Dobie Gray

Dobie Gray (26 July 1940?) is an African American musician best known for his song "Drift Away", which was one of the biggest hits of 1973 and still remains a radio staple. He was born in Texas although the exact place is unknown (Simonton is the most generally agreed on location). There is also some argument as to his date of birth, but it is generally placed in the early 1940s. His birth name is also disputed, being listed as "Leonard Victor Ainsworth" or "Laurence Darrow Brown". He moved from Texas to California in the 1960s, where he was mentored by Sonny Bono and later took up residence in Nashville.