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Henry Gray has performed at virtually every New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival since it's beginning. A 1998 Grammy Nominee for "A Tribute to Howlin'Wolf', who he played piano for from 1956-1968, he also performed at Mick Jagger's 55th birthday party in Paris, France in 1998 More bio info. NEWS Andy Cornett, local musician, dies Written by Dominick Cross
Cornett had open heart surgery in 2010 and was recuperating from an as-yet undiagnosed illness. He was in hospice care at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center when he died. Cornett was known for his honking harmonica playing with Henry Gray and the Cats — a group he also managed and produced — as well as his skill on the bass. He was also a member of Rue Boogaloo and would also sit in with many bands in the area. In 2005, Cornett bought the Feed & Seed, now a new music venue that recently opened in downtown Lafayette. Between then and when it opened this month, he'd saved money and bought materials and worked on it when he could. Bernard Pearce, who manages the Feed & Seed, said it best when he wrote about his friend today on his Facebook page: "Mr. Andy Cornett - 1951 - 2012 Cornett was 61 years old. “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of Joy.” Psalms 47:1 WE ARE HUMBLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TRADITIONAL BLUES PIANIST HENRY GRAY'S CD, "TIMES ARE GETTIN' HARD", IS AN OFFICIAL ENTRY FOR CONSIDERATION OF A GRAMMY NOMINATION. SO, IF YOU ARE A VOTING MEMBER IN THE GRAMMY ORG. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AS CHOICE FOR A NOMINATION. HENRY GRAY & THE CATS' Follow the status of Henry Gray & The Cat's new album, "Times Are Gettin' Hard" here:
BLUES Reviewed 10-14-09 Cashbox Magazine Blues is music of the people, an escape for those who yearn for a simpler time, when the sound of a voice and a guitar could awaken the senses and rekindle the soul. "Times Are Gettin' Hard" is just that; an example of how great music used to sound, and with luck, a peek into the next generation of blues albums that will keep the genre alive for generations to come. All of the tracks on "Times" are flawless, cut from a blues master whose influences date back to the beginning of the art form. Henry Gray & the Cats should be a modern example of what can happen when people born to deliver great music are allowed to share their life's work with the masses. It isn't always the blues masters who get the recognition they deserve. With so many types of music out there, blues can sometimes be overlooked. Great blues, like "Times Are Gettin' Hard", put their stamp on the music scene, and stand the test of time. Swing on down to your local record store for a copy today. CLA Henry Gray and the CatsTimes Are Gettin’ Hard Scotlandville blues piano legend Henry Gray is one of those rare musicians—in the blues field they can be counted on one hand—whose style is instantly recognizable. Case in point is the intro on opening track, “Trouble, Trouble,” from his latest album, Times Are Gettin’ Hard.. Now pushing 85—35 years ago the UK blues press reported our man was retired!—Gray is no less than brilliant here. While he hails from Louisiana, Gray is the heir to the Chicago blues piano throne via 25 years of backing Howlin’ Wolf, J. B. Lenoir, Little Walter and Jimmy Reed on the south side. Today, his playing still recalls the golden age of Chicago blues, and it’s on display here. Playing solo and with an enthusiastic small combo, his repertoire is largely traditional. Besides the aforementioned “Trouble, Trouble,” Gray sparkles on the proven “That Ain’t Right” and the classic “Goin’ Down Slow.” Realizing it’s no longer 1955, Henry came up with the timely title track, as well as the predictable “Katrina, Katrina” and Alex Rawls’ favorite, “Barack Obama Boogie!” Granted there’s one or two stumbles along the way—at times the Cats are a little too enthusiastic—but this is superb release from a true legend. This is what the blues are all about.
June 2009 "Times Are Gettin' Hard" Latest Review - Big City Blues Magazine Henry Gray has been playing piano for over seven decades, recorded with Jimmy Reed, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Little Milton, Jr. Wells, Lazy Lester, and has more than 58 albums to his credit. He held down the piano stool in Howlin’ Wolf’s band from 1956 till 1968, and been credited as help-ing create that distinctive Chicago blues piano sound. Returning to Louisiana in ‘68, he became part of the swamp boogie scene. In recent years he’s received four W. C.Handy nomina-tions, and been awarded the National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment of the Arts. He’s been a fixture at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festivals for the past 30 years. He’s joined on Times are Gettin’ Hard by the Cats, Brian “B.B” Bruce harmonica, Marty Christian guitar, Frank Kincel drums, Andy Cornett bass, and Jackie Bruce on tambourine and backup vocals. This project isn’t just another old blues musician pumping out some traditional blues; these cats have teeth and a bite that proves that Henry can still pound out his blues. This CD fea-tures an impressive 15 songs, most of which are Henry Grey originals.
Henry kicks off with a solo number, “Trouble, Trouble,” just him singing and playing piano. This is the blues! With his big full left hand and the intricacy of the right, you can hear how he’s blazed the trail for blues and is still traveling that road today. The Cats join in on the title number, “Times are Gettin’ Hard” and this band plays under and around the piano, rising to the surface for solos and accents, deliv-ering a full driving sound as Henry sings and plays. Marty Christian on guitar and BB on harp play underlying leads, follow-ing the piano and showcasing this master. Henry’s blues aren’t just hard times and trouble; the party gets started with the toe tapping boogie number “Come on In, as the guitar plays a funky groove while the piano rocks and the harp jumps.
“Wanda Faye” moves along with a steady rhythm till they take her “Goin’ Downtown,” a jumping, dance number where Henry struts his stuff on piano while the harp and guitar rock. The cover of Snooky Pryor’s “Please Be Careful” is a slow stroll number with an outstanding piano solo. “Katrina Katrina” plays off the standard “Corina Corina” to voice Henry’s thoughts on his home state. He keeps that attitude with “How Could You Do It,” but turns them both into jamming num-bers with the band rocking, the harp hit-ting high and wailing into “Jump On Board” a swinging boogie that showcases all the players. They slow things down with “Going Down Slow,” a classic Chicago blues number by St. Louis Jimmy Oden, with the guitar taking the solo and then “Stroll is Back” with a swampy sachet of piano and harmonica. J B Lenoir’s “How Much More” rocks with Henry’s left hand while the guitar leads drive the music. “Honey, What You Gonna Do” is a rollick-ing swamp boogie. Henry is up to date with the joyously rocking “Barack Obama Boogie,” with the cheers and remarks from the backup singers joining in as everyone is ready to celebrate.
Henry Gray has lived through some good time and some hard trials, and with Times are Gettin’ Hard,” he proves he can stand up against the storm and still pro-duce noteworthy music while keeping the blues alive. — Roger & Margaret White, Big City Blues Magazine
NEW CD RELEASE for Henry Gray & the Cats appropriately entitled, "TIMES ARE GETTIN' HARD."- The initial release event is scheduled on Friday, April 24 in Baton Rouge for a special Five Alive event in downtown Baton Rouge. The CD consists of fifteen tunes (58 minutes of soulful offering). Henry wrote eleven of the tunes and seven are available for the first time on a recorded work. It will be available at Louisiana Music Factory (see link on our site). We will do an "in store" performance on Monday, April 27th @ 5:00- 5:45 pm at LMF. Also you can mail order on our site, and pick one up at at our performances. thanks for your support!
Henry
Gray & the Cat "LIVE
IN PARIS" Here is a video
clip From Henry Gray's live performance at the Louisiana Music Factory
on 10/30/99. |
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2006 NEA National Heritage Fellowship award photo Sept. 18th, 2006 performance at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage
Times Are Gettin' Hard Henry's latest release, available now at the Louisiana Music Factory
Henry Gray & the Cats - Live In Paris On CD & DVD! Fifty-seven rare and exciting minutes of Henry Gray's performance at the famous and elegan Lionel Hampton Jazz Club located in the Le Meridien Etoile Hotel in Paris on March 27, 2003 
Watch Yourself .This new recording by Henry Gray offers us a view into the past and
at the same time it brings a fresh breath of air to the more-often
stale contemporary American music scene.
Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest is a Major Blue's CD by the Legendary Louisiana Blues Keyboard Player, Song Writer, and Grammy Nominee...
BOOKING INFO (337) 269-5153
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