US) . Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Tennessee Toddy / It Could Have Been Me
07/1957 SP DECCA 9-30389 (US) .

Billy GRAY & Mimi ROMAN - Mr. Opportunity / We're Taking Chances
08/1960 SP LONGHORN LH-505 (US) . I'll Go Broke Loving You / I'll Find My Way
07/1963 SP LIBERTY 55599 (US) .

Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - I'll Never Live Long Enough / I Left My Heart In San Francisco
07/1964 SP LIBERTY 55712 (US) .

The Last Call For Alcohol / Late Last Night
1964 SP VANDAN VR-8472 (US) .

Billy Gray & The Nuggets - The Funny Way Of Hurting Me / One Broken Heart Ago
11/1965 SP LONGHORN LH-565 (US) . For No Reason / Rotten Love
1974 SP TORO 105 (US) .

I Don't Want To Ever Feel This Way Again / Neon Lights
197? SP Celebrated Artist CW 601 (US) .

Down Town Dallas / You Got Caught
197? SP Celebrated Artist 604 (US) .

Lifetime To Forget / Makings Of A Fool










Albums

1955 LP 10" DECCA D-5567 (US)

Country and Western Dance-O-Rama - Vol. 7 - Billy GRAY & His WESTERN OKIES - Moonlight Cocktail / Curtain Call / Snow Deer / Tippin' In / The Bandera Shuffle / Tuxedo Junction / Tennessee Stomp / Johnson Rag
1958 LP 12" DECCA ‎DL 8730 (US) Western Swing In Hi-Fi - Bob Wills, Spade Cooley, Tex Williams, Billy Gray - Bob Wills : San Antonio Rose / Spanish Two-Step / Beaumont Rag / Spade Cooley : Y' Ready / The Ping-Pong Song / Y' Hear / Tex Williams : Air Mail Special / The Leaf Of Love / Take The "A" Train / Billy Gray : Tuxedo Junction / The Bandera Shuffle / Snow Deer
1971 LP 12" Celebrated Artist CAA-603 (US)

Celebrated Artist Presents Billy Gray - Wake Me If I'm Dreaming / You Got Caught / Fortune Teller / How Would She Look In A Kitchen / I Feel Sorry For Him / Heart Of A Beggar (Mind Of A Fool) / Big Hearted Sue / Down Town Dallas / Completely Confused / Nowhere To Go
2009 CD Cactus 127 (NL)

Billy Gray - Hillbilly Stars Of... Decca Records - Tennessee Toddy / It Should Have Been Me / Farther On Down The Road / We Just Don't See Things Alike / Okie Blondie / I'm Mad At My Baby / Girls Girls Girls / Harbor Of Love / Mr. Opportunity / We're Taking Chances / If You Don't Somebody Else Will (with Wanda JACKSON) / You Can't Have My love (with Wanda JACKSON) / Who'll Buy My Tacos? / Pin Up Girl / Moonlight Cocktail / Curtain Call / Snow Deer / Tippin' In / The Bandera Shuffle / Tuxedo Junction / Tennessee Stomp / Johnson Rag / I'll Go Broke Loving You / I'll Find A Way / Rotten Love / For No Reason
2023 CD Americana Anthropology AACD-008 (US)

Nowhere To Go (But Out Of My Mind) - Wake Me If I'm Dreaming / You Got Caught / Look Again Fortune Teller / How Would She Look In A Kitchen / I Feel Sorry For Him / Rotten Love / I'll Find A Way (To Free Myself) / Neon Lights / Heart If A Beggar (Mind Of A Fool) / Big Hearted Sue / Downtown Dallas / Completely Confused / Nowhere To Go (But Out Of My Mind) / For No Reason / I'll Go Broke Loving You / I Don't Want To Ever Feel This Way Again

© Rocky Productions 19/12/2024