Claude Gray

Claude Gray Jr. (January 25, 1932 – April 28, 2023), nicknamed "The Tall Texan", was an American country music singer and guitar picker best known for his 1960 hit "Family Bible", which has been covered by many different artists. Gray's other hits include a 1961 covers of Bill Brock's "I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)" and Roger Miller's "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)" as well as 1966's "I Never Had the One I Wanted".

Alongside artists such as Ray Price, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson and Chet Atkins, Gray was a purveyor of the Nashville sound, embracing the Countrypolitan movement which paved the way for pop-oriented singers in country music and attracted new audiences to the genre.

Early life Gray was born in Henderson, Texas, on January 25, 1932, where he started his singing career while attending high school.

Career Gray was approached by D Records in 1959, and recorded "I'm Not Supposed", which was released as his first single. The song made the Cashbox country charts. for $100. Gray then recorded the song, and released it as a single.

In the late 1970s, Gray co-wrote with Walt Breeland, a controversial song titled "The Ballad of Jimmy Hoffa". Gray's record label at the time (Mercury Records) refused to allow him to record the song, but he eventually recorded it for Ol' Podner Records, who subsequently released it directly to the Teamsters. He died in Skokie, Illinois, on April 28, 2023, at the age of 91.

Discography Albums Year Album US Country Label 1961 Songs of Broken Love Affairs Mercury 1962 Country Goes to Town 1967 Claude Gray Sings 45 Decca 1968 Easy Way Treasure of Love Hilltop 1972 Presenting Million

Singles Year Single Chart Positions Album US Country US CAN Country 1958 "My Tears Are Inside" singles only "Late Again" 1959 "I'm Not Supposed" "Best Part of Me" 1960 "Family Bible" 10 "My Party's Over" "Homecoming in Heaven" 1961 "I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)" 4 84 Songs of Broken Love Affairs "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)" 3 1962 "Let's End It Before It Begins" 26 singles only "You Take the Table (And I'll Take the Chairs)" "Daddy Stopped In" 20 1963 "Knock Again, True Love" 18 "First Love Never Dies" "I'm Gonna Lie Again" 1964 "Eight Years (And Two Children Later)" 43 "Too Many Rivers" 1965 "Kinderhook Bill" "Thank You for the Ride" 1966 "Mean Old Woman" 22 "I Never Had the One I Wanted" 9 Claude Gray Sings 1967 "Because of Him" 45 Easy Way "If I Ever Need a Lady (I'll Call You)" 67 "How Fast Them Trucks Can Go" 12 Claude Gray Sings 1968 "Your Devil Memory" Easy Way "Night Life" 31 25 "The Love of a Woman" 68 single only 1969 "Don't Give Me a Chance" 41 Easy Way "Take Off Time" 34 singles only 1970 "The Cleanest Man in Cincinnati" 54 "Everything Will Be Alright" 40 27 1971 "Angel" 41 "Baton Rouge" 1972 "Jeannie" Presenting "What Every Woman Wants to Hear" 66 1973 "Woman Ease My Mind" 58 "Loving You Is a Habit I Can't Break" 1976 "Rockin' My Memories (To Sleep)" 88 singles only 1977 "We Fell in Love That Way" 92 "It'll Do" 1978 "Slow Dancing" "If I Ever Need a Lady" (re-recording) 68 If I Ever Need a Lady 1979 "I Never Had the One I Wanted" (re-recording) 78 "How Fast Them Trucks Can Go" singles only "It Ain't the Wakin' Up" 1981 "Every Night Sensation" "He's Just an Illusion" 1982 "Let's Go All the Way" (w/ Norma Jean) 68 "Who Sent My Ex to Texas" 1986 "Sweet Caroline" 77