Kris Gray(II)
- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Kris Gray was born in Barking Essex, the 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 'Borstal' 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 that 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 principal songwriter. Due to covering 'The Same Way' a song by Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green 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 the 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 Kris 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.
After 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 Herb Miller, 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 was 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 material Kris went on to start managing other artists beginning with Chris Farlowe who he went on to manage, produce and play on his albums. Amongst other artists he went on to manage is Ian Hunter from Mott the Hoople, The Sweet, and The Edgar Broughton Band whom he also played bass with in the late 90s. Through working with Chris Farlowe he met Miller Anderson with whom he would record three albums and tour extensively.
Due to the magazine Record Collector's interest in the Grobbert and Duff single some 40 years after its 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 its release.
In 2017 a film was made loosely based on the 'Two's Up' book of Kris' experiences in Borstal in 1971, it was renamed 'Borstal'. As well as co-writing the script Kris wrote and recorded most of the music for the soundtrack which is also available on CD.
He published 'A Mod's Story' in 2020 and a Children's book ' The Eye of Bastet in 2021. Kris is working on his memoirs of 50 years in the music industry to be published in 2023 with a new album of music to coincide with it
After a short marriage that 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 principal songwriter. Due to covering 'The Same Way' a song by Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green 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 the 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 Kris 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.
After 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 Herb Miller, 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 was 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 material Kris went on to start managing other artists beginning with Chris Farlowe who he went on to manage, produce and play on his albums. Amongst other artists he went on to manage is Ian Hunter from Mott the Hoople, The Sweet, and The Edgar Broughton Band whom he also played bass with in the late 90s. Through working with Chris Farlowe he met Miller Anderson with whom he would record three albums and tour extensively.
Due to the magazine Record Collector's interest in the Grobbert and Duff single some 40 years after its 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 its release.
In 2017 a film was made loosely based on the 'Two's Up' book of Kris' experiences in Borstal in 1971, it was renamed 'Borstal'. As well as co-writing the script Kris wrote and recorded most of the music for the soundtrack which is also available on CD.
He published 'A Mod's Story' in 2020 and a Children's book ' The Eye of Bastet in 2021. Kris is working on his memoirs of 50 years in the music industry to be published in 2023 with a new album of music to coincide with it