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Bobby Gray : The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn
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Soft jazz to soft rock is the theme of this album; it's meant to bring a feeling of comfort and romance. Features vocals by Bobby Gray and Chariya Bissonette.
Genre: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Release Date: 2007
The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn Record Label: Wild Wave Records
  • Download Album (MP3) - $9.99
  • Buy CD - $12.97
SPECIAL: 30% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
Preview Song Name Time Format Price Select
Little Sunflower 7:30 $0.99
Lazy Afternoon 5:58 $0.99
T in Taiwan 7:03 $0.99
Feeling Good 4:56 $0.99
Nature Boy 7:35 $0.99
To Mari My Bride 4:53 $0.99
Moody's Mood For Love 3:06 $0.99
When Sunny Gets Blue 6:22 $0.99
Georgia On My Mind 6:38 $0.99
Blackbird 2:25 $0.99
Little Wing 6:01 $0.99
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Album Notes

CD Credits:

* Bobby Gray: Vocals, Saxophones, and Flute.
* Martin Gerschwitz on keyboards.
* Chariya Bissonette on vocals.
* Matt Bissonette on bass.
* Gregg Bissonette on drums.
* Rico Brown on keyboards.
* Ricardo "Tiki" Pasillas on percussion.
* Leo Nobre on bass.
* Jesse Hughes on bass.
* John Murphy on guitar.
* Shawn Lopez on keyboards.
* Larry Green on guitar.
* Dave Demeter on drums and keyboards.
* Phil Kristianson on piano.
* Marc Seal on guitar.
* Wendy Smith on harp.

ABOUT BOBBY:

A California native born in Seal Beach. An avid surfer. Wrote first song at age 4. Took up sax at age 7. Played school bands, marching bands, dance bands, and jazz ensembles. Church orchestra. Then at the age of 12 joined a surf/rock band. No more charts and music sheets. Just booze, girls, and parties. Went to CBS recording studios when I was 12 and recorded a demo flop. Almost flunked out of high school my freshman year because of booze and girls. Got straightened out when I started surfing and made honor roll. Still played in bands. Got drafted while I was trying to retire on Maui at the age of 18 and while becoming a hippie with hair down to my butt. Played in several jazz bands in the army back east, and survived being the only white in some pretty tough clubs. Became a lead singer in rock bands for 12 years and got sucked hard into the decadent lifestyle as I became a pro surfer. Blew my voice out singing Zepplin 5-9 nights a week as I was drinking and smoking everything in sight, and fulfilling every male fantasy ever conjured. Had my clothes ripped off twice by mobs of crazy, beautiful girls, and it was not pleasant. Got jobs singing backup and playing sax/percussion with some very good rock bands. While still competing in national and international surfing contests and while being married with kids. Gave up the drugs and worked days as a framing carpenter while playing or recording almost every night in LA and living in Orange County.

I played with the first Rolling Stones cover band and did some pretty good touring. Recorded constantly with several very good bands that just did not make it bigger than the LA club scenes. Put together a horn section for Dick Dale and became a Del Tone. Got offered an opportunity with the Coasters and turned it down to raise my kids. Jammed a little with some great players and even got to sing one time with Tina Turner at a big concert. I was on the stage drunk singing along with her and she grabbed me and held the mic to my mouth as we sang the song Higher. Ike looked at me like I was dead meat and that was the first time I ever sang with a female vocalist. I was pretty wasted.

I quit surfing contests at the age of 37 after being eliminated at the World Trials. All my trophies are in boxes in the basement. I guess they weren't really that important.

I kept playing music but not as much until my kids grew up. Been very happily married for 35years.

Eight years ago I decided that God had been so good to me that I was going to devote my life to Him. I did and gained more Joy and self control than I ever thought possible.

I started concentrating on my music and playing every chance I could. I met some world-class musicians and brought them into the studio with me and this new CD is the result.

My goal is to bring a little bit of joy, peace, love, and romance to this hectic world and to help troubled children.

My musical influences are too numerous to list but some of the biggest are: Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Tony Williams, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Stones, David Sanborn, Frank Sinatra, Led Zepplin, Eric Clapton, The Doors, Love, Canned Heat, Muddy Waters, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Angus Young, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Andreas Borcelli, Christine Agularia, Chris Falson, Donovan, Blackeyed Peas, Iron Butterfly, Bob Dylan and Lenord Cohen.

Some of my favorite musicians today are actually on my CD. WOW! How cool is that!!

The track "To Mari My Bride" is already being featured on 88.5 FM KSBR.

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REVIEWS

Greatest Thing You'll Ever Leaarn
author: shelly schube
I think it was youwho gave me a copy of this CD and Bobby, it is simply wonderful. We were at the 88.5 Jazz hoopla at Dana Point Sunday night.I was in all white. I am so glad to have met you and will buy all your recordings. Unreal. Thanks a million.
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CD is great.
author: Rachelle Bivins - ABYSS Jazz Mazagine
Bobby, You really did an awesome job on your new CD, The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn." One of our readers sent us a link to your website and I decided to contact you regarding your project. Warmly, Rachelle Bivins
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Beautiful
author: Carol Simpson
Hi Bobby, Thanks for the honor re: Billie Holiday and my taste in horns. I just checked out your track "Feelin' Good." Wow! Really beautiuful and love your vocal on it too. Did you write that lovely melody? Thank you again, Carol Simpson
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Amazing collection of talent, songs, genres, and musicians!
author: Bridget Willard
This is one of the few CDs made in this day and age, where, when you begin to tell your friends your favorite tracks, you keep naming each song. That is, my favorites are: Nature Boy, When Sonny Gets Blue, Feeling Good, Moody's Mood for Love, Lazy Afternoon, Blackbird, Georgia on Mind... and you see what I mean. Vocals from Bobby Gray (finally! and how long the public has been deprived of this) and Chariya Bisonnette encapsulate most of the genres of jazz. One track is like Brazil 66 backgrounds, while the other beckons the great jazz divas, while another is reminiscent of Barbara Streisand. AND, I haven't even spoken of all the wonderful layers of saxophones, the amazing keyboardists, guitarists, percussion! As you listen you are in awe and drawn into the romance. The more you listen the more you hear all the layers of music. What a fantastic production. I can't wait until it comes out on iTunes so I can buy each track again!
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