Les Gray

Thomas Leslie "Les" Gray (9 April 1946 – 21 February 2004) was an English musician best known for his work with glam rock pop band Mud. Gray was also known for his distinctive vocal impersonation of Elvis Presley.[1]

For the Australian rules footballer, see Les Gray (footballer).

Les Gray
Background information
Birth nameThomas Leslie Gray
Born(1946-04-09)9 April 1946
Carshalton, Surrey, United Kingdom
Died21 February 2004(2004-02-21) (aged 57)
Lagos, Portugal
GenresGlam rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, piano
Years active1965–2004
Associated actsMud

Early life and career

Gray was born in Carshalton, Surrey, in 1946.[2][3] He was a self-taught musician,[3] and during his school years, he played trumpet with a jazz band, and then, with a younger brother, went on to form the skiffle unit, The Mourners. After leaving school he worked for Pearl & Dean, writing commercials, and later for Moss Bros before finding success with Mud.[4]

With a few line-up changes, The Mourners evolved into Mud in February 1966, with Gray on vocals, Dave Mount on drums, Rob Davis on guitar, and Ray Stiles on bass, and won the Search for Sound song contest the same year.[5][3] After a few unsuccessful singles including "Flower Power", they were signed to Mickie Most's RAK record label, and gained television exposure via an appearance on The Basil Brush Show.[4] They toured in support of Jack Jones in 1973.[3] Mud had a string of hits written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, including two which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1974, "Lonely This Christmas", and "Tiger Feet", and a chart topping cover of "Oh, Boy!" (originally performed by Buddy Holly). They disbanded in 1979.

Gray had a Top 40 solo hit (#32) in 1977 with his cover version of "A Groovy Kind of Love."[6] He later toured with backing musicians under the name 'Les Gray's Mud', but never found the same level of success as he had enjoyed with the original outfit.[7]

Gray appeared as a guest in the 1979 TV-series Jack Good's Oh Boy. Also during the 1970s, he appeared in one of several PSAs themed Be Smart, Be Safe; these dealt with instructing children on how to safely cross a road or a street.

Personal life

In 1992, Gray moved with his wife Carol to live in the Algarve region of Portugal. He died on 21 February 2004, of a heart attack, whilst fighting throat cancer.[4]

Discography

Albums
  • 1982: Mud Featuring Les Gray

Singles
gollark: Which don't convince you that you're a pony, but vaguely nudge you towards buying a thing, or make you go "this other group is pure evil".
gollark: I'd say there are already comparatively low-grade examples around in the form of... well, advertising, some weirdness in politics, sort of thing.
gollark: I would hardly call a Tumblr post "proof", but sure.
gollark: Isn't "memetics" more about ideas spreading and whatnot than just "things which do weird stuff to your brain"?
gollark: No idea.

References
  1. Sweeting, Adam (25 February 2004). "Les Gray: Glam rock star who led Mud in the 1970s". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  2. Leigh, Spencer (24 February 2004). "Obituaries: Les Gray". The Independent.
  3. Gregory, Andy (2002) International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002, Europa, ISBN 1-85743-161-8, p. 203
  4. "Obituaries: Les Gray", Daily Telegraph, 24 February 2004, retrieved 2010-07-19
  5. "Mud lead singer Gray dies at 57". BBC News. BBC. 24 February 2004. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. "Les Gray", Chart Stats, retrieved 2010-07-19
  7. Newley, Patrick. "Les Gray". The Stage. The Stage Media Company Limited. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
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