Dobie Gray – born Lawrence Brown in Simonton, Texas on July 26, 1940 – was a
soul and pop singer best known for the hits “The ‘In’ Crowd” (1965) and “Drift
Away.” Growing up, he was influenced by gospel music that he heard thanks to his
grandfather, who was a Baptist minister. Relocating to Los Angeles, California
to pursue an acting career, he began singing to make extra money. Eventually,
his singing talent caught the attention of several local labels, and he recorded
a handful of sides under a variety of pseudonyms before finally settling on the
name Dobie Gray. After releasin...