Dobie Gray was an American pop/soul singer from Texas. He had 2 primary hits, one in 1965 called The 'In' Crowd  and another in 1973 which truly drove him to fame with over 1 million in sales with Drift Away.

Dobie's birth name was Lawrence Darrow Brown. He was born in 1940 and passed away in late 2011 at the age of 71, following a long battle with cancer.

He was apparently heavily influenced by gospel music, thanks to his grandfather, who was a minister.

His song Drift Away, written by Mentor Williams, had such powerful meaning for so many people around the world. For musicians, at least for the author of this bio, it has long been a song about the musical instrument itself. For non musicians, it often is thought of as simply the power of music and how it reaches into one's soul to allow you to just...drift away...

In the early 1960's, Dobie moved to California to pursue his musical and acting career. His next permanent move was to Nashville. He met some success, even in the 1980's but never quite so much as that 1 song of his that millions of us will forever remember him for.

Drift Away reemerged as a successful hit again in 2003 when Uncle Kracker did a cover of it with Dobie himself.

R.I.P., Dobie...you have given us some amazing memories...thank you.