Mark Gray (singer)

Summary

Mark Eugene Gray (October 24, 1952 – December 2, 2016) was an American singer-songwriter and country music artist. He recorded both as a solo artist for Columbia Records and as a member of the country pop band Exile, of which he was a member between 1979 and 1982.

Mark Gray
Birth nameMark Eugene Gray[1]
Born(1952-10-24)October 24, 1952
Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedDecember 2, 2016(2016-12-02) (aged 64)
Lebanon, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards
Years active1972–1988
LabelsColumbia, 615
Formerly ofExile

Gray's solo career included three albums and nine singles, of which the highest-peaking is the No. 6 Tammy Wynette duet "Sometimes When We Touch", a cover of the Dan Hill song. Gray also co-wrote "Take Me Down" and "The Closer You Get", both of which were originally recorded by Exile in 1980 and later became Number One hits for Alabama. Other songs that Gray co-wrote include "It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy" for Janie Fricke and "Second Hand Heart" for Gary Morris. He died on December 2, 2016, at the age of 64.[2]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Title Album details Peak
positions
US Country
Magic 26
This Ol' Piano
  • Release date: November 1984
  • Label: Columbia Records
33
That Feeling Inside
  • Release date: January 1986
  • Label: Columbia Records
35

Singles edit

Year Title Peak positions Album
US Country
[3]
CAN Country
1983 "It Ain't Real (If It Ain't You)" 25 Magic
"Wounded Hearts" 18
1984 "Left Side of the Bed" 10 28
"If All the Magic Is Gone" 9 6
"Diamond in the Dust" 9 4 This Ol' Piano
1985 "Sometimes When We Touch" (with Tammy Wynette) 6 24
"Smooth Sailing (Rock in the Road)" 43 30
"Please Be Love" 7 3 That Feeling Inside
1986 "Back When Love Was Enough" 14 7
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Awards and nominations edit

Academy of Country Music Awards edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1984 Mark Gray Top New Male Vocalist Nominated
1985 "Left Side of the Bed" Video of the Year Nominated
"Second Hand Heart" Song of the Year Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ "Search results for Mark Gray". Broadcast Music Incorporated. Retrieved 2009-08-11.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Morris, Edward (December 4, 2016). "Mark Gray, '80s Hitmaker, Dead at 64". CMT. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.