Person in history
Dobie Gray
Dobie Gray, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1940)
Life at a glance
- Died
- 2011 · December 6
Their story
Who they were
Dobie Gray was an American singer and songwriter. Gray's music spanned multiple genres, including soul, country, pop, and musical theater. His hit songs included "The 'In' Crowd" in 1965 and "Drift Away". "Drift Away" was one of the biggest hits of 1973, has sold over one million copies, and remains a staple of radio airplay.
Path and career
Career In the early 1960s Gray moved to Los Angeles , intending to pursue an acting career while also singing to make money. He recorded for several local labels under the names Leonard Ainsworth , Larry Curtis , and Larry Dennis , before Sonny Bono directed him toward the small independent Stripe Records. They suggested that he record under the name "Dobie Gray", an allusion to the then-popular sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis . [ 1 ]
Why this date
Dobie Gray appears on our December 6 calendar for 2011 as a death entry.
Sources
Cite this page
“Dobie Gray”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/people/dobie-gray, accessed October 28, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about Dobie Gray
When did Dobie Gray die?
December 6 2011.
Who else was born on this day?
The date page lists everyone we hold for that calendar day.
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