Robert Cray Returns To The Ridgefield Playhouse On March 1

**News Release Submitted by The Ridgefield Playhouse**

Open ears and an open mind are the essence of singer, guitarist and songwriter Robert Cray’s approach to writing, recording and playing music. He has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. In just over 40 years Cray and his band have recorded 20 studio releases, 15 of which have been on the Billboard charts, and played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world. Cray gained wide appeal and name recognition thanks to his 1986 crossover single “Smoking Gun” from his first major-label release, Strong Pretender. There are five Grammys with Cray’s name on them and he has a suitcase full of W.C. Handy blues awards. He is the youngest person to ever be recognized by the Blues Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2011 at the age of 58. Robert will make his 10th career performance at The Ridgefield Playhouse when Robert Cray Band takes the stage on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 8pm as part of the Pepsi Rock Series Driven by North American Motor Car. The evening is his only Connecticut show stop! “The Band continues with the same enthusiasm and joy in what we do, and no matter the accolades,” says Robert. “Today is all that matters!” Do not miss this legend return to the Playhouse for what promises to be a celebration of the blues to remember. Make it a great night out with dinner and a show by visiting Bailey’s Backyard (23 Bailey Ave, Ridgefield) for dinner and receive 10% off your bill when you present your ticket.

Since 1974, The Robert Cray Band has been touring and recording their unique groove, born from a love of Soul, R&B, Gospel, Blues and Rock n Roll. The five-time Grammy winner was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011 and earned the Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance in 2017. “Having had the opportunity to play with some of our heroes was more than we could have ever imagined,” says Robert. “Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and the big stages with The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, and Eric Clapton.” Cray’s producer Steve Jordan adds, “People gravitate to his guitar playing first, but I think he’s one of the best singers I’ve heard in my life.” The Robert Cray Band has released over twenty acclaimed albums and has sold millions worldwide.

“Funky, cool and bad” is how Robert Cray describes his latest album, That’s What I Heard (2020), which celebrates the music of Curtis Mayfield, Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Sensational Nightingales and more, along with several new, original songs. The band, featuring Cray (vocals/guitar), Richard Cousins (bass), Dover Weinberg (keyboards) and Les Falconer (drums), continues to defy categorization. With blues as the foundation, their unique groove is a blend of American rock, R&B, soul, jazz, and funk.