Born on January 19, 1925 Henry Gray started playing piano at the age of eight and by the age of 16 he started to play professionally at a club in Louisiana.

He joined the army at the age of 18 and entertained troops playing the piano before returning to his home in Louisiana three years later. After a short stay Henry Gray moved to Chicago, where he could make more money and could meet other young piano players like Otis Spann and Little Johnny Jones.

Big Maceo Merriweather, another leading blues pianist, took him under his wing and helped Gray to become one of Chicago’s finest piano players. He toured with Little Walter and played with some of Chicago’s finest artists: Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, J.B. Lenoir, Elmore James and joined Howling Wolf’s band in 1956. Backing Wolf for the next 12 years, Gray played on classic recordings such as Goin’ Down Slow and I Ain’t Superstitious.

He has more than 58 albums to his credit, including recordings for Chess Records and is credited as helping to create the distinctive sound of the Chicago blues piano. Following the death of his father Gray left Wolf’s band to return to Louisiana and help his mother with the family business. There he became an important part of Louisiana’s music scene. His big, rollicking sound became part of the region’s “swamp blues” style.

In 1988, Blind Pig Records released Gray’s first Stateside feature LP, Lucky Man. The album was produced by the guitarist Steve Freund, who also joined Gray on the album for a combination of both Chicago blues and bayou boogie. In 1990, Gray recorded the album Louisiana Swamp Blues for Wolf Records.

In 2001, Gray recorded two albums: Watch Yourself, for the Lucky Cat label, and Henry Gray Plays Chicago Blues, for Hightone Records. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2017, Gray passed away on February 17, 2020, aged 95.

All the recordings on this release, co-produced by Wolf Records’ Hannes Folterbauer, are taken from six different concerts and one studio session made between 1994 and 1995. An inspired showcase for his distinctive style and talent.

TRACKS

1. The Baron’s Introduction

2. Shake A Hand

3. How Long

4. Sweet Home Chicago

5. All In My Sleep

6. Down Home Blues

7. It Hurts Me Too

8. I’m A Lucky Man

9. Sinners Prayer

10. How Can You Do It?

11. Little Red Rooster

12. Boogie In The Dark

13. Tutti Frutti

14. Everybody’s Fishing

15. What I’d Say

16. Howling For My Darling

17. My Girl Josephine

18. Good Bye Baby