Dobie Gray: 1940-2011

Yesterday morning, singer Dobie Gray passed away in his sleep in Nashville, Tenn. He was 71.

The announcement was made via Gray’s website with no accompanying details. As of now the official cause of death is unknown, although reports indicate his health had been in decline for several months.

Gray is best remembered for his 1973 single “Drift Away,” which became a Top 10 hit in numerous countries upon its release and remains a staple on classic-hits radio stations. Although “Drift Away” remains his most well-known song, he had a handful of other hits over the years, ranging from 1965’s “The ‘In’ Crowd” to 1979’s “You Can Do It.”

In the 1980s, Gray briefly emerged as a country artist, releasing the moderately successful single “That’s One to Grow On.” He also wrote and sang several TV and radio jingles and contributed to several film soundtracks, including Casey’s Shadow and Uptown Saturday Night.

More details of Gray’s death are expected to surface later this week. In the meantime, artists from Timbaland to Uncle Kracker have expressed their grief over the singer’s death via Twitter.

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