Now who is George Gray and what is this project of his?
The George Gray Project was created and formed by George A. Gray, Jr.
George Gray was born and raised in Baltimore, Md. And began pursuing his dreams within the music field at the age of 6 in elementary school playing the bongos and this was only the beginning. All through junior high George participated in the jazz ensemble, the Falcon Drum & Bulge Corp which was a competitive drum corp. Later in senior school as well when attending Morgan State University George was involved with the school's marching band with being the drum section leader of the bands. And also attended Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD.
After college George became the drummer for the Maurice and Verdine White discovery "Pockets". This groups was produced and managed by Verdine and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire and their organization with three recordings under Columbia/Kalimba Records. This group opened up for the Deniece Williams and Earth, Wind & Fire tour "AllNAll" in 1976-77. Later this group toured with a number of household R&B, Soul and Funk acts as Chaka Khan, the Brainstorm, Camero, Teddy Pendergrass, Jeffrey Osborne, Weather Report, the Emotions, Atlantic Starr and the list continued on.
After being a member of Pockets for 5 years George then pursued a career as a freelance all around drummer for style of playing ranging from R&B, Pop, Fusion, Jazz and any style that displayed his artistic drumming ability. At this point George worked with such household name groups at the time as T-Connection, Peaches & Herb, E,W&F, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, Sam & Dave, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Talking Heads, Stephanie Mills, Deniece Williams, Maurice Hines and many others of the R&B vain.
Later George ventured more into a jazz/fusion scene while living in Baltimore, MD to then work with a host of artist as Gary Bartz, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Jimmy Witherspoon, Brooks Benton, Leon Thomas, Flor Purim, John Abercombie, Dave Samuels and the list of others. Soon George moved to Brooklyn, NY in the early 90's where he entered a much deeper field of playing artistry to work with such entertainers as Cassandra Wilson, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Will Downing, Abdullah Ibrahim, Carla Cook, Vanessa Rubin, Frank Foster, Jimmy Smith, Dwight Sills, Jann Parker, Sathima Bea Benjamin, Carmen Lundy, Angela Bofill, Stanley Jordan, Ronnie Jordan and more to come.
Aside from the world of drumming George Gray is a known fitness consultant for the performing artist of the world. George conducts workshops, clinics and seminars that basically discuss the need and the advantages of exercise, proper nutrition in combination with developing performance skills on the instrument and on stage as well as increasing optimal health. George is sponsored and has endorsements with REMO Drums, Drum Heads; DWDrums, Hardware and Accessories, and SABIAN Cymbals. And also George presently is the jazz drum instructor at York College located in Jamacia, New York for the Jazz Workshop program.
Monthly George writes a drum fitness tip in a news article for the well known drum and percussion store "Drummers World" here in New York City. This is a online publication that is distributed worldwide to the drummers and percussionist of the world. And hopefully very soon George will be writing for Vic Firth Sticks news article. So do be on the lookout not just for the drumming and song writing of George Gray but also the up and coming news articles, clinics and videos based on "Exercise, Nutrition And Your Instrument".
The George Gray Project is a group of the finest musicians from New York that perform a wide range of music based on the stylings of smooth jazz, be-bop, hip hop, fusion, go go and various grooves to take you beyond the norm. There's much more to come so be on the lookout for this incredible ensemble that'll take you on a journey of many roots of the music with combinations and experiences as it was once known, quality music!
George A. Gray endorses REMO DRUMS & DRUM HEADS, DWDRUMS HARDWARE AND ACCESSORIES, THE FULL LINE OF SABIAN CYMBALS and VIC FIRTH DRUM STICKS. ONLY THE BEST OF THE BEST FOR THE George Gray Project!
