Claude Gray

Claude Gray
Gray in 1967
Background information
Birth nameClaude Gray Jr.
Born(1932-01-25)January 25, 1932
Henderson, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 28, 2023(2023-04-28) (aged 91)
Skokie, Illinois, U.S.
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1959–2023
LabelsMercury
WebsiteClaude Gray Official Website

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 hit, "I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)", was covered and rearranged by Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter Bob Marley, who retitled the song as "One Cup Of Coffee".

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.