ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of Claude Gray

Claude Gray (born Jan. 26, 1932 in Henderson, Texas) is a country music singer, songwriter and guitar player best known for his 1960 hit Family Bible, which has been covered by many different artists, including Willie Nelson.

Gray started his singing career while attending high school in his hometown of Henderson, Texas. After graduation, he served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954. Upon returning home, Gray worked as a salesman for the rest of the decade. He began a recording career in 1959, after working as a radio announcer (KOCA, 1958) in Kilgore, Texas and performing as a disc jockey (WDAL, 1959) in Meridian, Mississippi.

Gray was approached by D records in 1959 and recorded I'm Not Supposed to Think of You Now, which was released as his first single. The song made the Cashbox country charts that year. The following year, Gray and two friends purchased the song Family Bible from Willie Nelson.

Gray then recorded the song and released it as a single and it climbed to No. 10, in 1960. By the following year, Claude was recording for Mercury (1961 -- 1964) records and released I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go), which peaked at No. 4. It was followed by the biggest hit of Gray's career, My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About). That song, which rose to No. 3, was penned by Roger Miller. Gray's final top ten hit came in 1966 with I Never Had the One I Wanted, which was his debut single with Decca Records.

In 1966, Gray briefly recorded for Columbia Records, but only charted one song. Gray spent five years (1966 -- 1971) with Decca, but only scored one additional top-20, How Fast Them Trucks Can Go (No. 12, 1967). During the next decade, Claude recorded for Million and Granny White before vanishing from the charts in 1982. Gray capped that year with the duet single, Let's Go All the Way, which he recorded with Norma Jean. Norma Jean charted the original solo version as her debut single in 1964. Four years later, Claude charted with Sweet Caroline and then completely vanished from the charts.