“Cray, who will perform Sunday, March 22 with his band at the Englert Theatre, is closing in on a half-century as a singer-songwriter. '‘Who’s Been Talkin” dropped in 1980, which received positive reviews. Cray followed by honing his skills by constantly touring. The hard work paid off with ‘Strong Persuader.’ Cray’s fourth album was released in 1986 and was embraced by rock and blues fans.
The single ‘Smoking Gun' hit the Billboard Top 40, and the album went double-platinum. ‘Strong Persuader’ earned the first of Cray’s five Grammy Awards,” (The Gazette).
“Delivering a performance rich in tone, subtlety, and masterful dynamics…Cray, known for his crisp Fender Stratocaster sound and smooth, soulful vocals, gave the audience a lesson in restraint and precision. His playing was deliberate — clean bends, sparse phrasing, and a tonal palette that spanned decades. For those who knew what to listen for, generational echoes of the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s could be heard in his technique and feel, congealing into his own original approach to modern blues,” (Buddy Magazine).
