MUSIC

Dosey Doe Coffee House presents Robert Cray.

2011 Blues Hall of Fame inductee Robert Cray has been known as one of the most popular artists in blues and soul music. Cray helped to shape the blues on the national scene in the 1980s with his breakthrough album Strong Persuader in 1986.

Robert Cray is one of a precious few young (at this stage, that translates to under 50 years of age) blues artists with the talent and vision to successfully usher the idiom into the 21st century without resorting either to slavish imitation or simply playing rock while passing it off as blues. Just as importantly, his immensely popular records helped immeasurably to jump-start the contemporary blues boom that still holds sway to this day. Blessed with a soulful voice that sometimes recalls '60s-great O.V. Wright and a concise lead guitar approach that never wastes notes, Cray's rise to international fame was indeed a heartwarming one.

His soulful and creative guitar work has been a dominant force in blues music, and will continue for years to come.