Arvella Gray

Who was Arvella Gray?

Blind Arvella Gray was an American blues, folk and gospel singer and guitarist.

His birth name was James Dixon, and he was born in Somerville, Texas, United States. He spent the latter part of his life performing and busking folk, blues and gospel music at Chicago's Maxwell Street flea market and at rapid-transit depots. In the '60s, he recorded two singles for his own Gray label including "Freedom Rider" backed with "Freedom Bus."

Gray's only album, 1973's The Singing Drifter was reissued on the Conjuroo record label in 2005. The re-issue producer was Cary Baker , who wrote the liner notes for the original Birch Records vinyl LP.

Gray died in Chicago, Illinois in September 1980, at the age of 74.