Kris Gray

Kris Gray was born in Barking Essex, son of Dr George Gray Ph.D. Astronomer, Artist and Chemist and Betty Gray. He left school aged 17 and promptly left home not long after to seek his fortune as a musician, something his parent, particularly his father, were against. After a brush with the law a year later he was sent to Borstal where he spent 6 months in 1971, this would be the basis of his book 'Two's Up' written in 2011, the film (link=tt5876322) is very loosely based on it. In early 1972 with the band 'Grobbert and Duff' he wrote and recorded 'I Am, I Think' a one off single that would become a Psych classic some forty years later. After a short marriage which produced one son, Dylan, Kris became a single parent when the boy was aged just 2 years old. Whilst juggling single parenthood, working as a carpenter, shoe salesman and minicab driver amongst others Kris played with Hard Road, recording 2 albums as guitarist, vocalist and principle songwriter. Due to covering 'The Same Way' a song by Fleetwood Mac's (link=nm1467069) Kris would meet the man who influenced his playing. Peter would come to live with Kris for a while during his comeback period in the early 80's. During this period Kris wrote the theme music for BBC TV education series 'After Four' which he recorded as well with Peter playing Bass and Camel keyboard player Peter Bardens. Through Peter Kris is introduced to Brian Knight a one time member of the fledgling Rolling Stones, Brian was making a comeback with a new album and needed a bass player and invited him to join his band. For the next 3 years Kris would tour extensively with Brian's band which featured a continuing change in line ups. With the death of his father in 1983 Kris took some money left to his mother to open a Record shop in Barkingside Essex. It was here that he was introduced to (link=nm0588474) , brother of bandleader Glen, which led to the recording of an album with Herb's Orchestra on acoustic guitar. A regular customer in the shop, Paul Taylor, asked Kris to manage his Band 'Elixir' who were about to release their second album. He did this for a short time before the band broke up due to the lack of success of the new album. Having formed a publishing company to publish the Elixir materiel Kris went on to start managing other artists beginning with (link=tt1027673) who he went on to manage, produce and play on his albums. Amongst other artists he went on to manage are (link=nm0588474) (link=nm2191181) (link=nm4622978) and The Edgar Broughton Band whom he also played bass with in the late 90's. Through working Farlowe he met (link=nm0027219) with whom he would record three albums and tour extensively. Due to the magazine Record Collectors interest in the Grobbert and Duff single some 40 years after it's release Kris was reunited with Tim Wyatt who had contributed backing vocals. Together they wrote and recorded an album 'Naming the Darkness' but due to personal differences they parted company soon after it's release. In 2017 together with (link=nm1953143) a film was made loosely based on the 'Two's Up' book of Kris' experiences in Borstal in 1971 renamed (link=tt5876322). As well as co-writing the script Kris wrote and recorded most of the music for the soundtrack which is also available on CD. In 2018 he is working on a new album with co writer Jerry Spitzer and a new book 'A Mods Story'.